warren johnson

In both the early '00's & '10's I visited my 2nd uncle, Warren on road trips to san francisico. Warren lived in covelo, a small town with a population of approximately 1300 residents, located in northeast mendocino county. I was so taken by his interests, intelligence, love for the outdoors, architecture/design, and the environment. Warren was incredibly kind and hospitable to me. Both visits I took in as much as possible during my short stay, taking endless photos, asking questions and having enlightened conversations. The photos (albeit very low in quality) help in keeping the memories and ideals alive & present.

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Warren's background included degrees in civil engineering, natural resources and a doctorate of philosophy in natural resources. He was a civil engineer for national park services for nearly a decade prior to becoming a geography professor for san diego state university. His interests included writing, building, farming, hiking & photography. He published the following books, all focused on promoting sustainable living: Muddling Toward Frugality (1979), The Future is not what it Used to Be (1985), and The Gift of Peaceful Genes: Cultural Evolution On a Finite Earth (2002). These books have proven to be timeless, becoming even more applicable through the years. In Muddling Toward Frugality's introduction, Edward Abbey writes:"Muddling Toward Frugality is a hopeful book, despite its title. Mr. Johnson shows in what I find a persuasive argument that if we have enough time, and if we begin to change our ways now, voluntarily, with patience, good humor and good will, we can not only avoid calamity but even regain a saner, easier, more rewarding way of life."

Warren designed and built his rammed earth home in the late 80's on an 125 acre lot. Integrated within the home were handmade doors, cabinets, door latches, hooks, shelving, and furniture! He used beautiful reclaimed redwood sinker logs for the majority of the wood items. Warren raised sheep, rented out a guest house, grew food in the attached greenhouse, and gained the majority of his electricity from solar panels. Warren passed away in 2023 at the age of 86. Much respect to this man.