I could have literally saved his house in those four months for less than his insurance if he just paid me to clear brush. That is literally one of the things I have done as a side job for decades. I was literally trained for this exact thing by my dad and stepdad from the age of like 9.

[–] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 7 points 2 days ago

yeah for sure. I went through a wildland fire fighting course about a decade ago, which was primarily about the safety protocols and strategies/tactics of wildland fire fighting.... which is mostly about trying to save the lives of people and sometimes property who live where wildlands intersect with human habitation by rapidly cutting fire lines and pre burning areas.

in the aftermath of that and my other experiences in forest ecology and agroforestry/marginal agriculture, I really think nobody should be allowed to own land in those places without some kind of free but serious stewardship certificate program.

someone told me that in Denmark they require someone to get a 4 year ag degree (though school is more accessible there, of course) in order to be allowed to manage a farm and I was like "damn" but as I get older, I'm like "yeah I get it". taking care of land is a serious responsibility and has dramatic impacts on community, and we just grant it to any bozo with an inheritance or cash. and frequently, the only carrot we have for getting people to do basic stewardship is to offer grants. which frankly, rich people don't need so they won't go for it unless it's super easy and big bucks.

its all ass backwards, and having experience and knowledge under one's belt drives us insane to see how much is poorly managed.

[–] Philosoraptor@hexbear.net 5 points 2 days ago

Defensible space is communist! frothingfash