James Decker
@jamesdecker2006.bsky.social
Just a small town mayor with blue hair. #StamfordTexas propagandist. #Westof98 essayist/podcaster. Rural agitator. Alleged Methodist. Westof98.Substack.com
Periodically, folks ask me for Wendell Berry reading recommendations. Today at #WestOf98, I’m offering just that.
I’m launching a recurring series on the influences that have shaped my perspective on the world.
I’m launching a recurring series on the influences that have shaped my perspective on the world.
October 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Periodically, folks ask me for Wendell Berry reading recommendations. Today at #WestOf98, I’m offering just that.
I’m launching a recurring series on the influences that have shaped my perspective on the world.
I’m launching a recurring series on the influences that have shaped my perspective on the world.
Today at #Westof98, I’m tackling two important topics: education and work.
It is impossible to discuss one without the other, when our nation’s education system was built to churn out workers.
So what happens when that same nation begins to deprioritize workers?
It is impossible to discuss one without the other, when our nation’s education system was built to churn out workers.
So what happens when that same nation begins to deprioritize workers?
September 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Today at #Westof98, I’m tackling two important topics: education and work.
It is impossible to discuss one without the other, when our nation’s education system was built to churn out workers.
So what happens when that same nation begins to deprioritize workers?
It is impossible to discuss one without the other, when our nation’s education system was built to churn out workers.
So what happens when that same nation begins to deprioritize workers?
Happy Independence Day! For 95 years, July 4 in #StamfordTexas has centered around preserving and perpetuating our western heritage. The 95th annual Texas Cowboy Reunion is underway, and at #Westof98, I’m sharing an essay that I wrote about the history and legacy of this event.
July 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Happy Independence Day! For 95 years, July 4 in #StamfordTexas has centered around preserving and perpetuating our western heritage. The 95th annual Texas Cowboy Reunion is underway, and at #Westof98, I’m sharing an essay that I wrote about the history and legacy of this event.
Reposted by James Decker
A Sabbath Poem by Wendell Berry
—This one goes out to everybody who fought for our public lands and let their voices be heard by those in power
—This one goes out to everybody who fought for our public lands and let their voices be heard by those in power
June 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
A Sabbath Poem by Wendell Berry
—This one goes out to everybody who fought for our public lands and let their voices be heard by those in power
—This one goes out to everybody who fought for our public lands and let their voices be heard by those in power
There is before the United States Congress a proposal to sell public lands to help solve our national housing crisis. I am bothered by this proposal.
June 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
There is before the United States Congress a proposal to sell public lands to help solve our national housing crisis. I am bothered by this proposal.
Today, on June 19, 2025, we celebrate Juneteenth as a national holiday. We celebrate in an America that is flawed but always struggling forward. By pushing onward, we acknowledge that freedom is a continuous journey worth pursuing every single day!
June 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Today, on June 19, 2025, we celebrate Juneteenth as a national holiday. We celebrate in an America that is flawed but always struggling forward. By pushing onward, we acknowledge that freedom is a continuous journey worth pursuing every single day!
Got asked to fill in and teach the adult Sunday school class at church today.
It was a direct quote from the great Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis in this book, but I definitely used the line, “adultery is for Hosea a favorite metaphor for economic irresponsibility.”
It was a direct quote from the great Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis in this book, but I definitely used the line, “adultery is for Hosea a favorite metaphor for economic irresponsibility.”
June 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Got asked to fill in and teach the adult Sunday school class at church today.
It was a direct quote from the great Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis in this book, but I definitely used the line, “adultery is for Hosea a favorite metaphor for economic irresponsibility.”
It was a direct quote from the great Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis in this book, but I definitely used the line, “adultery is for Hosea a favorite metaphor for economic irresponsibility.”
I am uncomfortable with the word “celebrate” when Memorial Day is involved. This week, we marked the holiday by “honoring” our local war dead at our second annual Decoration Day ceremony.
Essays From West of 98: A Memorial
Honoring those who laid down their lives
westof98.substack.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I am uncomfortable with the word “celebrate” when Memorial Day is involved. This week, we marked the holiday by “honoring” our local war dead at our second annual Decoration Day ceremony.
Reposted by James Decker
Ag policies matter to everyone. When your entire community relies on agriculture to succeed, it's different. @mrbimpact.bsky.social talked with w/ @jamesdecker2006.bsky.social, Mayor of Stamford, TX, about his letter of ideas and action items to improve America's ag industry to @USDA @SecRollins.
May 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Ag policies matter to everyone. When your entire community relies on agriculture to succeed, it's different. @mrbimpact.bsky.social talked with w/ @jamesdecker2006.bsky.social, Mayor of Stamford, TX, about his letter of ideas and action items to improve America's ag industry to @USDA @SecRollins.
It’s one of the most iconic scenes in cinema. John Wayne, as Ethan Edwards, rescues his niece from captivity and then stands alone in the doorway, set apart from the family.
It’s also deeply tragic. He’s lost his spirit of family and community.
It’s also deeply tragic. He’s lost his spirit of family and community.
Essays From West of 98: Tragic and Alone
Romantic heroism as a caution
westof98.substack.com
May 16, 2025 at 1:46 PM
It’s one of the most iconic scenes in cinema. John Wayne, as Ethan Edwards, rescues his niece from captivity and then stands alone in the doorway, set apart from the family.
It’s also deeply tragic. He’s lost his spirit of family and community.
It’s also deeply tragic. He’s lost his spirit of family and community.
Reposted by James Decker
@mrbimpact.bsky.social is joined by West of 98 James M. Decker for a wide-ranging conversation, including his letter to @USDA @SecRollins. Listen wherever you get your podcasts & subscribe. https://tinyurl.com/mr47pca4
May 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
@mrbimpact.bsky.social is joined by West of 98 James M. Decker for a wide-ranging conversation, including his letter to @USDA @SecRollins. Listen wherever you get your podcasts & subscribe. https://tinyurl.com/mr47pca4
Mary Magdalene first thought the resurrected Jesus as a gardener. Was it a mistake? I’m not sure that it was.
For the entire history of man, God has called us to tend and keep his creation. And so perhaps the gardener imagery is a reminder of how we should live our lives.
For the entire history of man, God has called us to tend and keep his creation. And so perhaps the gardener imagery is a reminder of how we should live our lives.
May 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Mary Magdalene first thought the resurrected Jesus as a gardener. Was it a mistake? I’m not sure that it was.
For the entire history of man, God has called us to tend and keep his creation. And so perhaps the gardener imagery is a reminder of how we should live our lives.
For the entire history of man, God has called us to tend and keep his creation. And so perhaps the gardener imagery is a reminder of how we should live our lives.
A few weeks ago, the long-closed Cliff House restaurant was demolished in #StamfordTexas. It ends one era while beginning a new one, but the memories remain. It caused me to revisit one of my most popular essays, the story of The Table.
You know the one.
You know the one.
May 2, 2025 at 1:56 PM
A few weeks ago, the long-closed Cliff House restaurant was demolished in #StamfordTexas. It ends one era while beginning a new one, but the memories remain. It caused me to revisit one of my most popular essays, the story of The Table.
You know the one.
You know the one.
Reposted by James Decker
Scenes from the hedgerow: Alberta spruce, hazelnut, Douglas fir, arborvitae
April 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Scenes from the hedgerow: Alberta spruce, hazelnut, Douglas fir, arborvitae
Reposted by James Decker
Look at the height of much of the pasture. Well over a foot tall in many areas.
Livestock will convert this inedible carbon into nutritious food.
By timing the grazing correctly, we will maximize carbon sequestration by keeping the pasture in the exponential growth phase.
Livestock will convert this inedible carbon into nutritious food.
By timing the grazing correctly, we will maximize carbon sequestration by keeping the pasture in the exponential growth phase.
April 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Look at the height of much of the pasture. Well over a foot tall in many areas.
Livestock will convert this inedible carbon into nutritious food.
By timing the grazing correctly, we will maximize carbon sequestration by keeping the pasture in the exponential growth phase.
Livestock will convert this inedible carbon into nutritious food.
By timing the grazing correctly, we will maximize carbon sequestration by keeping the pasture in the exponential growth phase.
Reposted by James Decker
Last year's mowed-down cover crops serving as mulch for the green shoots of overseeded pasture mix.
April 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Last year's mowed-down cover crops serving as mulch for the green shoots of overseeded pasture mix.
Reposted by James Decker
A layer of organic garden paper covered with a thick layer of wood chips works very well at giving the chestnuts a small area free of competition, while also serving as mulch to lock in moisture.
April 27, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A layer of organic garden paper covered with a thick layer of wood chips works very well at giving the chestnuts a small area free of competition, while also serving as mulch to lock in moisture.
Reposted by James Decker
Converting industrial cropland into regenerative chestnut silvopasture, spring 2025 update:
~35 chestnuts planted, ~300 trees and shrubs planted in the western hedgerow, overseeded multiple times with pasture mix and cover crops
My plans are measured in centuries.
~35 chestnuts planted, ~300 trees and shrubs planted in the western hedgerow, overseeded multiple times with pasture mix and cover crops
My plans are measured in centuries.
April 27, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Converting industrial cropland into regenerative chestnut silvopasture, spring 2025 update:
~35 chestnuts planted, ~300 trees and shrubs planted in the western hedgerow, overseeded multiple times with pasture mix and cover crops
My plans are measured in centuries.
~35 chestnuts planted, ~300 trees and shrubs planted in the western hedgerow, overseeded multiple times with pasture mix and cover crops
My plans are measured in centuries.
I cannot abide a “climate change”discourse which views rural people as an obstacle, grazing livestock as our foremost problem, and technocratic boondoggles as the solution for it all.
Yesterday for #EarthDay, I reprised some of my past thoughts on that very topic.
Yesterday for #EarthDay, I reprised some of my past thoughts on that very topic.
April 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I cannot abide a “climate change”discourse which views rural people as an obstacle, grazing livestock as our foremost problem, and technocratic boondoggles as the solution for it all.
Yesterday for #EarthDay, I reprised some of my past thoughts on that very topic.
Yesterday for #EarthDay, I reprised some of my past thoughts on that very topic.
Reposted by James Decker
A champion of agroforestry, J. Russell Smith argued for the restoration of forests as key to sustainable agriculture in his seminal work Tree Crops. #ecosystems
daily.jstor.org/he-spoke-for...?
daily.jstor.org/he-spoke-for...?
He Spoke for the Trees (and Also the Soil) - JSTOR Daily
A champion of agroforestry, J. Russell Smith argued for the restoration of forests as key to sustainable agriculture in his seminal work Tree Crops.
daily.jstor.org
April 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A champion of agroforestry, J. Russell Smith argued for the restoration of forests as key to sustainable agriculture in his seminal work Tree Crops. #ecosystems
daily.jstor.org/he-spoke-for...?
daily.jstor.org/he-spoke-for...?
In November 2017, I launched my writing project that became #Westof98. My first essay was about a community with vacant buildings, but good people.
I’ve revisited and expanded that essay today, to introduce the idea to a vast new audience and reflect on our own local progress.
I’ve revisited and expanded that essay today, to introduce the idea to a vast new audience and reflect on our own local progress.
March 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
In November 2017, I launched my writing project that became #Westof98. My first essay was about a community with vacant buildings, but good people.
I’ve revisited and expanded that essay today, to introduce the idea to a vast new audience and reflect on our own local progress.
I’ve revisited and expanded that essay today, to introduce the idea to a vast new audience and reflect on our own local progress.
Reposted by James Decker
These amazing land stewards will help feed their community and local ecology for generations to come.
Busy weekend: Saturday we helped out with an agroforestry tree planting project at a partner farm in Walker County, while on Sunday afternoon we planted still more trees at the newly begun community food forest site at Ascension Lutheran Church, adds up to well over five hundred fruit and nut trees
March 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
These amazing land stewards will help feed their community and local ecology for generations to come.
Reposted by James Decker
An extremely good deep dive into egg price gouging by Basel Musharbash! @basel.bsky.social
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/hatching-a...
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/hatching-a...
Hatching a Conspiracy: A BIG Investigation into Egg Prices
'More hens, less income!' So said the United Egg Producers' economist Donald Bell in 1994. The industry has gotten more consolidated ever since. And avian flu is just the latest excuse to hike prices.
www.thebignewsletter.com
March 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
An extremely good deep dive into egg price gouging by Basel Musharbash! @basel.bsky.social
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/hatching-a...
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/hatching-a...
Reposted by James Decker
A Sabbath Poem by Wendell Berry
March 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A Sabbath Poem by Wendell Berry