Celebrate the culture of agriculture & share skills (Growing! Cooking! Eating!)

Radical Homemakers

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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: 99
Latest Activity: Jul 6, 2014

Radical Homemakers - Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture by Shannon Hayes

Join us! We have invited Shannon to participate in an ongoing book discussion here and she is encouraging Radical Homemakers who come to her looking for dialogue, community and some fun to participate as well. We look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts!

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.

HOMEGROWN Discussions

Meet the Radical Homemakers 2 Replies

Chime in with your questions and comments here!Continue

Tags: Modern, Homestead, Books, Hayes, Homemakers

Started by Cornelia. Last reply by Andrew Odom Nov 23, 2010.

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…Continue

Started by Myfanwy Jones Aug 26, 2010.

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…Continue

Tags: rebuilding, to, bakery, supported, blues

Started by Britin Foster, All Good Bakers. Last reply by Britin Foster, All Good Bakers Aug 17, 2010.

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…Continue

Tags: homemaking, housewifery, community, blogs

Started by Calamity Jane. Last reply by Rachel Hoff Mar 17, 2010.

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Shannon Hayes blog on Yes! Magazine

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Comment Wall

Comment by Cornelia on March 5, 2010 at 8:33am: Erik and Kelly's post about the book here.

Comment by Pamela Pollack on March 5, 2010 at 9:45am: What a great idea! I can't wait to read the book and participate in the discussion! Pamela

Comment by Jessica Reeder on March 5, 2010 at 11:25am: Love it. I'm starting a new blog based on a similar concept, and would love to feature this book! Gotta read it first, of course--but based on this review and Shannon's great work at Yes! Mag, I can guess I'll probably love it.

Comment by Rachel Hoff on March 5, 2010 at 11:55am: I look forward to reading this! I'm in the process (aren't we always "in" the process of changing?) of turning our 1/4 acre urban property into a self-sufficient urban farm. We make almost everything from scratch from bread, to yogurt, to cheese and crackers. We raise laying chickens and have a huge garden. We hope to soon start raising meat birds and rabbits. We just delved into the world of dairy goats and bees. Our hopes are to create all the food we need on this small piece of land and sharing what we can with our friends, family and neighbors.
I currently run a blog that chronicles my experiences and offers advice and inspiration to other that want to start on their journey.

Comment by Angelica Macklin on March 5, 2010 at 1:09pm: The review and the snippet from the book really resonated with me. If I don't win a copy, I will definitely be purchasing one.

-Angelica

Comment by Carol on March 5, 2010 at 1:22pm: I am hearing so many great things about this book. The home is the first place to start to make change in our community.

Comment by Lizz on March 5, 2010 at 1:37pm: I have been slowly at this for 7 years but being met with some resistance from my husband. Anyone elce dealing with something like this? He is drawing the line No chickens, No bunnies, and NO more whole wheat english muffins lol Getting others close to you to understand the importance of local healthy food and spending a little extra on what you put in your body can be trying. Our two children are somewhere in the middle between organic veggies and pop tarts! They sometimes reprimand him for buying "junk" LOL But they would never turn it down:)

Comment by Shannon Hayes on March 5, 2010 at 1:46pm: Hi hear you, Lizz! I was making spelt cookies...needless to say, no one was requesting my recipes. My husband was polite, but the message came through loud and clear. I've got a lot of family support for the path, though, multi-generational even. My mom finally bought one of those L'Equip nutrimill grinders, so we could grind our whole wheat fresh. AMAZING difference in the baked goods. Now everyone is turning their noses up at anything with white flour -seriously! As for spousal reluctance...maybe he'd like to read the book???

Comment by Rachel Hoff on March 5, 2010 at 1:51pm: I think one of the ways I've been able to get my husband to not only agree to living this way but to dive head first into it with gusto is showing him documentaries. It started with Super Size Me. Food Inc freaked him out too. I think sometimes you have to go with shock value to get some people to change. My husband used to be a McDonald's eating, processed foods junkie.

Comment by Lizz on March 6, 2010 at 8:40am: Thanks Rachel you give me hope!
Shannon no doubt I will be reading your book! Husband will be privy to me reading some parts out loud for sure:) Sadly unless it is in comic book form and approved by Mr. Stan Lee he will not read lol

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