Swoope Almanac, the Book
This is the place . . . Swoope. I wrote a book about it . . . Swoope Almanac, Stories of love, land, and water in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Chuck Bubbas, Corruption and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (JMU 2023)
FERC held a “scoping” meeting at Stuarts Draft High School on March 19th, 2015. This was an opportunity for members of our community to voice concerns and participate in the democratic process about the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). If it’s built it will bisect Augusta County, Virginia, the place where we live.
What’s Up With WOTUS?
Note: This post transformed into an op-ed piece that the Washington Post published in the Sunday print edition on April 14, 2019, and the online edition on April 12. WOTUS stands for Waters of the United States. When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, it gave the Environmental […]
Anegada: Beautiful Beaches, Queen Conchs, Iguanas and…Cats
Jeanne and I recently traveled to the most remote island of the British Virgin Islands—Anegada. Most mornings, we were the only people on the beach at the Anegada Beach Club. The beaches here are the most beautiful we have ever experienced with white sand and crystal clear water loaded with […]
The Lorax, Bald Eagles, and Pictures of Hope—Reflections on 2018
There is so much to be thankful for this year. The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled again in our favor against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, citing The Lorax, written in 1971 by Dr. Suess. This ruling and The Lorax made national news. Rare birds stopped by Swoope on […]
Shenandoah Valley, What Is It Exactly?
Shen Valley Magazine is hot off the press and can be found in many outlets throughout the readership area. It is a quarterly, lifestyle publication about the culture and community of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Jessie Knadler, editor of Shen Valley magazine asked me to write an article for […]
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Will Destroy Old-Growth Forest
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Set To Destroy Old-Growth Forest “At least three hundred trees, older than this nation, will be destroyed if the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) comes through this ridge on our property,” Bill Limpert lamented. We were walking his part of Jack Mountain in Bath County, Virginia. I could […]
Dominion Cannot Part the Waters Like Moses
Richmond, Virginia, September 28, 2018: The courtroom was full as the three judges filed in from their chambers behind the bench. The bright green carpet with a perfect zig-zag pattern from a vacuum cleaner stood out. We are Sueing the State Water Control Board I was there to hear first hand all [...]
Riparian Buffers – Celebrating Fifteen Years
The riparian buffers on our farm on Middle River are now fifteen years old. Fifteen years ago, the “River Farm” was basically a cool-season grass pasture with a few scattered mature trees along the banks of the river. Now, in addition to excellent forage for cattle, there are hundreds of […]
Deny 401 Certification for the ACP
The Virginia State Water Control Board must deny 401 certification for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). It should have denied 401 certification for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). Building these fracked gas pipelines through steep, rough terrain and karst geology is fraught with danger. Construction is already causing massive soil […]
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