"These factors helped Native Americans establish camas plantations here, mistaken for empty "green lawns" by early European explorers." Growing up in Oregon, it's a tragedy to me that I only learned of the vast camas fields and its significance as an adult. I dream about what they looked like, how beautiful they are when still blooming under the oaks of the WiIlamette Valley in the spring.
I loved learning about the specificity of your place, having loved that area since a child visiting for vacations there each summer. And it's truly heartening to hear of the many organizations that are working to find new ways to live with the lands and its histories, at repair and regeneration. Such a great read this morning, grateful for your work and its care. 💜
John, I found today’s well researched and well written information very helpful in understanding rights to land and water. The Navy’s presence on the north end of Whidby Island prompted thoughts on the US government’s use of Super Fund (we have the best, softest toilet paper) Sites. Too frequently the industrial polluters escape accountability through bankruptcy, re-incorporation in Texas, where hazardous industries are not liable for anything, with the change of a word or letter from their original name. So in the end we taxpayers foot most of the bill. Actual costs come in over budget; others just are never completed.
The idea of “Think globally, Act locally” harkens back to my hippie days in the sixties. So out of date. So ignored. So vital today. I smiled upon seeing the logo displaying a red barn in the foreground and a white lighthouse in the background. We truly aren’t in the Kansas of “Wizard of Oz” days. Eliminating beef from our diet has been one step. Cheese, too? Not yet but that’s got to go too. Changes in diet seem to offer a great impact - for our own bodies and the planet. All the best, John.
You might find interesting an article some local journalists from my hometown put out about very similar water/farming dynamics.
The journalists, along with people from Pro Publica, interviewed some of the largest farming families.
If you had told me who controls the Colorado River’s water, I suppose last on my list would be some farmers in Imperial County. I suppose it’s commentary enough that these water policies have these odd knock off effects all over
This is so interesting, John. It seems there are some great organizations on Whidbey Island working on community farming. As you say, the examples are local but the issues are global. I live in Flagstaff, Arizona, and my son was co-owner of a local produce farm here. After several years of late freezes, droughts, wildfires, and floods, they moved to Homer, Alaska on the coast in hopes of having a more stable growing season. I don't pretend to know all the issues they dealt with, but I know they worked very, very hard and it seems that's the direction farming is heading with climate change. I am amazed by and grateful to all community farmers and their dedication. Thanks for this post and I look forward to more.
Thank you for this interesting listen while I tidied up tonight. Such fascinating connections made. I have a similar itchiness around homesteading - especially because in my area it’s often tied up with religion.
I live near Lake Erie and every summer we have issues with our water because the runoff from farm fields cause toxic algae blooms in our warm, shallow lake. For the last several years we have to constantly check water quality thru summer before swimming at the beach and about 9 years ago we didn’t have clean drinking water for a few days. 🤯 It breaks my heart. Although, hearing about the thoughtful groups starting up in your community are so inspiring!
i learned a lot. you mentioned: "At South Whidbey Tilth we want everyone to have access to healthy produce that is grown with respect for wildlife and our natural landscapes." - I hope eventually it will also evolve into consciously producing food that is native to the area. Native plants should also be able to thrive without needing so much artificial stuff and perhaps, less water.
Fascinating as always! Do you read Patrick Donnelly’s work? He just posted an in-depth article on a major change in Nevada water law that is going to have impacts on water rights there. Might be of interest to you.
Wonderful piece, John. I like how you connect all of the histories and the way they worked to create the realities of today. Agriculture is intertwined with so many issues, problems, and historical rights as well as food! You really bring that to light.
John, I love the way you're mixing history and the present in so many of your posts. We can only have a thin grasp of the present difficulties unless we understand the specific policies and practices (like homesteading) that got us here. That gives us one place to start undoing. I look forward to hearing more about the Black Seed farm.
"These factors helped Native Americans establish camas plantations here, mistaken for empty "green lawns" by early European explorers." Growing up in Oregon, it's a tragedy to me that I only learned of the vast camas fields and its significance as an adult. I dream about what they looked like, how beautiful they are when still blooming under the oaks of the WiIlamette Valley in the spring.
I loved learning about the specificity of your place, having loved that area since a child visiting for vacations there each summer. And it's truly heartening to hear of the many organizations that are working to find new ways to live with the lands and its histories, at repair and regeneration. Such a great read this morning, grateful for your work and its care. 💜
John, I found today’s well researched and well written information very helpful in understanding rights to land and water. The Navy’s presence on the north end of Whidby Island prompted thoughts on the US government’s use of Super Fund (we have the best, softest toilet paper) Sites. Too frequently the industrial polluters escape accountability through bankruptcy, re-incorporation in Texas, where hazardous industries are not liable for anything, with the change of a word or letter from their original name. So in the end we taxpayers foot most of the bill. Actual costs come in over budget; others just are never completed.
The idea of “Think globally, Act locally” harkens back to my hippie days in the sixties. So out of date. So ignored. So vital today. I smiled upon seeing the logo displaying a red barn in the foreground and a white lighthouse in the background. We truly aren’t in the Kansas of “Wizard of Oz” days. Eliminating beef from our diet has been one step. Cheese, too? Not yet but that’s got to go too. Changes in diet seem to offer a great impact - for our own bodies and the planet. All the best, John.
You might find interesting an article some local journalists from my hometown put out about very similar water/farming dynamics.
The journalists, along with people from Pro Publica, interviewed some of the largest farming families.
If you had told me who controls the Colorado River’s water, I suppose last on my list would be some farmers in Imperial County. I suppose it’s commentary enough that these water policies have these odd knock off effects all over
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2023/11/09/20-california-farm-families-use-more-colorado-river-water-than-some-states/71156386007/
This is so interesting, John. It seems there are some great organizations on Whidbey Island working on community farming. As you say, the examples are local but the issues are global. I live in Flagstaff, Arizona, and my son was co-owner of a local produce farm here. After several years of late freezes, droughts, wildfires, and floods, they moved to Homer, Alaska on the coast in hopes of having a more stable growing season. I don't pretend to know all the issues they dealt with, but I know they worked very, very hard and it seems that's the direction farming is heading with climate change. I am amazed by and grateful to all community farmers and their dedication. Thanks for this post and I look forward to more.
Wow, I just learned so much and I thank you, John. This was an incredible read and the voice over was phenomenal.
Thank you for this interesting listen while I tidied up tonight. Such fascinating connections made. I have a similar itchiness around homesteading - especially because in my area it’s often tied up with religion.
I live near Lake Erie and every summer we have issues with our water because the runoff from farm fields cause toxic algae blooms in our warm, shallow lake. For the last several years we have to constantly check water quality thru summer before swimming at the beach and about 9 years ago we didn’t have clean drinking water for a few days. 🤯 It breaks my heart. Although, hearing about the thoughtful groups starting up in your community are so inspiring!
i learned a lot. you mentioned: "At South Whidbey Tilth we want everyone to have access to healthy produce that is grown with respect for wildlife and our natural landscapes." - I hope eventually it will also evolve into consciously producing food that is native to the area. Native plants should also be able to thrive without needing so much artificial stuff and perhaps, less water.
Fascinating as always! Do you read Patrick Donnelly’s work? He just posted an in-depth article on a major change in Nevada water law that is going to have impacts on water rights there. Might be of interest to you.
Wonderful piece, John. I like how you connect all of the histories and the way they worked to create the realities of today. Agriculture is intertwined with so many issues, problems, and historical rights as well as food! You really bring that to light.
John, I love the way you're mixing history and the present in so many of your posts. We can only have a thin grasp of the present difficulties unless we understand the specific policies and practices (like homesteading) that got us here. That gives us one place to start undoing. I look forward to hearing more about the Black Seed farm.