Sam Schipani

Photo by Gabor Degre This year, multinational health supermarket giant Whole Foods named regenerative agriculture first in its top food trends for 2020. “Farmers, producers, academics, government agencies, retailers and more are…
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A month or so ago, when brainstorming ideas for my column, my editor approached me with a challenge: spend $10 at the local Goodwill and wow her by upcycling thrift store finds into new treasures. I am a regular denizen of the thrift…
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Image by 15299 from Pixabay The Rodgers & Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!” is all about the drama that ensues between homesteaders and ranchers living in the Oklahoma plains. The musical is not only classic and catchy, but tells a…
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Image by skeeze from Pixabay Agriculture is central to life in chilly North Dakota. About 90 percent of the state’s land is used for agriculture, and 24 percent of the state’s population is employed in the agricultural sector. The…
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New Mexico is known as the “Land of Enchantment,” and with stunning geographic diversity, from snow-capped mountains to white gypsum sand dunes, it is easy to see why. Image by Tom Kranz from Pixabay When it comes to…
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Nevada may be best known for the glitzy, glamorous gambler’s paradise of Las Vegas and Reno. Even though this scene seems antithetical to homesteading, the Silver State has a long legacy of farming and ranching and boasts many…
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Mountainous Colorado makes for beautiful scenery and ski slopes, but the state’s geography can make farming and homesteading a little challenging. The state has the highest elevation of any other state, averaging 6,800 feet above sea level…
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The Heart of Dixie is known, in part, for its complicated history, especially with respect to civil rights. A less-discussed part of Alabama’s history, however, is that the state’s legacy of homesteading helped pave the way for some…
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Kansas is one of the country’s leading agriculture states and is perhaps best known for its so-called amber waves of grain. Kansas state nickname is "The Wheat State," and it is usually ranked number one in all wheat produced, wheat flour…
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Located in the heart of the Deep South, Mississippi has a complicated and fraught farming legacy. Still, agriculture is the number one industry in the Magnolia State even today, employing nearly 30 percent of the state’s workforce and…
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Homesteading literally made South Dakota what it is today. The Homestead Act, passed by Congress in 1862, provided for the initial settlement of present-day South Dakota. Many settlers were lured to the area by published claims promising…
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Louisiana is probably best known for its bayous, Creole culture and its big annual bash, Mardi Gras. Swampy Louisiana is also filled with fertile soils, moderately priced land and unique livestock raising opportunities, including…
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