The Prairie Panicle No. 12
A new monthly report of thoughts, links, and reads
It’s Prairie Panicle time yet again! Let’s get right to it, shall we?
What I’ve Written
The Mad Farmer is a quasi-fictional character in a group of Wendell Berry’s poems. I am embracing the Mad Farmer’s qualities and I talk more about that in “Contrary.”
Channeling the Mad Farmer again, “Secede” is a call to turn away from the merchants of big solutions in politics and a call to turn towards neighbor and home.
In honor of Labor Day, I wrote about whether our society *actually* values good work, and why that good work matters, in “The Value of Work.”
Suicide prevention is a topic near and dear to my heart and something that I believe we must talk about openly, particularly in our rural communities. I tackled this topic on World Suicide Prevention Day in “Loved and Needed.”
Online Reading
I’ve recommended several writings by my pal Lenny Wells from Georgia (you might know him as Orchard Keeper on Twitter). I’ll link practically anything he writes, but especially when he’s at Front Porch Republic with an article titled “Finding The Seam: How Small Farmers Can Thrive.”
I absolutely forgot to link this last month and it is worth sharing a month later. Library of America published a collection of anecdotes from a variety of well-known folks called “‘Your Friend, Wendell’: A 90th Birthday Tribute to Wendell Berry.” There’s lots of goodness, but Russell Moore’s experience with a cell phone at Wendell’s home is a particular delight.
My across-the-pond friend
is a regular in my online reading recs, but he’s now published at Plough! Check out his beautiful nature writing in “Naming Creatures.”Books I’ve Read
After last month’s reading of “Cannery Row,” I decided to tackle another author that I had never read. Sadly, Willa Cather is one of the great writers of life on the Great Plains, but her catalog had evaded me. I took a stab at “Death Comes for the Archbishop” and found it to be a quick and engrossing read. It’s a fictionalized tale of Catholic priests working in 19th century New Mexico. It is not a “Western,” but if you enjoy Westerns, you’d definitely enjoy this.
I’ve read a lot of Louis L’Amour novels in my day (read more about that here) and I still occasionally pick one up for the fun and the memories. This time it was “Lando,” one of L’Amour’s works about members of the fictional Sackett family. Much of the book takes place in South Texas and Mexico and includes treasure-hunting, prize-fighting, and encounters with real-life legends like Texas Rangers Captain Leander McNelly.
I picked up old copies of both books at a recent book sale at the Stamford Carnegie Library, one of only four Carnegie Libraries still operating in Texas. It was one of those “fill a bag for $5” type book sales and I came out with a bag…and two full boxes.
Listening Recs
Aldo Leopold is one of the most influential figures on my life and worldview (although I need to fully reckon with and write about how I relate to, disagree with, and grow in my faith from his troubled view of land stewardship in Abrahamic religions). Recently, Ed Roberson had a Leopold-centered interview on Mountain & Prairie with Curt Meine of the Aldo Leopold Foundation. Even if you know a lot about Leopold, you’ll still learn something in this chat.
The West of 98 podcast continues with an audio version of my weekly essays. If you would give it a rating and a review on the Apple podcast store (even if you don’t listen), I would be grateful!
The Rural Church and State podcast is discussing how to view politics through the prism of the Gospel. These conversations are very enjoyable for me, so I hope our listeners find them meaningful as well.
West of 98 Store
The West of 98 bookstore at Bookshop.org has three lists: my Top Texas Books, all the books referenced on the Rural Church and State podcast, and a catch-all Essential West of 98 reads. The commission on these purchases go towards towards the West of 98 project. Even if you never buy my recommendations, do your online book shopping at Bookshop! Their profits support independent bookstores. Amazon doesn’t need more money.
As always, thanks for reading along and supporting my work! Your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.
James Decker is the Mayor of Stamford, Texas and the creator of the West of 98 website and the Rural Church and State and West of 98 podcasts. Contact James and subscribe to these essays at westof98.substack.com and subscribe to him wherever podcasts are found.
I also just discovered Willa Cather and greatly enjoyed "My Antonia". Several readers have recommended that I read "Death Comes to the Archbishop" and it's up next (after some other interlude reads). Love those book sales!
I'd love to read your thoughts on Leopold and his "troubled view of land stewardship in Abrahamic religions." It's a topic I always think about when reading his work.