I live in the Intermountain West that is suffering from extended droughts and home to the overextended Colorado River. Snowpack from the Colorado's Rocky Mountains serves 44% of the landmass of the Lower 48 states, which would make one think maybe the Centennial State ought to be federally protected as a water source for nearly half of the contiguous 48. We who survive what's coming economically and environmentally--the Deplorables and Dissidents of all stripes including people like me--a former Democrat who drank the Blue Kool-Aid before realizing it was propaganda extreme--will get to band together and decide once and for all that this country shall be a democracy of, by and FOR ALL of the PEOPLE, and not a playground for the despicable ruling elite. So thank you William, I loved reading what you have to say, and look forward to seeing more.
Yes, the water rights out West are a huge issue. I expect a big fight between states, and increasing costs for water for people. Probably too their will be a fight between homeowners and industrial agriculture. I also anticipate a great many people from the SW moving to the Midwest and East. And yes, I expect if the Republicans do very well in the next election, and then squander it on tax cuts for rich people and corporations and outlawing abortion, then I fully expect a mass exodus from both parties in 2024, and an opprtunity for 100 million political exiles to unite.
From what I read the Midwest is the place to go if you're sick of drought, but who will have money to move in what is being called "The Super Bubble" that is near breaking? I also read that one million people left the DNC and joined the RNC. I'm a disenfranchised Dem, and went Green Party hoping I wouldn't get campaign calls from the Uni-party candidates but no such luck. As Chris Hedges says: "There's no way to vote against Wall Street."
One of the most stable geologic and climactic areas in the world, with prices likely going up if a lot of people migrate here. Probably 10 million+ have quietly left the Dems for Republicans. Word is the only solid demographic now for Dems is white professionals.
Here is a succession-rotation gardening plan (well tried) for climate zone 8A, also "Born on the 4th of July". It's on my pre-Substack blog, which is still active, but occasionally censored by Google.
That garden looks a lot like mine did, here in zone 4-5. Good work!
I ran a google search a week or so ago. I hadn't used google in a long time. I was ASTOUNDED how curated it was, no matter what search I put in, always routing me to "official" news sources putting the opposite spin on what I was actually looking for. Do not evil has been turned into evil is as evil does.
Yours is the first Substack I have subscribed to (which means I did it wrong the first time and I don't think my original comment posted...). I am also reviving some land (though on a much smaller scale, only a little over an acre), but I look forward to reading about your process and progress. And I look forward to reading your posts on other topics, too. Happy birthday!
A little over an acre is a lot more land than the 1/6th of an acre I managed in Minneapolis. Land has a lot to teach. I would be happy to hear more about your progress, and I am honored that this is the first Substack you subscribed to.
Ahhhhhh, thank you, I sense I have landed among "my people." Originally from Illinois in the wide-open and Forest "Preserved" Chicago 'burbs, I now, and have for 30 years, live in Oregon's Willamette Valley. This place, this land was, for me, a paradise for decades. Temperate rainforest and mountains and oceans and rivers, lush and fecund, and benevolent. It is early September and my beautiful gardens, lovingly tended and amended over 30 years, look like a Colossus came through with a flame thrower. We posted our hottest August on record. It is scorched and I and the trees and the creatures of earth and air and water are grieving. I just had 2 units of mulch delivered this morning and will get to work covering this earth I tend; my miserable, parched, desiccated earth. I, too, Thornburg, am a former. It is painful to wake up from the dream. And liberating.
The Willamette Valley and especially the Oregon coast is one of my favorite places. I have spent a good deal of time in Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Newport. I considered moving to Reedsport years ago, but it didn't work out. I have been hearing the same from people I know there, that the last few years have been much more hot and dry. That is the case all over the West of America, but it never occurred to me that the north coast west of the Cascades would suffer too. Last spring and summer here were as hot and dry as I have ever seen, this year has been more mild and dry, though parts of central Minnesota were as wet as ever. I hope you get plenty of rain this winter.
Thanks for this! I wil be following your journey. Especially interested in hearing how you revive those 80 acres and build a home. A lot of the things you mentioned might be beyond the influence of an individual, but doing what you can with what you have is powerful magic, indeed.
I live in the Intermountain West that is suffering from extended droughts and home to the overextended Colorado River. Snowpack from the Colorado's Rocky Mountains serves 44% of the landmass of the Lower 48 states, which would make one think maybe the Centennial State ought to be federally protected as a water source for nearly half of the contiguous 48. We who survive what's coming economically and environmentally--the Deplorables and Dissidents of all stripes including people like me--a former Democrat who drank the Blue Kool-Aid before realizing it was propaganda extreme--will get to band together and decide once and for all that this country shall be a democracy of, by and FOR ALL of the PEOPLE, and not a playground for the despicable ruling elite. So thank you William, I loved reading what you have to say, and look forward to seeing more.
Yes, the water rights out West are a huge issue. I expect a big fight between states, and increasing costs for water for people. Probably too their will be a fight between homeowners and industrial agriculture. I also anticipate a great many people from the SW moving to the Midwest and East. And yes, I expect if the Republicans do very well in the next election, and then squander it on tax cuts for rich people and corporations and outlawing abortion, then I fully expect a mass exodus from both parties in 2024, and an opprtunity for 100 million political exiles to unite.
From what I read the Midwest is the place to go if you're sick of drought, but who will have money to move in what is being called "The Super Bubble" that is near breaking? I also read that one million people left the DNC and joined the RNC. I'm a disenfranchised Dem, and went Green Party hoping I wouldn't get campaign calls from the Uni-party candidates but no such luck. As Chris Hedges says: "There's no way to vote against Wall Street."
One of the most stable geologic and climactic areas in the world, with prices likely going up if a lot of people migrate here. Probably 10 million+ have quietly left the Dems for Republicans. Word is the only solid demographic now for Dems is white professionals.
Every bit of it makes me sick.
In a kind of sense it is designed to. Be cheerful and healthy. That is radical defiance.
Here is a succession-rotation gardening plan (well tried) for climate zone 8A, also "Born on the 4th of July". It's on my pre-Substack blog, which is still active, but occasionally censored by Google.
https://www.johndayblog.com/2016/07/liberty-garden-central-texas-climate.html
That garden looks a lot like mine did, here in zone 4-5. Good work!
I ran a google search a week or so ago. I hadn't used google in a long time. I was ASTOUNDED how curated it was, no matter what search I put in, always routing me to "official" news sources putting the opposite spin on what I was actually looking for. Do not evil has been turned into evil is as evil does.
Yours is the first Substack I have subscribed to (which means I did it wrong the first time and I don't think my original comment posted...). I am also reviving some land (though on a much smaller scale, only a little over an acre), but I look forward to reading about your process and progress. And I look forward to reading your posts on other topics, too. Happy birthday!
A little over an acre is a lot more land than the 1/6th of an acre I managed in Minneapolis. Land has a lot to teach. I would be happy to hear more about your progress, and I am honored that this is the first Substack you subscribed to.
Nice to see you're back since I used to read your old blog back in 2011.
Glad to see you here. I hope all is well.
Great read, looking forward to more.
Ahhhhhh, thank you, I sense I have landed among "my people." Originally from Illinois in the wide-open and Forest "Preserved" Chicago 'burbs, I now, and have for 30 years, live in Oregon's Willamette Valley. This place, this land was, for me, a paradise for decades. Temperate rainforest and mountains and oceans and rivers, lush and fecund, and benevolent. It is early September and my beautiful gardens, lovingly tended and amended over 30 years, look like a Colossus came through with a flame thrower. We posted our hottest August on record. It is scorched and I and the trees and the creatures of earth and air and water are grieving. I just had 2 units of mulch delivered this morning and will get to work covering this earth I tend; my miserable, parched, desiccated earth. I, too, Thornburg, am a former. It is painful to wake up from the dream. And liberating.
The Willamette Valley and especially the Oregon coast is one of my favorite places. I have spent a good deal of time in Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Newport. I considered moving to Reedsport years ago, but it didn't work out. I have been hearing the same from people I know there, that the last few years have been much more hot and dry. That is the case all over the West of America, but it never occurred to me that the north coast west of the Cascades would suffer too. Last spring and summer here were as hot and dry as I have ever seen, this year has been more mild and dry, though parts of central Minnesota were as wet as ever. I hope you get plenty of rain this winter.
I am glad you are doing what makes you happy.
Thanks for this! I wil be following your journey. Especially interested in hearing how you revive those 80 acres and build a home. A lot of the things you mentioned might be beyond the influence of an individual, but doing what you can with what you have is powerful magic, indeed.
It is a lot of work requiring more than one man and fossil fuels. A long process and my intention with this substack is to bring people together.
Happy birthday William.
Gardeming and writing are sacred acts. God bless you.