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The Gardening Newsdesk rounds up gardening related columns, newsfeeds, articles and blog entries from popular websites around the world and places them at your fingertips.

To use the newsdesk simply click on one of the categories on the right then select a newsfeed from the list. You can hover over the list to see a description of the site.

The Gardening Newsdesk uses RSS feeds to summarise top stories so you can easily skim read popular stories and dive in when something interests you.

What is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and uses an XML file in a special format that can be read by newsreading software or by news gathering websites. RSS Feeds present a Title and a brief introduction for each article along with a link to the full story if something catches your eye.

When ever a website or blog ads a new page the RSS feed is updated. The gardening newsdesk and other newsreaders check each websites RSS file regularly. If you have subscribed to the newsfeed your newsreader will tell you there is a new article.

With a minimum of images and little if any advertising RSS feeds are a really good way to quickly scan news sources. Gardening Blogs have become popular in recent years and most blogs produce an XML news feed.

To view an RSS Newsfeeds on your own PC you will need to install some newsreading software. Some good newsreaders for PC, Mac and Linux are listed below :

Making the Most of RSS

Rather than browsing and subscribing one feed at a time most newsreaders and web news services like bloglines allow you to import and export feeds in bulk. Once you have all your gardening feeds imported setup Filters to highlight or filter your favourites.

Rss lets you watch hundreds of gardening websites for say David Austin Roses. Whenever a story breaks that features David Austin Roses your newsreader will notify you.

Special Thanks due to :

Kathy Purdy of www.coldclimategardening.com for evangelising about gardening RSS feeds and her excellent bloglines gardening resource. After many days of handpicking garden and gardening feeds from around the net you end up with a list that looks remarkably like kathys :)

Gardening OPML :

To import all gardening newsfeeds download our gardening OPML file and import into your newsreader or web service. If you are a windows user right click and select save as and save it to your computer then follow your newsreaders help for importing an .OPML file.

Web News Services :

Bloglines | Daypop | NewsIsFree | Feedster | Newsfeed Finder | syndic8.com

Submitting a Garden related Newsfeed

We are always on the lookout for new gardening newsfeeds and welcome your submission. Before submitting please check the following guidelines :

1. News Feeds should have a strong gardening, country or rural related focus or be of interest to Gardeners.
2. All feeds need to validate. Please check before submitting.
3. We like garden websites and blogs from interesting places rich in photos with a story to tell.
4. Gardeners like to watch things grow. Please do not submit stale feeds or websites overgrown with weeds.