Who maintains this website? Root & Sprout™ was created by Lis Garrett, devoted wife and mother of three young children. Lis and her family live in beautiful Upstate New York, where they enjoy spending time together, playing outside, and working in their gardens. While her children are in school, Lis spends her mornings sipping free-trade coffee and working as a freelance writer. Although Lis writes for and maintains Root & Sprout, it is the written contributions from readers that make Root & Sprout a success.

How do I submit an article? You can find submission guidelines on the Submit An Article page.

Do I have to be a professional writer to submit an article? Absolutely not! We are all writers with opinions and stories to share. Here at Root & Sprout, we welcome any article, no matter your profession, as long as it adheres to the Root & Sprout philosophy and is submitted according to the guidelines. If you would like to submit an article but are not sure where to begin, join The Inside Scoop on Root & Sprout's social networking site.

What is a byline? A byline is a brief introduction of an article's author. It usually includes information such as the writer's name, place of residence, and what makes him or her an "expert" on the topic. 

Do I need to spend a lot of time writing an article? No. Most Root & Sprout articles are 250-800 words and, provided you have a clear idea of what you want to write, will take approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete. While this may seem like a lot of time, everyone has 15 minutes a day to spare.

Do I need to provide sources for the information I use in my article? No. However, please respect the work of others and give credit where credit is due if your ideas are not yours entirely. Also, if you refer to another book or site, please include a web address. Make sure you have the artist's permission when submitting an image, and indicate to whom the credit goes.

Can I submit a previously-published article? While Root & Sprout occasionally accepts previously-published print material, we seldom accept articles and information found on other Internet websites. This is to cut down on "regurgitated" information and to preserve Root & Sprout's rank and popularity.

Will I be notified when my article is published? Due to the volume of submissions received, you will be notified in advance as to which edition your article will be published but not on the actual date of publication. The best way to stay informed as to when new articles are published is to subscribe to the Root & Sprout monthly newsletter.

Will I be paid for my submission? Anyone who belongs to The Inside Scoop and submits an original article during the submission period will be eligible to win one of two $25 prizes in the form of a PayPal payment.

But I'm a professional writer. If you're not paying writers for their submissions, why should I write for Root & Sprout? Those who write for Root & Sprout do so because they believe in the site’s philosophy and providing parents with practical advice and articles relative to today’s issues. Most writers are interested in forming a lasting relationship with Root & Sprout, because they see the vision. **Lis Garrett will be contracting a small team team of writers for 2009, and she will begin seeking qualified candidates in January. Only those people who are members of Root & Sprout's social networking site and actively participate by contributing through groups, discussions, and blog posts will be considered for a paid position. Likewise, those who have contributed to Root & Sprout in the past will be given more consideration.**

How many people visit Root & Sprout each month? Root and Sprout was established in May 2008. Since then, we have seen continued growth. On average, Root & Sprout receives approximately 1200 unique visitors each month and 2000 return visitors. We receive approximately 5100 page views each month with Giveaways being one of the most frequently viewed pages. Additionally, we currently have 100+ readers who subscribe to the Root & Sprout monthly supplemental newsletter.

Do you publish every article you receive? Although we do our best to find the perfect spot for every article, there are occasions when articles are not accepted.

Can I comment on the articles? At this time, readers cannot comment directly on the Root & Sprout website. However, you can visit the Root & Sprout archives to leave a comment on a past article.

What can I do to show my support for Root & Sprout? Proudly display the Root & Sprout button on your blog or website! Readers will then be able to click through directly to the Root & Sprout website. Simply copy and paste the following code onto your site. *Please note, due to a technical error, you will need to retype the "<img" on your site to eliminate the period.*

<a href="http://www.rootandsprout.com"><.img alt="Root & Sprout" src="http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll152/lisgarrett/002-1-1.jpg" />

You may also joing Root & Sprout's social networking site at www.GrowTogether.ning.com.

Who supplies the images for Root & Sprout? Images come from the contributor's personal collection or from stock.xchng, a free stock photo site.

Please send all questions and general inquiries to LisGarrett@rootandsprout.com.