Jerome Irving Rodale

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Jerome Irving Rodale (August 16, 1898 – June 9, 1971), known as J. I. Rodale, was one of the first advocates for sustainable agriculture and organic farming in the United States.

[edit] Biography

He was born in New York City, son of a grocer. Rodale had an intense interest in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle that emphasized organically grown foods, inspired by his encounter with the ideas of Albert Howard. Rodale founded Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, publisher of Organic Farming and Gardening magazine, promoting organic methods during the 1940s. Retitled, Organic Gardening is the most-read gardening periodical worldwide. To Rodale, issues of agriculture and health were inseparable. Healthy soil required the use of compost, and the avoidance of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Eating plants grown in such soil would then help humans stay healthier....

[edit] Death

Rodale died of a heart attack while being interviewed on the Dick Cavett Show. When he appeared to fall asleep, Cavett quipped, "Are we boring you, Mr. Rodale?". The episode was never broadcast. Ironically, Rodale had bragged a day earlier that he would "live to 100 unless I'm run down by some sugar-crazed taxi driver." He was 72 at the time.^{[citation needed]}