“The whole point of publishing is to challenge conventional thinking, that is what we have done over the years.” – Margo Baldwin
by Alison Despathy
With news of the recent purchase of Vermont’s own Chelsea Green Publishing by Rizzoli International, a subsidiary of the Mondadori Group, Vermont Daily Chronicle was fortunate to engage in a heartfelt and insightful interview with Margo Baldwin, former President and Publisher of Chelsea Green Publishing, now Publisher Emeritus.
Moving through the history of Chelsea Green’s development and growth, we discussed Margo’s opinion on the role of a publisher, the significance of the first amendment, the Seven Days hit piece on Chelsea Green’s publication of Dr. Joseph Mercola’s and Ronnie Cummins’s book, The Truth About Covid – 19, and the dangerous trends of censorship and propaganda that pervade the mainstream media today.
In the Library of Congress in Washington DC, under the intricately tiled mosaic ceilings read the words, “Knowledge Comes but Wisdom Lingers.”
There is a profound difference between wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge is often fleeting, frequently proven wrong and prone to irrelevance as new understanding emerges. Wisdom on the other hand stands the test of time because it is eternally relevant and repeatedly proves true and prescient. For 40 years, Chelsea Green Publishing has offered a legacy of wisdom and secured its place as a leader and visionary to help guide the path of humanity.
In the publishing world, the true test of exemplary work and high level success of shared wisdom is the existence of a robust backlist. Margo and Ian Baldwin have achieved this feat as readers continually seek older books from the Chelsea Green authors who have fundamentally altered the world for the better. From Eliot Coleman to Sandor Katz, Thomas Cowan, Jess Higgins Kelley, Nasha Winters, Ben Falk, Michael and Nancy Phillips, these names are well known in many households, both here in Vermont and around the world.
Ask any sustainably and ecologically-oriented gardener who Eliot Coleman is and you are sure to understand the talented authors the Baldwins have found, supported and helped connect to the people. Two of Coleman’s books sit here on my shelf, covered in dirt and warped due to their time left out in the garden as we poured over Coleman’s guidance on designing garden beds and extending our all too short Vermont growing season.
My original version of Sandor Katz’ book Wild Fermentation is in even worse shape, from its time spent on my kitchen counter as I chopped cabbage, peeled garlic and prepped cucumbers to ferment in crocks while following one of his delicious recipes and both laughing and crying at his personal stories speckled throughout.
As a nutritionist, Dr. Thomas Cowan’s books have offered clinical guidance and an expansion of perspective. From Human Heart, Cosmic Heart to Vaccines, Autoimmunity and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illnesses to Cancer and The New Biology of Water, Cowan’s work brings a depth of understanding for many in my practice as they seek to restore health.
Chelsea Green’s stellar backlist was a core driver in Rizzoli’s purchasing decision and because Chelsea Green invested in their employees and began an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), the employees will receive all of the proceeds.
When asked what their goals and hopes for starting Chelsea Green were, Margo shared:
“Initially we just wanted to publish great books! By that we meant books that engaged in important ideas, were beautifully written, designed and illustrated and make a difference in the world.”
Inspired by the brilliantly illustrated poetry book by Michael McCurdy, who also illustrated The Man Who Planted Trees, Margo and Ian explained that they “Both came from a background of environmental activism and wanted to inspire care of the earth.”
As they took the plunge into the world of publishing, initially they published a wide variety of books including fiction, art, history and memoirs. As their business evolved through hard work and pure passion, they shared that, “It was only as we came to realize the complexities of building a backlist and the importance of focusing on our niche—nature and environment, organic agriculture, local economy, real food and drink, green building, alternative health—that we began to succeed.”
These issues are dear to their heart so it made perfect sense for this husband and wife team to focus their efforts in the realm of natural living.
For decades now, Chelsea Green has been a highly sought after publisher by those who have a story and teachings to share and recognize the reputation that Chelsea Green holds in quality and leadership. Margo and Ian also seek out potential authors who they believe have a vital message to offer the world. They have been fortunate to work intimately with some of the greatest minds helping to bring perspectives and practices to the people to make the world a better place.
As is evident from their annual book sales which reached $8.1 million in 2022, so many are grateful and want to learn more about these topics from a home-grown Vermont publisher with a trustworthy reputation and a stellar track record.
With the sale of the company, Margo explained her hope, “I want to see Chelsea Green live on into the future, where its books and mission are more important than ever to build a more resilient, human-scaled, and ecological world. I’m hoping that this new partnership with the Rizzoli and Mondadori family of companies will be able to give us more help and leverage to make that vision a reality. Obviously it will be out of my hands but I’m confident that the reason they acquired Chelsea Green was to bring this vision into their own publishing programs and make sure it prospered going forward.”
Brianne Goodspeed is currently a senior editor at Chelsea Green and has been with the company for 16 years. Goodspeed shared her opinion that, “Chelsea Green’s sale to Mondadori is a good outcome for the company, not least of all for the employee owners who will collect the proceeds.”
She expressed her gratitude and explained that, “What most staff have had in common is resonance with the company’s mission as set forth by Margo and Ian Baldwin decades ago.” Further she stated, “While the sale is, of course, bittersweet, for a small, independent company, the transaction has been characterized by consideration for staff, authors, the mission and the future of the company’s publishing program—on the part of the Baldwins, Chelsea Green’s Board of Directors and our new owners.”
On Censorship, Propaganda and the Mainstream Media
During our conversation, I asked Margo her opinion on censorship, propaganda and the mainstream media. As an owner-publisher heavily steeped in the flow of information between people and around the world, I was curious about her observations and concerns as she witnesses current trends.
Margo stressed how fundamental the first amendment is to a democratic free society. She stated, “If there is no free speech and no free press then you do not have a free society and certainly not a democracy. It’s at the core of what makes a modern society viable and functioning.”
She further connected this to the work of Chelsea Green, “Book publishers are supposed to be in the business of publishing provocative ideas and a variety of disparate views that do not necessarily correspond to conventional attitudes. We have been publishing books and authors that have espoused ideas way out of the mainstream at the time they were published but which are now embraced and applauded. We have been doing this for a long time, publishing uphill so to speak.”
According to Margo, “This has been done on purpose to bring the culture along in the right direction. If we just wanted to chase trends, then what is the point aside from turning trees into paper for its own sake.” Chelsea Green has been out ahead creating trends versus following them. Their work has translated into so many choosing to live lightly and prioritize self-sufficiency and vitality while building careers and lifestyles that improve the health of both humans and the earth.
Regarding propaganda and censorship, Margo discussed that, “Propaganda has become rampant over the past years and the dramatic falloff in mainstream media (MSM) readership is showing that people know this and are abandoning MSM by the millions. At the same time people like Joe Rogan, Brett Weinstein, Naomi Wolf and Tucker Carlson are building huge audiences because they tell the truth. The government and MSM do nothing but lie about what is happening in the world and ordinary people know this and reject it.”
In response to my question about the repercussions and risks associated with censorship, Margo’s reply was intense and to the point as she stated, “Totalitarianism, mass formation, genocide and collapse.”
She also expressed her concerns regarding dangerous trends in the publishing world, “The PEN America Literary Awards were just canceled because the writers and publishers declared that PEN had not denounced Israel enough for Gaza and most of the writers who were finalists withdrew from the award. Everything has become politicized and every arts organization, including publishers and author associations and awards organizations are supposed to now take sides in every political issue that arises and the end result is destruction.”
Censorship in Vermont
In September 2021, Chelsea Edgar of Seven Days published an article entitled, “Vermont Publishing House Chelsea Green Is Peddling Coronavirus Misinformation”. This article was essentially an attack on Chelsea Green and their recently published book, The Truth About COVID-19: Exposing the Great Reset, Lockdowns, Vaccine Passports and the New Normal written by Dr. Joseph Merocla and Ronnie Cummins. I asked Margo about her reaction to this article.
Margo explained that “It was a cheap hit piece, not designed to have any real coverage of the book or to seriously discuss the issues the book raised about the pandemic. Instead the article mindlessly repeated the mainstream attacks on the book’s author Mercola and also impugned me personally as a bad person mismanaging my company.”
As Margo expressed her response to this article, she explained that it was, “Startling that a local media outlet was actually coming out in favor of censoring a book!” From there, Senator Warren, a Democratic US Senator from MA, demanded Amazon tweak the algorithms to essentially hide the Mercola book. Chelsea Green, Joseph Mercola, Ronnie Cummins, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (who wrote the foreword) immediately filed a lawsuit citing censorship and violation of the first amendment. Today a search for covid on Amazon still results in easy access to the Mercola book which has been a top seller for Chelsea Green as people attempt to understand as much as possible about the covid crisis and what the world experienced.
When interviewed by the Washington Post about her decision to publish this book, Margo stated, “We have very knowledgeable editors who are experts in their subject areas, a rigorous acquisition and manuscript process and access to many medical and health experts we call on when content exceeds our own knowledge.” She further explained that, “Chelsea Green’s public responsibility is to the truth, as far as we can determine it. Creating a climate of fear and misinformation is what mainstream media seems to excel at, not independent publishers like Chelsea Green.”
While defending the factual integrity of Mercola’s book, Margo stated, “It is one of the most important books we have ever published. Given the incredible misinformation promulgated by the public health bureaucracy and the mainstream media, ordinary people need access to the truth about what is really going on.”
Chelsea Green has always been willing to publish on thought provoking topics that challenge prevailing narratives. Humanity and science have historically made many mistakes. This willingness to question and look back in history and research is the exact process that has allowed for the necessary course correction and tremendous breakthroughs in thought, science, technology and ethics. Chelsea Green’s work supports this practice as humans attempt to determine truth and achieve justice.
Some of their more controversial books that are best sellers because they are grounded in extensive research and alternative perspectives are:
How to End the Autism Epidemic -J.B. Handley.
The Invisible Rainbow -Arthur Firstenberg
Vaccines, Autoimmunity and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness -Dr. Thomas Cowan
Human Heart, Cosmic Heart -Dr. Thomas Cowan
Facing the Beast: Courage, Faith and Resistance in a New Dark Age -Naomi Wolf
The Psychology of Totalitarianism -Mattias Desmet
Censorship and interrupting the flow of information is an absolute danger to society and humanity. Access to an abundance of research and differing perspectives is how people attempt to seek understanding in order to inform monumental decisions that influence their health, career choices, children and way of living.
Free speech and free press are in the first amendment for a reason, their significance is undeniable. Unfortunately, humanity continues to have to repeatedly relearn this lesson of ensuring free speech for all through the course of time.
Many with alternative perspectives and voices as well as those asking questions have been heavily censored in Vermont over the past several years. The right to free speech and the expression of differing opinions or information is deteriorating as many Vermonters have personally experienced.
From being kicked off of Front Porch Forum or placed in Facebook jail, to heavy and often absolute censorship of commentary at VTDigger and Seven Days on controversial issues such as masks, vaccines, energy policy, climate change, and investigative reporting of nonprofits and non-governmental organizations exerting heavy and often destructive influence in our state government, the free flow of civil discourse and debate has been detrimentally squashed with devastating consequences.
Humanity relies on a free press and free speech to guide their understanding and opinions. People deserve to hear the whole story not curated narratives with a little dose of opposition allowed. Without this fundamental right so integral for maintaining a free society and right direction, the future of humanity is at risk.
Curious about Margo’s feelings towards the recent Seven Days and VTDigger reports on the sale of Chelsea Green, I asked her opinion. She said: “I wish the Vermont liberal media was a little more self aware of how little it does in promoting diverse views and engaging in serious discussion of the problems we all face instead of its current ideological bashing of viewpoints it disapproves of. But in the end it is just a reflection of the larger media environment that it tries to emulate.”
She felt it was extremely disappointing “that a small business built in Vermont over 40 years with a huge amount of time, effort, money and finally grit, was able to not only survive but thrive, employing countless Vermonters and giving back to the community and finally in the last 10 or so years, even transferring the ownership of the company to its employees, who will now receive all of the net proceeds from the sale, that somehow this becomes a negative news story in VTDigger because it is being bought by a “behemoth” transnational company. It just shows how little these ‘reporters’ actually understand anything and how pathetically unsophisticated they are.”
After reading the VTDigger article, Brianne Goodspeed, Chelsea Green’s senior editor, was also disheartened by VTDigger’s portrayal of the sale and the company.
Goodspeed penned a commentary and fortunately this was recently published in VTDigger. Hopefully this represents a good sign moving forward for freedom of speech in VT? A little controlled opposition has always been tolerated, the question of true and honest civil discourse and debate is another ballgame. Time will tell if the first amendment will prevail in Vermont, thankfully Vermont Daily Chronicle is committed to free speech.
There are so many Vermonters and people around the world who have been inspired and positively influenced by Chelsea Green’s books. I just counted and personally I own 34 of their books. I would imagine many Vermonters have these books in special places in their homes because they are the type of book you refer back to and hold onto because they have fundamentally altered ways of thinking and living for the better, intimately shaping who we are, our priorities and life philosophies. .
This gift to humanity that Chelsea Green has offered is a true blessing and there are so many in Vermont thankful for their bravery, leadership and dedication to helping people seek truth, right relationship with the earth and natural health. Chelsea’s Green’s legacy of wisdom and their unwavering courage to allow a platform for a wide variety of perspectives is at the heart of what keeps the flames of free speech and free press alive and well for the future of humanity. Many thanks to Margo and Ian Baldwin –for their candor and their brave and vital work along with the entire Chelsea Green staff in ensuring that free speech and free press live on forever.
The author is a well-read gardener, mom, clinical nutritionist, and Vermont State House activist living with her family in Danville.