Jesse Hirsch
@jessehirsch.bsky.social
Journalist, food and farming.
Editor of Offrange, a new kind of agriculture publication: https://offrange.org
Editor of Offrange, a new kind of agriculture publication: https://offrange.org
When huge corporations fund sustainability initiatives like cover cropping, does it steal the motivation for individual and collective action?
We sent @davinmfaris.bsky.social to a corporate panel in D.C. - he came away with more questions than answers.
ambrook.com/offrange/per...
We sent @davinmfaris.bsky.social to a corporate panel in D.C. - he came away with more questions than answers.
ambrook.com/offrange/per...
Sustainability, Inc.
Big food corporations are funding cover crops across the Midwest — on their own terms.
ambrook.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:56 PM
When huge corporations fund sustainability initiatives like cover cropping, does it steal the motivation for individual and collective action?
We sent @davinmfaris.bsky.social to a corporate panel in D.C. - he came away with more questions than answers.
ambrook.com/offrange/per...
We sent @davinmfaris.bsky.social to a corporate panel in D.C. - he came away with more questions than answers.
ambrook.com/offrange/per...
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
Growing up my neighbor was Dick Dickerman and my God even now I can't say that very nice man's name.
January 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Growing up my neighbor was Dick Dickerman and my God even now I can't say that very nice man's name.
Feel like we've really moved away from parents naming their boys Dick
January 11, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Feel like we've really moved away from parents naming their boys Dick
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
Data centers are eating everything, including farmland, which is causing real problems for people who want to grow crops, not AI—especially Black and immigrant farmers with limited buying power.
This Land Is Their Land - Offrange
Farmers are fighting AI companies offering fortunes to build data centers on their land. Can they withstand the pressure — and live to farm another day?
ambrook.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Data centers are eating everything, including farmland, which is causing real problems for people who want to grow crops, not AI—especially Black and immigrant farmers with limited buying power.
Everyone is afraid of AI taking their job, but what if it was replacing one of society's most dangerous, undesirable positions?
Carina Imbornone looks at the AI-powered robotics set to upend the beef meatpacking sector:
ambrook.com/offrange/tec...
Carina Imbornone looks at the AI-powered robotics set to upend the beef meatpacking sector:
ambrook.com/offrange/tec...
Slaughterhouse Flash Drive
Beef meatpacking lines — unlike those for chicken and pork — have long resisted full automation. Physical AI is changing that.
ambrook.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Everyone is afraid of AI taking their job, but what if it was replacing one of society's most dangerous, undesirable positions?
Carina Imbornone looks at the AI-powered robotics set to upend the beef meatpacking sector:
ambrook.com/offrange/tec...
Carina Imbornone looks at the AI-powered robotics set to upend the beef meatpacking sector:
ambrook.com/offrange/tec...
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
Our most popular story of all time was on the slow death of the American barn cat: ambrook.com/offrange/per...
The Slow Death of the American Barn Cat - Offrange
As tensions have risen between owners of working cats and conservationists concerned with their environmental impacts, a beloved pastoral mainstay may be slipping away.
ambrook.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Our most popular story of all time was on the slow death of the American barn cat: ambrook.com/offrange/per...
Over the past two decades, citrus growing in Florida has declined by more than 90%.
We sent Diana Kruzman to learn about the crops they're now growing instead: tropical fruits typically grown near the Equator.
ambrook.com/offrange/cro...
We sent Diana Kruzman to learn about the crops they're now growing instead: tropical fruits typically grown near the Equator.
ambrook.com/offrange/cro...
Tropical Fruits Forever
South Florida is the growing epicenter of America’s rare and exotic fruit industry.
ambrook.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Over the past two decades, citrus growing in Florida has declined by more than 90%.
We sent Diana Kruzman to learn about the crops they're now growing instead: tropical fruits typically grown near the Equator.
ambrook.com/offrange/cro...
We sent Diana Kruzman to learn about the crops they're now growing instead: tropical fruits typically grown near the Equator.
ambrook.com/offrange/cro...
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
In case AI data centers seem inevitable, @lelanargi.bsky.social looked at the farmers and farm communities all over the country that are pushing back — and succeeding:
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
This Land Is Their Land - Offrange
Farmers are fighting AI companies offering fortunes to build data centers on their land. Can they withstand the pressure — and live to farm another day?
ambrook.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:13 PM
In case AI data centers seem inevitable, @lelanargi.bsky.social looked at the farmers and farm communities all over the country that are pushing back — and succeeding:
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
Years ago I had a 1984 Mercedes 300TD veggie-diesel that I loved. We got our oil free from a local Thai restaurant and filtered it in our garage. Our exhaust smelled like sesame and peanuts. Now I learn that if I'd just held onto the setup I could have been a player.
Used cooking oil has grown so expensive that organized crime is now deeply involved.
@moiradonovan.bsky.social takes a look at the greasy gold rush: ambrook.com/offrange/sup...
@moiradonovan.bsky.social takes a look at the greasy gold rush: ambrook.com/offrange/sup...
Greasy Practices
As commodity prices skyrocket, used cooking oil has become a target of organized crime.
ambrook.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Years ago I had a 1984 Mercedes 300TD veggie-diesel that I loved. We got our oil free from a local Thai restaurant and filtered it in our garage. Our exhaust smelled like sesame and peanuts. Now I learn that if I'd just held onto the setup I could have been a player.
@flannerydean.bsky.social just noticed your solid profile pic
January 9, 2026 at 3:51 PM
@flannerydean.bsky.social just noticed your solid profile pic
Used cooking oil has grown so expensive that organized crime is now deeply involved.
@moiradonovan.bsky.social takes a look at the greasy gold rush: ambrook.com/offrange/sup...
@moiradonovan.bsky.social takes a look at the greasy gold rush: ambrook.com/offrange/sup...
Greasy Practices
As commodity prices skyrocket, used cooking oil has become a target of organized crime.
ambrook.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Used cooking oil has grown so expensive that organized crime is now deeply involved.
@moiradonovan.bsky.social takes a look at the greasy gold rush: ambrook.com/offrange/sup...
@moiradonovan.bsky.social takes a look at the greasy gold rush: ambrook.com/offrange/sup...
In December I didn't take a pitch from a new writer. Three weeks later, she just emailed to say she is feeling despondent about it.
Not sure what to do except show compassion.
Not sure what to do except show compassion.
January 9, 2026 at 3:43 PM
In December I didn't take a pitch from a new writer. Three weeks later, she just emailed to say she is feeling despondent about it.
Not sure what to do except show compassion.
Not sure what to do except show compassion.
Let's not do this, ag media
January 8, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Let's not do this, ag media
Our most popular story of all time was on the slow death of the American barn cat: ambrook.com/offrange/per...
The Slow Death of the American Barn Cat - Offrange
As tensions have risen between owners of working cats and conservationists concerned with their environmental impacts, a beloved pastoral mainstay may be slipping away.
ambrook.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Our most popular story of all time was on the slow death of the American barn cat: ambrook.com/offrange/per...
In case AI data centers seem inevitable, @lelanargi.bsky.social looked at the farmers and farm communities all over the country that are pushing back — and succeeding:
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
This Land Is Their Land - Offrange
Farmers are fighting AI companies offering fortunes to build data centers on their land. Can they withstand the pressure — and live to farm another day?
ambrook.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:13 PM
In case AI data centers seem inevitable, @lelanargi.bsky.social looked at the farmers and farm communities all over the country that are pushing back — and succeeding:
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
ambrook.com/offrange/lan...
Washington Post editorial board coming in limp again
January 7, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Washington Post editorial board coming in limp again
Both of these headlines in the same news roundup
January 4, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Both of these headlines in the same news roundup
Just sent a pajama party gif on slack, then immediately apologized
December 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Just sent a pajama party gif on slack, then immediately apologized
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
There are multiple reindeer farms in the U.S., but the animals are just there to be charming — you will not be able to try their meat!
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Herders at the Edge of Extinction - Offrange
“There is a lot of divine design around reindeer.”
ambrook.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
There are multiple reindeer farms in the U.S., but the animals are just there to be charming — you will not be able to try their meat!
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
There are multiple reindeer farms in the U.S., but the animals are just there to be charming — you will not be able to try their meat!
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Herders at the Edge of Extinction - Offrange
“There is a lot of divine design around reindeer.”
ambrook.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
There are multiple reindeer farms in the U.S., but the animals are just there to be charming — you will not be able to try their meat!
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Some new holiday fare from Karen Fischer:
ambrook.com/offrange/liv...
Reposted by Jesse Hirsch
There are 9 million reindeer and caribou in the Arctic Circle today, but the future outlook became increasingly dire when the Trump administration announced that it was re-opening oil and gas drilling leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — deep in the state’s caribou range.
Herders at the Edge of Extinction - Offrange
“There is a lot of divine design around reindeer.”
ambrook.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
There are 9 million reindeer and caribou in the Arctic Circle today, but the future outlook became increasingly dire when the Trump administration announced that it was re-opening oil and gas drilling leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — deep in the state’s caribou range.
Getting a lot of out of office emails that say "I'm on a well-deserved break." Says who???
December 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Getting a lot of out of office emails that say "I'm on a well-deserved break." Says who???