I grew up off-grid on a cattle ranch in the foothills of the Cariboo Mountains, in central British Columbia, Canada.
This newsletter is a collection of vignettes from a childhood that feels like it belongs to another century—but was simply my daily life.
These are the stories of my life. I am currently writing a book about homesteading and the lost skills that kept us alive out here.
Each issue arrives with:
A Story
From the ranch — farming, firewood, calving season, and the quiet rhythm of a life tied to the land.
A Keepsake Card
Hand-drawn 4x6 botanical card with medicinal notes on the reverse — mailed to your door. Collect them.
Bonus
Changes each month. A poem from the tractor seat, a hand-drawn sketch, a quiet field note, or short tutorial. Always a small surprise.
I started Rooted In Hard Ground because the world I grew up in is disappearing. Not dramatically. Just quietly, one paved road and one forgotten skill at a time.
These stories are my way of putting a fence around it before it is gone entirely.
This is how we stay connected in an uncertain world.
If that mindset runs through you too — subscribe. Let's stay connected.
— Western Mac
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📍 Don't see your country? We currently ship to Canada, the United States, and Great Britain.
If you live elsewhere and would like to subscribe, email us at newsletter@westernmac.com. We will calculate shipping to your country and contact you directly.
I Want to Hear From You
If you grew up similarly—on a farm, off-grid, or in a world that no longer exists—I want to hear your story.
✉️ Reply to any newsletter with your own memory. I read every note.
With your permission, I may share it in a future issue or read it aloud on my audio channels. Just tell me if you'd prefer to remain anonymous.
There is something powerful about hearing these voices together. You are not alone in remembering.