WE'RE BACK. Apologies for the week's long interruption. Today I lay out a personal theory for rebuilding American life from the ground up: move from an extractive economy to a rooted economy built on land, family, and local makers. I argue that sheep and an authentic wool sweater supply chain can create real jobs, restore small towns, and give families purpose that lasts across generations.

Key ideas I'll be sharing:

• returning after a break and how routine keeps a large family steady 
• the idea of extractive economies versus rooted economies 
• why sheep are low-capital working-family livestock with multiple outputs 
• how grazing rentals can turn nearby pasture into income 
• the “sheep to sweater” pipeline and the trades it creates 
• why an authentic local wool sweater could anchor small town industry 
• apprenticeships, youth work, and the case for homeschooling support 
• the spiritual dimension of land, tradition, and faith 
• using technology and social platforms to scale rooted family enterprise 
• a practical challenge to start with a small flock and rebuild locally