
Author
Evan Brooks
Data Editor
Data editor for the ByCounty Network, responsible for methodology documentation, source review, and editorial QA on county-level reports built from public datasets.
Evan Brooks is the editorial byline for ByCounty Network data review, methodology maintenance, and source attribution across the network.
The role is the data-editor role, not the subject-matter-expert role. ByCounty designs data pipelines that pull each dataset, documents the methodology behind every composite score and ranking, spot-checks generated narratives against the underlying statistics before publication, and records methodology changes. The sites are transparent data utilities, not professional advisory services.
When a feature genuinely requires domain expertise — a public-health analyst weighing in on CDC measure choice, a CPA reviewing a property-tax explainer — ByCounty uses a named co-byline reviewer rather than presenting the data editor as a domain-credentialed professional. The reviewer commitment for each site is documented on that site's editorial-standards page, including the recruit status when no domain reviewer is currently in place.
Every statistic on the site is traceable to a primary source, every methodology decision is documented, and every page lists a "Last reviewed" date where editorial review applies.
Coverage areas
- USDA SSURGO Soil Survey Geographic Database
- soil texture / pH / drainage interpretation
- county-level dominant-component soil attribution
Articles by Evan on Soil By County
Counties with the Warmest Hardiness Zones
The 25 US counties with the warmest USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Tropical and subtropical gardening potential ranked by winter minimum temperatures.
Counties with the Coldest Hardiness Zones
The 25 US counties with the coldest USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Cold-climate gardening and soil challenges in America's most frigid counties.
Best Counties for Tropical Plants
Counties where tropical and subtropical plants thrive outdoors year-round. Ranked by hardiness zone warmth and winter minimum temperatures.
Best Counties for Cold-Hardy Crops
Counties best suited for kale, root vegetables, winter wheat, and other cold-hardy agriculture. Ranked by the coldest hardiness zones.
Most Versatile Growing Counties
Counties in the hardiness zone sweet spot (zones 6-8) where the widest variety of plants can thrive. Balanced climate for diverse gardening.
Counties with the Widest Hardiness Range
Counties spanning the largest temperature ranges within their hardiness zones. Elevation and microclimate diversity create multiple growing climates.
Best Counties for Vegetable Gardens
Counties with hardiness zones ideal for diverse vegetable production. Balanced winters and summers support the widest crop variety.
Counties with the Most Frost-Free Conditions
Counties in zones 10 and warmer where frost is rare or nonexistent. Year-round growing potential and subtropical soil conditions.
Best Counties for Perennial Gardens
Counties where hardiness zones support the widest range of perennial flowers, shrubs, and ornamental plants. Winter dormancy meets summer growth.
Most Challenging Counties for Gardeners
Counties at the hardiness extremes — zone 3 and zone 11 — where gardening demands specialized knowledge and constant adaptation.
Counties with the Best Soil-Plant Compatibility
Counties where climate and hardiness zones support the widest range of soil-plant combinations. Match your soil type to the right plants.
Counties with the Best Growing Conditions
The most balanced hardiness zones for all-around plant growth. Zone 7 and surrounding zones offer the ideal compromise of winter and summer.