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Radical Homemakers
Information
A discussion group and gathering area for those wishing to discuss the book, Radical Homemakers, and the topics that it covers.
Website: http://www.RadicalHomemakers.com
Members: 48
Latest Activity: Aug 26
Radical Homemakers - Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture by Shannon Hayes
Purchase directly from the author here
Shannon Hayes’ book reinforces so many of the reasons that HOMEGROWN.org was created and has received such a positive response. Shannon's masterfully-crafted language solidifies the sentiments that drive us. Put to words the feelings that we who are passionate about living closer to the earth feel: We reject the consumerist-driven waste of energy and squandered creativity that we see every day. We are joyful for our involvement in activities that bring us closer to the soil, to our food, and to the “culture” in agriculture. In her introduction of the book she writes:
As I looked more closely at the role homemaking could play in revitalizing our local food system, I saw that the position was a linchpin for more than just making use of garden produce and chicken carcasses. Individuals who had taken this path in life were building a great bridge from our existing extractive economy – where corporate wealth was regarded as the foundation of economic health, where mining our earth’s resources and exploiting our international neighbors was accepted as simply the cost of doing business – to a life-serving economy, where the goal is, in the words of David Korten, to generate a living for all, rather that a killing for a few, where our resources are sustained, our waters are kept clean, our air pure, and families can lead meaningful and joyful lives.Shannon continues by pointing to the industrial revolution as a catalyst for the elimination of a “producer culture”, the demotion of the farmer from skilled citizen to industrial worker, and the deprecation of the “homemaker” to a position of servant. The second half of the book is the most inspiring and instructional. In it she provides insightful and impassioned stories from true life, modern day Radical Homemakers like Carrie and Chad Lockwell who live frugally and joyously in the rural Northeast; like Amanda Shaw and Carol Rydell who grow food and community together in their Chicago suburb, and like our friends Kelly Coyne and Erik Knudsen of HomegrownEvolution, who introduced us to Shannon in the first place (thanks guys, we’re forever grateful).
If you have an interest in delving deeper into the motivations for Radical Homemaking, and are also looking for practical tips for installing some of these philosophies into daily practice, invest in this book. A synopsis of the book – originally published at Yes! Magazine – can be found here.
Discussion Forum
Do you have a community story for us?
Hi all, I am new to the group. Exciting! I am an aspiring radical homemaker surrounded by lots of other city aspirants. My friend and colleague Spiri Tsintziras and I are writing a book called The Mo…
Started by Myfanwy Jones Aug 26.
Life in Transition 4 Replies
My husband and I have lived in Albany, NY for about 7 years now. We've become immersed in our locavore movement, inspired by working at the Honest Weight Co-op and making friends who are wonderful e…
Tagged: rebuilding, to, bakery, supported, blues
Started by Britin Foster. Last reply by Britin Foster Aug 17.
Even Better Homes and Gardens (Blogs by and for) 4 Replies
Hey there fellow RHs,When I got married, my MIL bought me a lifetime subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. For anyone who knows me, this sounds preposterous. I am not a consumer culture kind of g…
Tagged: homemaking, housewifery, community, blogs
Started by Calamity Jane. Last reply by Rachel Mar 17.
Meet the Radical Homemakers 1 Reply
Chime in with your questions and comments here!
Tagged: Modern, Homestead, Books, Hayes, Homemakers
Started by Cornelia. Last reply by Cornelia Mar 10.
Shannon Hayes blog on Yes! Magazine
On Facing Judgment
Live radically, and you’ll inevitably face the judgment of others. For Shannon Hayes, loving unconditionally is the antidote.Leaving It Up To Them
What happens when children raised in radical homes choose the straight and narrow?Live Dangerously: 10 Easy Steps
When Shannon Hayes made a list of easy steps for becoming a radical homemaker, she didn't realize just how revolutionary they were.Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by Cornelia on August 20, 2010 at 5:02pm - Yet another example of re-examined priorities and the tough decisions that come from it. From "Living A Simple Life" blog: "I Just Quit A Dream Job".
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Comment by Cornelia on August 16, 2010 at 3:01pm
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Curtis Valentine: "The Economic Crisis: Is There A Silver Lining?"
"The Great Recession of the 20th century may very well have a silver lining. Once upon a time the notion of troubling a neighbor for a cup of sugar or flour was an everyday occurrence in America. During and after the only other economic crisis to be given the designation of "Great", Americans utilized the informal system of bartering to supplement sparse foodstuffs they couldn't afford themselves. The idea of borrowing and sharing created a communal system that fostered trust and reinforced interdependence amongst groups from similar socio-economic backgrounds. Over the past twenty-five years, the exorbitant increase in the American standard of living has had an inverse affect on our tendencies to borrow and share. With millions of Americans enjoying a flourishing economy, the idea of Keeping up with the Jones' was given new meaning and the term community development was reserved for poor neighborhoods filled with America's underprivileged.
For all the Americans migrating to major cities and the immigrants arriving on our shores over the past century, this sense of community was the expectation not the exception. The recent age of overconsumption has caused the middle class to become less dependent on one another creating a level of independence that altered the traditional idea of community as we all envisioned it."
Continued here.
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Comment by Shannon Hayes on July 29, 2010 at 10:18am -
I often wonder if the vitriol comes to me b/c I wrote the book...or if other folks are now hearing it as well.
On another note, I wanted to point out this new story:http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/shannon-hayes/leaving-it-up-to-them?utm_source=jul10&utm_medium=email&utm_content=subs&utm_campaign=/Hayes
-- Since I'm on the young end of the RH spectrum (my kids are still (supposedly) under my control)...I'm curious to hear stories from folks w/older kids. How do you keep them on the wide and diverse, rather than the straight and narrow?
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Comment by Lizz on July 27, 2010 at 4:54pm - Cornelia, clearly those folks did not read Shannons book. To bad for them:(
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Comment by Emily Achenbaum Harris on July 27, 2010 at 4:52pm -
whoa. i just did some peeking around the web -- the vitriol is amazing.
can i just say how VERY VERY tired i am of hearing this way of life is about privilege? like we're all trust fund kids, rather than able to support our choices by being very frugal? so many people could live this way, but say they can't afford it ... but they can afford a new car every three years. OK, right.
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Comment by Cornelia on July 27, 2010 at 4:37pm
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I was fortunate enough to finally meet Shannon Hayes this weekend at the Kickapoo Country Fair. She read the introduction of her book. The audience members were listening intently, nodding their heads, recognizing themselves in her story. Shannon also mentioned that she was surprised by the vitriol her book - and the idea of Radical Homemakers - garners.
The comments in this article are an interesting look at some people's objections to this lifestyle choice. The Real Battle is Elsewhere.
What do you think?
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Comment by Grace Carlson on July 6, 2010 at 12:26pm
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Hi, I'm Grace, new here. Glad to call myself something other than Goddess of the Domestic Arts. Thanks for that Shannon.
I don't waste or want, I do mosey around the blog world. Here's my favorite, funny essay from a fellow Radical Homemaker
http://lauragraceweldon.com/2010/06/28/me-a-radical-homemaker/
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Comment by Shannon Hayes on June 29, 2010 at 9:31pm
- Hi folks - SF Chronicle is planning to do a story on Bay area Radical Homemakers. Do any of you have some leads for them? If so, please write to me at shannon@radicalhomemakers.com. Thanks!
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Comment by Cornelia on May 6, 2010 at 5:42pm
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The 3-Month Minimalist Survival Guide for Quitting the 9-5
So you’ve quit your job to live and work from anywhere. Now what?
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Comment by Calamity Jane on May 6, 2010 at 12:58pm -
the spouse thing is an super important issue that is never discussed. marriage involves two people who inevitably have two separate ways of interpreting even their overlapping morals. it's one of my pet peeves with child rearing books and philosophies, but carries over to all kinds of things. it's all well and good to read, think and ruminate on The Best Way to do a thing, but when the thing involves two people, unless you come to identical conclusions, how do you balance it out? and if your marriage is any good, you'd better be keeping in mind that any differing ideas your mate has might in the end be right! open minded-ness and lots of communication are the only tools i've found, but it's still a struggle.
a word to the wise and a bit of hope though, my last partner and i did agree on almost everything, and in retrospect, i sure don't think it was all that healthy! learning to deal with with disagreement and compromise is essential to being a good person. compromise has gotten a bad name in our MeMeMe society, but it's good stuff!
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