Back Yard Commons

Between heaven and earth ❄️ 🗻 Mt. Algonquin, Wright 📷 - - -

Welcome to the family.

We’ve got to go outside. 👣

I’ve spent years building outdoor brands and promoting local artists because I believed in something real . . . connection, creativity, community. But somewhere along the way, even that started getting swallowed. The outdoors became another curated trend. Local art became algorithm-fodder. And the corporations? They’re feasting on all of it.

They own too much of our time, our energy, our attention. And now, they’re trying to own our escape too. The mountains, the trails, the small towns . . . just more backdrops for brand deals. Even our moments of clarity are being mined for content.

As much as I love all of you and your art, I think we all need to start focusing on rebuilding where we stand today. Social media isn’t a community at the core, it’s a corporation. And we’re feeding it every day while starving our own senses.

Go outside. Not to post about it. Just to be.
Support your people. Not for optics. But for love.
Remember that your soul doesn’t need to be marketed to feel alive.

I will focus this page in the meantime on protecting the environment and taking a break from promoting only the beauty of it all. 🌲 ❤️

- Patrick

New Back Yard Loading . . .

The rest of us are competing for a tiny, unstable piece of a pie that’s already small compared to what corporations dominate.

Weitko

Welcome to the Family

Let it set

We just ordered ours! 🌲 🌞

National Parks are under threat—budget cuts, staffing shortages, and shrinking protections are putting the lands we love at risk. Defend The Parks isn’t just a statement—it’s a flag to fly. At Parks Project, we believe that protecting our public lands is about more than just enjoying them—it’s about standing up for them. This bottle is a symbol of that commitment. Carry it as a reminder to advocate, donate, volunteer, and make noise for the places that need us most. Because when we stand up for the parks, we protect something bigger than ourselves. Together, we can Leave It Better™.

Thank you and check out their page to support!

Let it shine