Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
Implementing arts-driven community and economic development to improve the places we live and love. Seasonal arts and culture ideas can be powerful drivers of economic growth in communities large and small, creating jobs, boosting tourism, and fostering local engagement. For community planners and economic developers, these initiatives act as valuable “cultural anchors,” stabilizing local economies […]
In city centers, fairgrounds, and events centers across America, holiday markets, autumn boutiques, and seasonal activities bring communities together and infuse neighborhoods with vibrant, festive spirit. From cider mills to arts and crafts markets, these attractions offer city residents and visitors alike a chance to experience a slice of rural charm within an urban setting. […]
Agritainment—a fusion of agriculture and entertainment—has quickly become a popular approach to enliven both rural and urban-edge environments. Attractions like corn mazes, pumpkin patches, u-pick fields, apple orchards, and even craft wineries, breweries, and distilleries offer families, friends, and tourists a refreshing escape from the urban routine. Here’s why urban planners should embrace this trend […]
The Impact of Short-Term Rentals like Airbnb on Rural America: Opportunities and Challenges Over the past decade, short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb have overturned the travel and accommodation industry, providing tourists with unique stays in local homes rather than traditional hotels. While much of the conversation around short-term rentals has focused on urban markets, […]
Rural America has long been associated with vast landscapes and agricultural heritage, but today, these communities face a new set of challenges. Population decline, economic struggles, and the lure of urban life have left many rural areas searching for ways to sustain themselves. In the midst of these challenges, however, a new story is unfolding—one […]
Discover how Rural America is evolving by balancing tradition and modernization. Explore the impact of technology, infrastructure, and cultural preservation on small towns across the U.S.
“At Strong Towns, we push back on the concept of a “solution.” There is no solution to the housing trap we find ourselves in… it’s always been an approach… People need to be able to try things, to respond to street or opportunity as it presents to them. Those responses need to be incremental, a […]
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, I blogged the diary of my ancestor Pvt. Orrin Brown, Co. E, 14th Michigan Infantry, who marched through Georgia and the Carolinas with General Sherman. It remains some of the most popular material on this blog, now five years later. As best we know, […]
Pagosa Springs’ namesake hot springs provide a unique local resource in a steady supply of naturally hot water, bubbling up in geothermal hot springs around which the town grew up. The Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to educate the community in small-scale, sustainable agriculture using local renewable energy. Over […]
I am supporting Evan McMullin for President of the United States. Who? Evan McMullin is the #NeverTrump alternative for Conservatives of conscience. Evan stepped up in August, to provide a positive choice in the 2016 Presidential election. He was born in Utah, grew up in Washington state, and went to school at BYU and the […]