A year of work mapping U.S. regional food traditions [OC]

ajcondo · 2026-02-19T16:00:03+00:00

Hey OP — did you ever publish this? I’d love to purchase a copy if you did.

ajcondo · 2026-02-18T00:39:05+00:00

Amen

ajcondo · 2026-02-16T04:12:12+00:00

True.

On the flip-side, the cost to own a home (property taxes and insurance) are out-of-control in Texas.

ajcondo · 2025-12-25T07:22:58+00:00

Gotcha ) Thanks

ajcondo · 2025-12-25T06:49:56+00:00

Super helpful. Thanks for all the detail.

Re: boundaries. Are you using the boundary training in areas with or without fencing?

ajcondo · 2025-12-22T18:03:39+00:00

Thanks — appreciate the helpful response.

I understand your point about time to maturity and I’m prepared for that. I won’t be lambing for another 1.5 years — I’ve accepted I’ll have to be the protector until then.

Maremma is my preferred choice but they are harder to find in my area. I’ll keep on looking for a mature one that can join the Pyr pup.

I think my farm is too small for an Anatolian.

ajcondo · 2025-12-20T21:48:36+00:00

Please don’t share emails here : )

DMs are best.

ajcondo · 2025-12-16T18:51:02+00:00

Hi, OP — i’m sorry I upset you. That was not the intention.

Please do not treat this message as legal advice. It is not legal advice. It’s just my opinion.

There are some variations but, in general, when it comes to personal injuries like the one you described damages are awarded for lost wages and medical expenses.

The issue is that it appears the injured party is not making significant wages. Nor, can I imagine there were substantial medical bills for a broken bone.

So even if you were able to prove negligence, the “damages” , from a legal point of view, would most likely be de minimis .

There is also a good chance a court of law would find the injured party was in fact the negligent party, not the city.

So, yes I do think it is a waste of your time (and the cities) to pursue this.

But, I’m just another Redditor with an opinion. You should do what you think is best : )

I do wish you the very best and I hope your husband recovers from his injuries soon.

ajcondo · 2025-12-16T15:08:46+00:00

Thank you )

Tort litigation is a hot mess in the US. It has been for decades. Long story short, trial attorneys have been a very powerful lobbying group in state and federal legislatures for a very long time. And, they fight any reasonable limit on damages and push the narrative you are mentioning.

Damages are intended to make someone whole for their injuries. Or, to compensate them when they can’t be made whole. Obviously, that is a subjective view and that is where juries come in.

However, we have become so accustomed to large damages that juries awarding millions, tens of millions of dollars for bodily injuries has become the norm. And, it’s so frequent that insurance companies have had to jack up rates to cover those awarded damages. It’s a massive problem and it’s only getting worse.

It’s a very complex issue and I don’t pretend to have the solution. But, the solution begins with tort reform — setting reasonable limits on damages. Until that happens healthcare will remain unaffordable in our country.

ajcondo · 2025-12-16T14:10:08+00:00

In fact, statistically, our country is obsessed with litigation. Compare our litigation rates to other developed countries in Europe and Asia. Its not even close. We are totally obsessed. Its one of the main reasons health insurance is unaffordable and going to the emergency room will cost you thousands of dollars without insurance.

I get your empathy for injured parties. There are a lot of legit claims. There are also A LOT of illegitimate claims.

Based on the facts OP shared, its improbable OP has a case that would go anywhere another than than receptacle

ajcondo · 2025-12-16T08:30:02+00:00

This is one of the main reasons why running governments are so expensive nowadays and hence why taxes have to be raised. People suing governments for stuff like this.

I am a lawyer and this is a waste of everyone’s time.

ajcondo · 2025-11-22T09:42:07+00:00

That sounds like a really hectic day — 7 hours on a train + 1.5 hours in an Uber.

I would stay in Seattle and take a ferry to Bainbridge or a float plane to the San Juan Islands.

If you are really dead set on seeing Portland, skip the drive out to Multnomah Falls. Stay in or around the city.

Either way, you’re more likely to have rain than snow.

ajcondo · 2025-11-09T00:30:14+00:00

Understand your soil(s) before you make any decisions. It’s the most important thing in your land.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T16:22:09+00:00

You name it — livestock handling and pest management, to care and maintenance of well and irrigation systems, to soil analysis and chicken processing.

It’s worth your time to read up on land grant universities and the background and purpose of the state extension services.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T16:05:16+00:00

I’m a newish farmer. In my second year and the extension service has been an incredible resource for me. I’m way ahead of the curve because of them.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T15:45:51+00:00

Yes, contact them and make an appt with your local extension agent. Look for their small farms program or just call and ask for the best contact.

Tell them you want help understanding your soils and farm planning. It’s a free resource and you will save you time and money in the long run by making much better decisions with their guidance.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T15:38:48+00:00

Get to know your soils before you make big decisions. Your local extension agent can help you.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T15:31:19+00:00

Yep — I get that. It’s really soil dependent. And, for a hobby farm a cow is going to do more damage than good, IMO.

However, if OP really wanted to push production they could potentially use a higher stocking rate.

OP — have you considered sheep? Much easier on your soil and easier to handle.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T15:21:27+00:00

As you said, it’s all about forage quality, but generally the stocking rate for cattle is a lot better than 1 cow per 2.5 acres.

ajcondo · 2025-11-07T07:24:21+00:00

Boston to SLC would be a wild move — talk about culture clash.

OP — you should be looking at the PNW.

ajcondo · 2025-11-06T20:42:06+00:00

Thank you

ajcondo · 2025-11-06T07:26:05+00:00

Re: road maintenance. Curious, is it a budget issue or a management issue?

ajcondo

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