FERN MARSHALL BRADLEY, BARBARA W. ELLIS, and ELLEN PHILLIPS are all former managing editors of Rodale Garden Books. The three coauthored the 1992 edition of this title, in addition to having written numerous books and articles individually. Bradley lives in Cambridge, New York; Ellis in Chesterton, Maryland; and Phillips in Brienigsville, Pennsylvania. DEBORAH L. MARTIN earned a BS in horticulture from Purdue University. She's a former extension agent in the USDA's urban gardening program. Martin has edited books on gardening and contributes to Rodale's Organic Life .

She lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania.