The Bottom-Up Revolution How To Live & Grow Wisely in the Utah Desert
Sep 23, 2025
Judith Rognli, program director for Conserve Southwest Utah and leader of Strong Towns WashCo, explores living wisely in the desert of St. George. She tackles pressing issues like water scarcity and rapid growth while advocating for smart, sustainable growth. Judith shares practical tips for creating water-wise communities and emphasizes the importance of civic engagement. Her unique journey from social scientist to musician illuminates her passion for promoting local action and environmental stewardship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
From Bike Mechanic To Local Organizer
- Judith found Strong Towns after working with the Bicycle Collective and realizing bikes alone weren't enough without infrastructure.
- She then started a Strong Towns local conversation to turn ideas into public action in Washington County.
Host Public Conversations With Experts
- Invite local officials and experts to public meetups to explain policy and how residents can support it.
- Use those conversations to connect everyday people with actionable roles in local planning.
Decide Values Before Providing Infrastructure
- Shift planning from 'predict and provide' to 'decide and provide' by clarifying community values first.
- That lets communities choose development patterns that reduce costly infrastructure and water strain.
