[hr][hr][center][h1][color=firebrick]Black James![/color][/h1]
[img]https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/avatars/6AE78329E91063505631975227392_pic-r-1396533712688c4afde8ecf.jpg.jpg?versionId=ZnGOSit0zozlhxpJk0w6QVx4cSozVRdq[/img][/center]
[hr][center][b]Location:[/b] Building [b]C[/b] (James's House)
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	It would never have been unusual, before the Outbreak, to see someone sitting on their front porch carefully writing in a spiral bound notebook. Yet this day it seemed strange. The indomitable blackneck known to mere mortals as James Mandingo Grady set his mind to penning his thoughts, ideas, and plans for continued Agricultural prosperity for the people of Newnan. Or really anyone who wanted to read it. 

	The last man to draft something similar was Cap'n Ash. His homemade books were clean, precise; they were textbooks with marvelous annotation and excellent penmanship. James had no idea how the man was able to boil down years of training into five notebooks, each basically outlining the successes of his labor here in Newnan and how to repair/reproduce any of it. Plus his plans for the future and detailed instructions on their execution. Of course, the militant Virginian had also written another text that worried James, when he found out about it. It was his Will. 

	James knew that Ash was taking things very hard. He retreated into his cold, stoic exterior and lived there for a long time. Bu inside, the irreverent Mr. Grady could tell he was hurting badly. He also knew that a loaded pistol lay on the desk in front of Ash as he penned his works, and surmised that their commanding officer was giving serious consideration to using it on himself after he was done. In the end, he decided against it. But it still gave James the creeps, especially now that he was attempting the same feat.

	His handwriting wasn't as clear as his literary predecessor, nor was he as mentally organized, hence his slower work. But he did work nonetheless, and it was legible, and James was making excellent progress. He detailed the logistics first; how much land they had, how many pounds of food it could produce (based upon type and availability of edible flora), he number of people it could feed, and growing/harvest times. Then he moved on to the processes. What to plant, when and how to do it, when to harvest. Staggering. Companion planting. Simple and alternate methods of fertilizing the land. Traditional methods, contemporary methods. James really poured the extent of himself into this notebook, enraptured with his mind accessing and recording the cornerstone knowledge of his upbringing. He had grown up in farms, often boasting that he received a more complete education there than public schools. 

	Admittedly, his knowledge of Agriculture, plant and animal both, had become a hell of a lot more important to the survival of mankind than solving for X. At least at face value. 

	James's plans for the sustainability of the community called for off season plantings and hopefully an array of supplementary goods. Some of these items they didn't have yet - but he knew a place where he could get it. Stonefruit, pears, citrus that could flourish in their latitude, nut trees perhaps. Things that required minimal upkeep but produced maximum, reliable yield and nutritional diversity. Things that they could grow in large tubs or barrels, that could turn any part of Newnan (even blacktop) into verdant, food producing space. Hell, if he could, James would turn every last inch of ground and rooftop not already claimed into crop space, one form or another. He began to write down plans for that, as well. 

	In his near-meditative state, something else clicked. Tea. Tea grew well in this part of Georgia, and could grow in poor soil almost as well as okra. They didn't need it to survive, [i]persay[/i], but by God it would help [i]so much[/i]. And as it turned out, a lightbulb moment hit the rural gentleman. James even started giggling to himself. Risky proposal, all of it. 

	But when it came down to it, what wasn't risky anymore?

	On a separate sheet of paper, James made two columns. One was labeled "Dunaway Gardens - Tea & Stuff", the other one "Ison's Nursery & Vineyard - Motherlode". He put aside his budding textbook project for the meantime, intent upon getting out this set of ideas while the muse had him. Oh yes, James could make this place green and growing. He could keep food in Newnan all year round. And possibly more importantly, James could keep Newnan caffeinated until the [i]end of time[/i]. The Boss would appreciate that. It wasn't coffee, but a strong cup of black tea was just as effective in a pinch, not to mention the medicinal and fertilizing applications. This was important, and he could do it for his new family, even if it was the last thing he did upon this earth, it would be justifiably worth it. 

	Then remembering his promise to Ash, he flicked on his radio to Zoie's personal channel, [color=firebrick]"Hey girl. You a'ight? Need anything?"[/color] then he thought for a second, [color=firebrick]"Hey, you mind if'n I come by, run somethin' by ya? No pressure, ain't a thing, really. But I'm hopeful."[/color]