Mining & Agriculture
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Uncommon Westerners
Hersh Saunders' transformation from prosthodontist to kosher slaughterer
Frustrated by the difficulty of finding kosher meat from humanely raised animals, Rabbi Hersh Saunders began raising livestock and learned to butcher in the ritual way as a shochet.
by Shanna Lewis, Dec 07, 2011 -
Feature
A citizen activist forces New Mexico's dairies to clean up their act
When a giant dairy proposed building near Jerry Nivens' beloved New Mexico home, the chain-smoking Texas hermit became an activist who organized other locals to fight the industry.
by Stephanie Paige Ogburn, Dec 04, 2011 -
Feature
Can an old mine become a work of art?
The old Ute-Ule mine site outside Lake City, Colo., is under scrutiny by the Hardrock Revision Team, which wants to clean up the mine and yet preserve it as a living and historic work of art.
by Laura Pritchett, Dec 01, 2011 -
Multimedia
A Texas town welcomes dairies; a New Mexico activist fights them
Jana Hughes, of Hobbs, N.M., does not find dairies to be good neighbors. Janet Claborn, of Muleshoe, Texas, has recruited 14 dairies to her town and sees them as an economic development blessing.
by Stephanie Paige Ogburn, Nov 27, 2011 -
Feature
Farm incubators help would-be farmers succeed on their own
Viva Farms is a "farm incubator" in Washington's Skagit Valley that helps aspiring cash-poor farmers like Nelida Martinez start and successfully operate their own businesses.
by Jennifer Langston, Nov 28, 2011 -
Writers on the Range
How can "woofers" stay on the farm?
Young people are eager to serve as unpaid interns on organic farms, but translating their dreams into a real, self-supporting lifestyle is proving harder.
by Dev Carey, Oct 13, 2011 -
Feature
Remediating a Superfund sacrifice zone on Montana's Clark Fork river
The town of Opportunity, Mont., is weighed down by pollution from old copper mining and a modern-day river restoration project.
by Brad Tyer, Sep 25, 2011 -
Book Reviews
Survival and opportunism in Butte: A review of The Richest Hill on Earth
Richard S. Wheeler's historical novel dramatizes the rivalry between the "Copper Kings" in 19th century Butte, Mont.
by Karen Rigby, Sep 18, 2011 -
Writers on the Range
Save the land by saving the rancher
The best way to preserve the West's public lands is by preserving the West's ranchers.
by Amos Eno, Sep 07, 2011 -
Current
Biochar makeover for abandoned mines?
Researchers are trying to restore the damaged, acidic soil around abandoned hardrock mines with the help of biochar, a special form of charcoal.
by Kimberly Hirai, Aug 07, 2011 -
Writers on the Range
The return of the Lords of Yesterday
The Old West-style extractive economy is roaring back to life, powered by the insatiable energy needs of countries like China.
by Paul Larmer, Aug 03, 2011 -
Letters
The global is local
by Zach Martin , Aug 02, 2011 -
Editor's Note
The return of the Lords of Yesterday
The West's once-faltering extractive economy is roaring back to life, powered by the energy needs of developing countries like China.
by Paul Larmer, Jul 24, 2011 -
Sidebar
When the locals don't want your coal, sell it overseas
Global markets could keep Powder River Basin coal flowing overseas for decades to come.
by Jonathan Thompson, Jul 25, 2011 -
Feature
The Global West: how foreign investment fuels resource extraction in western states
China's insatiable energy appetite is fueling a natural resource boom in the West.
by Jonathan Thompson, Jul 25, 2011
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