Many of you don't know that when I left TV news, I took a job shooting videos for the Washington Department of Natural Resources. It gave me the chance to build my independent media work in my personal time, which was not an option as a TV reporter given my contract in corporate news. When I was hired, I was encouraged to keep my social media presence. Recently, my bosses informed me that I was to stop all videos related to Covid safety, vaccines and mandates that “undermine” DNR's policies, as DNR is one of many state agencies with a vaccine mandate, though ours was enacted by Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz and separate from Gov. Inslee's order. My independent work was done on personal time with personal equipment and I never discussed my position at DNR. I also informed my bosses that I had a First Amendment right to continue, and that the policy of a state agency committed to science should align with robust discussion that includes a variety of viewpoints. They disagreed. I refused to comply and was terminated last week.
I am truly grateful for the many wildland fire fighters whose stories I’ve had the honor of telling, as well as the fuels crews fixing the forest health crisis driving historic fires. We nearly evacuated twice this year, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that the work of DNR staff across the state saved our home and thousands of others.
While there are many unknowns for our family, not the least of which is finding a new health insurance plan (any suggestions?), we are absolutely unwavering that it was the right decision. How could I continue covering censorship and allow myself to be censored on one of the most important topics of my lifetime? There are a great many people taking grave risks right now - many of them you've seen in my videos - and those of us who stand up for free speech and informed choice right now will hopefully pave the way someday for others to do so without losing their jobs. I got into journalism to follow the truth wherever it leads, and I will continue. I am planning to record a video to discuss this publicly on YouTube. Would you please let me know what questions you'd like me to answer in it? In sum, our family is incredibly grateful for your support here. I have absolutely no regrets. I said once that free speech is the hill I would die on - but just to be clear, as I've said before, I did not commit suicide. 😉 Be brave. We are in this together.
Owning livestock is like running a suicide prevention hotline. Almost every day, one of the animals is trying to bring itself to a slow and painful death, or sometimes a quick one. When I came out to put the chickens back in the coop one night recently, I saw that our rooster and a hen had gotten stuck in between the tarp and the coop. I have no idea how long they’d been there. What they were trying to do in privacy, I don’t even want to know. But they could have died from heat exhaustion in this weather.
This is why I avoid Chicken brain by taking the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture. It’s a great food-based source of Omega 3s - and because it is fermented unlike most fish oils, it preserves nutritional value. Not to mention, the concentrated butter oil brings in necessary vitamin K to absorb the vitamin D and vitamin A in the cod liver oil. Get 10% off at checkout with promo code “ALISON”. https://greenpasture.org/
(Also, no Farm Report live ...
If you live in our part of Florida, it is only a matter of time before you drive down the road and spot a gopher tortoise in your way. Will you drive past it, or pull over and move it to a safe location? This question can be a dilemma as touching a gopher tortoise is technically illegal, though I have read that if you are relocating it out of the road, this is allowed. In other circumstances, touching a gopher tortoise can bring a 5-year jail sentence and a $5000 fine.
I keep my gopher tortoise spotting eyes healthy with the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture. It is packed with inflammation reducing omega-3s and vitamin A, which is extremely important for sight. The cod liver oil is fermented to maintain nutritional value compared to fish oils that undergo high heat processing. Get 10% off with promo code “ALISON” at checkout. https://greenpasture.org/
We have only been trailering our horse ourselves for a few years, but typically Lynn is the one at the wheel. The kids had rodeo camp recently - to which they needed to bring Sassy - and Lynn had an unexpected meeting to attend. That left yours truly as the only option for a driver. I have been riding horses since I was 5 years old, but I have never driven a trailer of any kind. I got one quick 10 minute lesson around the neighborhood and then off we went. Thankfully the arena is only five minutes from our house and I was able to take back roads most of the way. Of course, as a 33-year old horse who has traveled to Seattle and back twice, Sassy is a dream horse for a newbie. We made it safely and I feel much more confident now.
I keep my driving eyes healthy with the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture. Vitamin A is great for low light vision and omega 3s are important for retinal health. Get yours at 10% off using “ALISON” as your promo code at check out....
https://open.substack.com/pub/imahealth/p/the-community-doctor-local-food-real?
Real food = real health