CONCHO: I remember visiting family in the Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan) during summer and winter vacations. I grew up in Northern California, and I thought these folks were backward hicks compared to how we did things up in the Bay Area.

My grandma still had her Victory Garden from WWII and raised ducks and geese (along with other barnyard critters). She DID make her own ice cream (and my grandpa made beer!). Life there had a slower pace and people had a different value system (they didn’t worship money or things, but family, friends and God).

I think a return to that style of life is actually a good thing. Especially the making your own beer part.