Looking for fellow homemakers in your part of the world? Post your whereabouts here, and see who turns up! Please be sure to return now and then to announce or read about any happenings that might be of interest to the other Radical Homemakers in your area.
Name (can be an online name)
State
City or Town
A few words about yourself
This is KristinX writing from Billings, Montana. Our family has been living the Radical Homemaker life for over two years now and finds that it fits us just right. Anyone interested in contacting me can write to opananokosi@gmail.com. I’d enjoy getting to know others sharing this path.
I have started a Google group for anyone who wishes to discuss Radical Homemakers with other and to connect with others who “focus on home and hearth as a political and ecological act and center their lives around family and community for personal fulfillment and cultural change.” Join here: http://groups.google.com/group/radical-homemakers?hl=en
I live in Fife, WA. I am currently a divorced homemaker, but will need to find a job in 3 years (will start looking next year because I know it’s difficult to find a job, especially since I only have a high school education). I love living the frugal life, although those I live with (two of my sons and an uncle) aren’t real crazy about it. However, I do hope to pick up some encouragement and ideas from this website. I would love to find some work to do at home, but I have no talents to sell! I’m still looking for it, though! I hope to find someone who lives fairly close to me so we can exchange ideas, etc., face-to-face.
Hi Simsgirl -
Your situation touches on an important issue that we all need to be thinking about. I hope you’ll be able to get ahold of the book and spend some time reading about Amanda Shaw, and how she drew on her life skills, newfound passions and relationships to rebuild after her divorce. There are other stories of divorce in there, but I think hers will resonate most closely with your own. In the meantime, you might consider leaving some contact info so that the shy folks who don’t like to post on the site might be able to find you…perhaps you could open up a free email account and let people respond there?
I am a 33 yr. old radical homemaker who chose staying home over a career. I have been home for 7 years devoting my time to taking care of my small children and my mini-urban farming project. I live in Detroit, MI, where there is a large urban gardening/farming movement and I am thrilled to be a part of that, yet I get frusterated that I have a hard time finding other young women who have made the same choice I have for the same reasons. I am so happy to have this book and I hope to find a community of other women who have made the same choices. I would LOVE to start a group in the metro-Detroit area of other radical homemakers (women & men). This book has been an inspiration as well as a confirmation that I am not the only one who has made this choice and definitely has given me TONS of hope! Thanks Shannon!!!
I was really excited to discover your book. I’ve been wanting to write a sociological/historical book about this very topic, but being a very busy herbalist, mom, suburban homesteader-type, never quite got around to it. Thank you for writing this! Really excites me and I hope to use this in my work with families.
I have been reading this book in bed and am finding it difficult to sleep. I live in Ithaca NY where I know there is an army of likeminded homemakers just waiting to be mobilized. I have had to become a homemaker because I went back to college and wasn’t willing to sacrifice the quality of my food while my income was pinched. Now that I have started down this track I can see many ways to take it to the next level. My wife and I are also wanting to start a family and are striving to attain a level of sustainability on which to raise our kiddos. Keep up the hard work.
(Melinda–Portland, OR)I have been on this journey for 3 years and now I am(currently) reading this book and it confirms everything I have been feeling…. I have learned so many things..gardening, making soap, taking care of my children, making yogurt, bread, being a part of a CSA, eating grassfed meat, cooking, learning how to play the fiddle —I love the chance to be creative. There is sooo much to learn. And most important, it feels honest…better for the earth, for our bodies..But, we still have more to learn…how to reach out to our neighbors, figure out that part…develop more skills, learning how to fix things…sew.. I really want to learn how to be more frugal/resourceful… become more independent of “corporations”.. My husband still has to work. We live in the city and don’t have enough land to completely live off of.. We are college educated-with “lots of book learning” but very behind in the “survial” skills need to live more independently from the “market”…This is my goal, though, to find a way to do that…so, that I can be still available to my children at a time, I feel “pressure” from society to go “back to work”…feeling that “obligation”…to do something with my masters degree(in counseling)…to equally contribute to the money making in the family… all the while wondering about the possability of homeschooling my children..and the possability of selling soap, writing(I have always wanted in my heart to write) , learning how to make clothes and selling/trading/teaching what I’ve learned…I wonder if I could do a combination of things..Thank you sooo much for writing this book.
(Annie, Cleveland area, OH) I happened across this book while browsing for farming/food related books in the bookstore and it immediately spoke to me. I found myself nodding emphatically as I read through it and it has given me great encouragement and motivation, confirmation that the path I and my family are on is a good one and that there are others like us out there! We’ve been growing more and more self-sustaining and recently moved to a little homestead where we see ourselves continuing in that direction. Ever since we found Your Money or Your Life a number of years ago we’ve dreamed of early retirement and being able to live the way we want to and feel is real, authentic. With the birth of our sons and life in general, that started to seem more and more unrealistic, though over the years. I’m currently home with the boys while my husband works, but with his situation at work deteriorating and becoming more and more stressful, and with me doing a bit of soul searching as to what I want to do, this book couldn’t have come at a better time. Thanks for writing this and for this space to hopefully connect with others on this path!
Hello! I’m a 34-year-old farm wife living on an organic farm in Scotland. I am a homemaker – I stay home with our kids and our home. We are slowly but surely creating a productive homestead within the context of our comercial farm.
I recently ran across “Radical Homemakers” and I think that this book is fantastic! I can’t put the thing down! Although I must admit that I get frustrated with the worries about, “Does this square with Feminism?” I think the ultimate question should be not, “Does Feminism Approve?” but… “Is this what *I* truly desire?” and “Does my choice to be a homemaker cause harm to others and to our world?” Who cares what Feminism “thinks” ~ to be truly radical is to do what we want (well, what we want that doesn’t cause harm) without awaiting the approval of others. We will only be truly liberated when we can throw off the shackles of needing to justify our homemaking through the filter of an ideology.
I think you make some really interesting points — thanks for writing! — Shannon
(Deanna, Spokane, Washington) I read an article about radical homemaking in the current issue of Hobby Farm Home, and then bought Shannon’s book. This is the life for me. I live in town with my husband and nine children. I am a homemaker; however, I am not sure that I will ever be as radical as those interviewed in the book. I am happily settled on an acre and a half with apple trees in front and pine trees in back. I am starting a garden this year, and looking for ways to buy local, organic foods.
I am a single parent of a 13-yr-old boy. I live in Santa Barbara, CA. I am reading “Rad. Homemaking” and fully support its position. My concern is that lots of cities are very expensive, and salaries at many jobs do not pay you enough to buy a house, so you are at the mercy of greedy landlords. Thus does Rad Homemaking sound a bit like a utopia — unless you can leave expensive cities and go to the country. I cannot do this now. Still, I hope to fight for the values of Rad Homemakers and get more ideas from the book as I read on. Please email me if you wish. I would love to join with others who can work towards a better society as its envisioned in the book.
Greg – Thank you so much for writing. I encourage you to explore the stories of Nance Klehm, Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne as they are profiled in the book. They are all urban radical homemakers. For the single parenting part of the equation, I think you will enjoy the stories of Sylvia Tanner and Kelly Robideau. Also, I urge you to spend time on Erik and Kelly’s blog, homegrownevolution. For further connection opportunities, you might check out hyperlocavore.com for chances to partner up resources with other folks. I hope you find some other contacts for sharing resources through this site. Good luck, and thanks for your commitment to the vision! — Shannon
Thank you, Shannon. I have read more of your fantastic book and it seems one of the key points is this: if a person wants to live as a rad homemaker, this person will find a way, even if he does live a big city or resort city, as I do, and is a single parent. The problem for me is that I am so wedded to things. I see cookbooks and music CD’s and think, “I want these because they will enrich my life and such enrichment is necessary.” But buying more means working more, and I am realizing that my time away from work is worth more than yet another cookbook or CD. It’s a process of peeling off acquisitiveness and realizing you can get all you want and need without paying money all the time. Here’s how I know you have affected me: I bought a health bar (nuts, dates, etc.) this morning and said to myself, “I can make this bar in big batches at home and save money. ” Thanks again for a fantastic book. I especially love your analysis on the extractive economy.
Three Rivers, MI (about midway between Detroit and Chicago and 20 miles south of Kalamazoo). Our community’s local food group (trlocalfoods.com) cited an article that cited this book. We are buying local eggs, milk, and veggies, are growing some fruits and veggies in our suburban backyard (less to mow!) and this book makes me want to get a barn and do it myself. In reality, it made me more aware that bartering for what I can already DO is better than paying for an education to work for an institution to then earn money to pay for what I need. Thank goodness I dodged graduate school two years ago. My instincts were right.
Jennifer
http://jenuineyoga.blogspot.com
Hello from NE Ohio….and, I see Annie lives very close to me! Anyone out there in the NE Ohio/NW Pennsylvania area??
Who’s thinking we need a cyber gathering place by state or region?
Michelle
http://www.mygreengravity.blogspot.com
Hi Michelle – feel free to go for it….I’m definitely not web-savvy enough to pull this off, but I do know that some folks are starting radical homemakers facebook groups.
Michele James-Parham from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We’re a radical unschooling family that home-gardens and are 3/4 of the way towards moving to a homestead and becoming off-grid and reasonably self-sufficient.
I live in Waco, TX (any Texans out there?) with my husband and we are on the path to becoming radical homemakers in our own way. I just finished the book this morning. We currently rent a duplex in an older neighborhood; our little yard houses a tiny flock of chickens and a small, but ever expanding, garden. We hope to buy a bit of land next year and further expand our homesteading efforts. My husband works as a bookstore manager to pay the bills, he is a cook and home brewer in his free time, and I have a job as a teacher, when I’m not cooking and gardening and trying to knit/sew. For the coming school year I scaled back my position to part-time to make more time for homemaking efforts and begin my transition home. I have worked full-time since college and am slightly terrified of sinking us financially; however, I want this badly enough to take what is the next step for us down the RH path.
I just finished the book yesterday. I live in Moline, IL. My husband and I have 4 kids and also own some property outside of town where we have a garden. We would love to move more towards the Rad. Homemaker lifestyle and we already to many things (bf, homeschool, garden, bicycling to work, doing our own home repairs); however, I can’t seem to make progress on the financial front. For so long we lived on credit cards and I don’t currently see how we will ever gain financial indepedence, often it just seems overwhelming. Also, I run up against a wall (or several noisy walls!) when I want to change our eating habits.
Hi Amie – Take a deep breath. If you only just finished the book, then you certainly need to allow yourself some time to find ways to address the myriad concepts in your life. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and RH-ing doesn’t happen overnight. It starts with little things (hanging out your laundry? turning off the tv? committing to cooking a few more meals at home?); it isn’t time for any earth-shaking changes just yet. I strongly urge you to get ahold of Your Money or Your Life as you prepare to move ahead. Most libraries have a copy. I think it will be very helpful as you attempt to reclaim control of your finances. As for the food choices, as your lifestyle slowly changes, those will slowly evolve, too. I’m guessing that when the time is right for each next step, you will know what to do. Have faith in yourself and your partner. If this is a life path you both agree on, you will find a way. But remember: there is no formula. Your path may look wildly different from someone else’s. What is important is that you and your family find peace and happiness. And if that is what you want, that is what you will have.– sh
I finished reading the book a couple days ago. I’m soooo glad I happened upon it browsing the new book shelves at the public library! It confirms for me a path I’ve been on for many years w/o really knowing what to call it! Thanks Shannon!!
I live in Prescott, AZ and of course would love to connect w/others
I am reading the book for the second time… love everything about it. My husband and I, along with our 15 month-old have been doing our best to achieve a radical homemaking life. We live in Salt Lake City, UT and would love to connect with others on this same journey.
I recently finished reading “Radical Homemakers” and was very happy to know that there are other people who don’t find creating a better home life unimportant. I had always been the smart one in my family, and I was encouraged to go to college and get a fabulous career. I went through the university and all along had no idea what it was I wanted to be. I wanted to make things, to create, and not have to answer to anyone. I decided to stay home after I graduated, but I wasn’t sure I was doing right by my feminist principles. I also constantly get the “must be nice” when I tell people I don’t have a job. My husband does work outside the home and makes quite good money, so I always feel like I have to prove that I am indeed contributing to our wellbeing and not sitting around mooching off him. This book makes me realize that I have been contributing quite a bit, and I feel that my work at home is very important politically as well as domestically. I would really like to connect with other homemakers in or around Tucson, Arizona.
I live on an acre just outside Houston, Texas. I think we’ve been fairly radical for a while and getting more so all the time, but we’ve just made a much bigger commitment to it because I have permanently left the mainstream workforce.
I was an organic landscape designer for a few years and then, after returning to school and finishing my bachelors, we moved to Houston and bought our property with the intention of turning it into a suburban farm. I planned to eventually move on to something larger and run a CSA that would serve southern Houston. However, we have flooding problems and making a paycheck off the land is not in the cards. After that failure I worked a few “normal” (and somewhat unskilled) jobs for not that much income and I was extraordinarily bored. After the last job, which was horribly stressful in addition to being completely boring my husband suggested that I not worry about finding another job if the only jobs I could find were so unfulfilling. “We’ll figure out how to make it,” he said. When I sat down and calculated what we would save on gas, convenience food, etc. as a result of me not working it was only about a quarter of my (meager) yearly salary. But, as my husband pointed, out the improvement in our happiness and satisfaction, our quality of life, and my good health and low stress during our pregnancy next year more than makes up for it.
Next month is the first month we go back to one income and it’s a little scary, but I’ve been working on getting my mind ready all summer. “Radical Homemakers” helps. It reassures me that we can make it and have full lives without the extra income. I also reread Eric Brende’s “Better Off” which is an inspiring picture of what life can look like when you make the transition. I’m going to reread the Nearings “The Good Life” next for more reassurance.
So, my life now is more of all the things I was already doing but barely had time for anymore. We have a small flock of chickens and a garden. The flock is about to expand (the garden is ever expanding) and we’re adding rabbits for meat and bees to the menagerie. Now that I have time, all the meals from scratch are a pleasure to make rather than a chore. I’m able to expand from making all our bread and jam into making all our crackers and soap as well. I plan to volunteer. That’s something I haven’t been able to do since I was in high school.
(Berlin, MA) I’m Stephanie and my husband and I just bought a unit in a co-housing development. I’m a stay at home mom to our 8-month old daughter. So hard to know what to say…I’ve recently decided to start growing our own food…I’ve never had a garden before. I went out into the yard today to see what sort of dirt we have…it’s like rock!! Not sure what I’m getting myself into, but I’m determined!
What I would really love is to connect with other like-minded people. We don’t have the benefit of family, but I envision days of canning together or sewing, or trading handmade things, etc. with a greater community.
Anyone else in Central Mass??
(Concord, NH) I run Project Laundry List, a standard-bearer in the Radical Homemaker revolution.
Before I identified a gluten allergy, I baked my own bread. A male friend was visiting me ten years ago and looked at my tidy (though not clean) home and reflected that with my penchant for the kitchen and for homemaking, I would make a good wife. I have always chuckled at this and had read enough Wendell Berry about the meaning of wifery and husbandry that I was able to forgive the gender bias implicit in his comment.
I’m Lindsay Sledge. I live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. I’m loving the book, it has been very reaffirming that I am indeed on the right life path. Many people in my family have looked down on my decision to stay home with my two children. My daughter was almost killed recently, and after almost loosing her I knew without a doubt what was most important in my life, and it wasn’t making more money. My dilemma has always been that my husband is in the Air Force. We have gotten to live in some really cool places, but with moving every few years, it’s really hard to ever feel at home. It’s hard to sometimes to convince your landlord to let you have chickens or put in a huge garden. But for now we do what we can. We are currently saving up so we can buy a house someday, hopefully our next base will be our last and we can finally fulfill our dreams. would love to meet other radical homemakers and learn from their experiences.
Hello, I live in the Blacksburg area of Virginia and am looking forward to learning more about the Radical Homemaking life. In many ways, I have already been living the life by not being as much of a consumer as I was years ago. I enjoy finding creative ways ot make things last – such as, clothing and food and not buying into the trends. although, it can be difficult, and sometimes I give in. But, I figure it’s better to work with myself rather than against myself and I’ll proceed all in good time! I’ve learned the hard way that if I push myself too much before I’m ready, I end of not feeling the joy that’s inherent in radical homemaking. I believe Shannon touched upon this in her book.
One of the biggest reasons I feel more propelled to go in the direction of Radical Homemaking now (I’m 35) is that I have no real intrinsic motivation to play the politics and games that are necessary to succeed in a regular job. And, the lack of motivation for status, money, and prestige affects how I work in these regular jobs. My productivity and efficiency is low, I find I value cooperative relationships more than competition and I get into trouble there! I like to move at a leisurely pace and to stay healthy and calm. I found that without the anxiety, I also couldn’t get the “success.” If I weren’t overly anxious and drinking coffee every 2 hours, I couldn’t compete witht he people who did, nor relate to them.
I started my own business this Spring and am more motivated and happy than ever. Everything makes sense when you have to earn your own money. It’s all very tangible and direct. I find in a classic working environment, it’s not about the work you actually do, but it’s the politics and games you play. There are some really great work environments out there, and I’ve been fortunate to work in one of them. The people I worked with were my friends, we helped eachother out, we were very effective together. Unfortunately, that job didn’t last forever and it’s not easy finding that kind of work environment. A lot of workplaces are very toxic and I can’t thrive inside them!
I would love to meet other people interested in Radical Homemaking that have vegetarian/animal rights slant in the South western area of Virginia! I hope to hear from you soon.
I just started reading Radical Homemakers and it appears to be a tremendous book! I am divorced with 2 girls ages 10 and 12 and living in Port Byron, Illinois. I have been interested in living a simple, frugal life and am determined that now is the time to make it happen…Also, very interested in the freeganism lifestyle. One of thye big obstacles seems to be finding other like-minded people to network with. Any and all comments welcome.
Hi
My name is Mary and I am from Long Island NY. Love the book. Not done yet but will be starting up a local radical homemaking group to help connect the community.
(Natalie, Springfield, MO) Wow, just stumbled upon your site after reading an article by Michael Pollan that mentioned your book – I am so impressed and encouraged! I am 21 but have been concerned about the direction of our American society since I was old enough to read. I will definitely be reading this book and seeing how I can move closer to a Production household rather than a Consumer!
The article was found here http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/the-food-movement-rising/ and had some very interesting info on the rising groups challenge to second-wave feminists.
Lorraine B, Bremerton, WA
I found the book interesting, though not especially enlightening. Does anyone realize there have been families practicing the principles of radical homemaking through the decades after World War II? When it wasn’t socially popular? When at public and private functions, people would ask what a woman did and immediately dismiss her if she stayed at home? My radical homemaker friends of the ’70s, 80s, 90s and in our new millenium have been incredibly inspiring and helpful as I have found my own areas of radical homemaking. Thank goodness people are finally realizing the value of home.
My wife and I bought 15 acres of land south of Ithaca about two years ago and we are slowly making it into our retirement homestead. I still work, but I have my own business that I run out of our home, so I’m around a lot. I find it creates a nice balance between being a wage slave and dropping out completely.
We are slowly weaning ourselves away from consumerism, instead focusing on improving the quality of our home life. In the process, we’ve gotten a lot of strange looks and comments along the lines of :”ARE YOU CRAZY???” Well yeah, but a good kind of crazy. One that is more in touch with the seasons and nature. One the focuses on growing good food, cooking for ourselves, and preserving the bounty of harvest time for the winter.
As you suggest in Radical Homemaking, we are partners in creating a good life for ourselves, but there are difficulties. We’ve struggled with the cost of building materials. We are self-insured for health insurance and the cost is astronomical. Still, we view it as a long range project. We’re not afraid to tackle major projects (like building a new house for ourselves). Thanks for the book. It is timely and needed.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION?
I’m looking for a book that tells how to make things like vanilla extract, vinegars, yogurt, etc. So food things, but not a cookbook. Does anyone have a good one they’d recommend?
Hello out there. I have recently moved to Kentucky from Oregon to be closer to my family, who live in Richmond and Lexington. I’m looking to connect with other people in Kentucky who share my passion for growing food, living closer to the land, and living better with less. I’ve read parts of Radical Homemaking and hope to make much of what I’ve read a reality in my life – especially the part about working less and living more. I’m not sure where to start. I came to Kentucky with no job prospects (intentionally) and no tangible plans of where I want to live. Anyone have a farm or place in the country and the desire to build community together?
I’m an aspiring suburban homesteader in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Grew a big garden this year but learned more about the time it takes to HARVEST and put up food…just finished acquiring the chicken coop and building the run, and I’m studying on chickens and all the fascinating diseases they can be privy to, but I’m undaunted. Wool rabbits will come later, for felt and yarn (I spin and fling yard around with various implements). I’m connecting as much as possible with locals who know more about growing food a mile up, about chickens and rabbits, and about canning…
I’ll probably mess up this e-mail (I don’t own a cell phone — a real Luddite), but I live in Fairhaven MA on the South Coast (fish country). I’m a middle-aged widow with college-aged kids, a Wall Street dropout, and enrolled in a post-grad program in Sustainable Development at UMass/Dartmouth. Trying to make the shift to a rad. homemaker mode — just lost 30 lbs by going organis, after my annual check-up said I was ready to drop dead if I didn’t. Having a great time and looking for e-mail friends.
My name is Rosie and I live here in Hillsboro, Oregon with my eldest daughter, her husband and their daughter. When I first contacted the local library to check out the Radical Homemaker book, I was told I would be number 45 on the waiting list. On August 28th I was told the book was available. I immediately went to the library and claimed it. I finished reading it in 4-days, on September 1st. It is a definite ‘Keeper’. Thank you so much for putting in book form all my feelings. I have always been one of a kind – a radical homemaker, a weird individual, an original, in my lifestyle. Now I know I have a community of sisters and brothers of like mind – even if I just met some in your book. Thank you Shannon…I will be buying a copy of this book for each of my two daughters!
Hi I’m Julie
I live in Oklahoma City in a run down shack with my 4 year old daughter and my husband who runs his own business. This year I put in a fall garden, and learned to cook some new things. We are part of a larger radical community, I also belong to an unschooling group. Our rundown shack has a hole in the roof and a composting toilet right now as the sewer line has collapsed and we have no money to fix it. We are installing a greywater system in order to deal with pee and dishwater etc. Right now washing dishes with the hose. Trying to stay outside the money economy. I have solo dumpstered dived this year and get most of our clothes for free. Big money wasters: restaurants and alcohol. We really need to homebrew! Sharing resources and living a simple life.
From Shannon: Wow, Julie! That’s seriously hard-core!!! – sh
I’ve just discovered this book and would love to read it. It sums up what I’ve been feeling the past few years. I was brought up on a farm in Scotland with a mother who was a radical homemaker without realising it. However, I’m of the generation that was led to believe that in order to be successful I needed a good education and a well paid job. I left my idylic life in Scotland to pursue some kind of career. I now feel like a failure. The well-paid job didn’t suit me and I’ve wasted valuable years where I could have been working the land with my father. However, all is not lost. I now find myself living in Italy, married to a man who has similar values to me and I’m starting to realise that the life I always wanted to lead isn’t such a terrible thing. I’ve come full circle if you like. It’s tough being a radical homemaker in Italy though. Italians are fashionable people who care a lot about what other people think of them. They feel like they have to have everything new and shiny in order to be respected. People my age think I’m strange because I like knitting and sewing. This new idea of radical homemaking hasn’t reached here yet. Maybe I can do something to change that. I look forward to reading the book.
“Italians are fashionable people who care a lot about what other people think of them. They feel like they have to have everything new and shiny in order to be respected.”
Sarah Elizabeth, you will be a part of the Neo-Renaissance–back to basics!
Stephanie, I can’t recommend a book, but here are two simple recipes:
Yogurt
Get a yogurt starter at your natural food store, or a live bacteria organic yogurt
Heat 1/2 gal of milk to 180F – when it skims over, it’s 180F. I boil water in my largest soup pot and place the milk in a separate pot as a double boiler.
Let milk cool to 112-110F, use a thermometer or guage by what a hot bath might feel like. Add starter as directed or 1-2 cups live cultured organic yogurt. Yogurt will culture between 90-112F. It takes a few hours. Put in the fridge to cool. If you like thick yogurt, strain through a tea towel over a mesh sieve. Save the whey for other projects – in pancakes, hot cereals, or for felting wool. Whey stays good for 6 months in the fridge.
For flavored vinegars, heat your vinegar, pour over your choice of clean herbs, flowers, etc. Store in clean glass bottles with non-corrosive lids. Bottles with corks work well. You can use basil, oregano, tarragon, chives, rosemary, dianthus (pinks, carnations), nasturtiums,etc. Experiment.
I live in Albuquerque, and we are in the process of converting our backyard into a food forest/garden and harvesting water for landscape and possible domestic use. It’s an exciting enterprise. We want to be prepared!
Would love to hear from other middle aged Luddites!! Trying to be a Rad Homemaker; love the lifestyle. Have some achievements and some failures but still trying
Hooray for anything that turns people back to strengthening the home! I agree with Lorraine Butler that this has been going on since WWII, but I was beginning to fear that those in their 20′s and 30′s had lost the skills and interest in “reclaiming domesticity”.
If anyone would like help with reclaiming their children’s education, we are 28-year homeschooling veterans, with a 15-year-old still at home. We enjoy sharing what we have learned (and are still learning) with others.
This book is amazing and exactly captured the way I have felt nearly my whole life. I am very thankful to Shannon for giving it a voice.
I homestead with my family near Medina, OH where I am trying to establish a freelance writing career so I can leave the corporate grind permanently! Anyone else out there in my area? If so, look at my blog and send me a message. Would love to interview and meet people in my area to see how they are facilitating change.
Hello from the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts!
I’m very inspired by the Radical Homemaking concept. The book does a wonderful job of articulating the values I’ve been yearning to live by. As a single person, working full time, it’s extremely hard to make a meaningful move towards living the R.H. way of life – other than living as ecologically conscious as I possibly can. I would very much like to network with others in west/central Mass. who might be interested in forming a household or community based on these principles – I have already started keeping my eyes open for farm-able land, with or without a house, that could become the site for such a thing. If interested in connecting, please contact me: gsethkramer@yahoo.com.
Hi, I’m 28, married with a 6-month old daughter and will be moving to the US soon (currently living in Europe). I am not even completely through the book yet, but it resonates with me so much that I just had to find a way to write to you, Shannon, and congratulate you! Now I’m happy to see that there are more people out there who have similar feelings. It is so nice to see that I am not the only one with these “weird” dreams! And I was so glad to read your very interesting arguments on feminism and radical homemaking – for me, this is an important point and something I need to clear up for myself. Thank you for your clear reasoning – I was thinking along somewhat similar lines myself (if much more convoluted), but you said it all so much better. And a few of your chapters were really eye-opening for me.
I just recently graduated from college and have a small research position, but for a number of reasons I haven’t been happy with this path for a few years already, and I am dreaming of something more family- and community oriented, more time, time with my daughter, time to garden, time and energy to focus on the things that are really important to me and in my life, instead of the stress and competition that inevitably comes with an academic career I’m not even sure I would ever enjoy. It is hard to give up a “secure career-path”, and I don’t know yet exactly what and how I will continue, but I know that I am not happy with things as they are now and I am hoping to find a good path for myself when we move to the US.
I will check back here when I know where we will be moving and I’d be very happy to join up with some radical homemakers if someone is in the area. Who knows, maybe one day we could organize a workshop-week to teach each other gardening skills etc. and to connect personally and politically (I am totally serious!)!
Anyway, congratulations again on your wonderful book, Shannon! It is truly inspiring for me. And hi to all the fellow (or future) radical homemakers!
lir@lon
Thanks for your kind words, and good luck with your move….check back and let us know how your path unfolds! – shannon
Hello,
Falls Church, VA (northern VA, near DC). Soon to be northern CA. I just heard Shannon speak at Nourishing Traditions conference in PA – fantastic! Really resonates with me. I work in integrative medicine and although it’s gratifying, I really questioned and changed my work schedule when I had my first child. My daughter is now 3 years old and I’m working from 2 – 4 days per week (nursed 3 years; still from time to time). We have good day care, but I have issues about a young child in someone else’s care from 9 – 5 or longer. It seems to be the unquestioned norm around here.
I’ve always had a “radical” diet: vegetarian for a while; now organic, grass-fed meats, raw dairy, no GMOs, no HFCS, no hydrogenated….. bla bla bla. Everytime I go to a NT conference, I return with a vengeance for making mayo, more cultured veggies, and just more stringent on quality. It works great for our family, but it gets stressful with the neighbors/ friends who want to do a cookie exchange or who “live in restaurants.” (I’m gracious but usually opt out, since I don’t want the vegetable oil cookies and I don’t shop at Safeway or Giant – why should I pay dearly for a restarant to make meals from these depleted/ toxic “foods?”
I just finished the book, and I love the financial words of wisdom. I would previously think, “seeing one patient will pay for that, etc.” Now it’s – “I don’t really need that/ it doesn’t support the environment” – or – “I can make that!” And, I can see less patients!! work less!! That’s huge for me! My parents were very good with tools and handiwork (nurse, elec engineer), so I was very accomplished at sewing, wood-working, electrical jobs, general fixer uppers. I haven’t done this work in so long because I “just didn’t have time.” I love working with my hands, and this was exhilarating to “get” that I can have time for this, because it’ll allow me to work less. I also grew up with the drive to prove my gender’s equality (never learned to make coffee) and earned 2 masters and a doctorate. I was really brainwashed into the “make more money” for security/ comfort/ proof of worth/ convenience mentality. Thank you, Shannon!
My husband is from the Bay area, and we are likely moving to either Marin or Oakland in a couple years. I would really like to connect with more radical homemakers as I make progress down this path and be a part of a like-minded community.
Feel free to contact me:
lynnecdavid@yahoo.de
Thank you for taking the time to come hear me at the WAPF conf…..and best of luck to you!!! Yes, finding friends is a HUGE help on this path. sh
Radical Homemaker has encapsulated and articulated so many ideas that I have been exploring for so long. The personal is political and starting with saying no to the hellish cultural status quo is a very good start and yes to the high art of domestic bliss (half joking about the bliss part… as it is work like any other) and artistry. “Voluntary Simplicity” is a good term to describe this kind of movement. I welcome all to visit me on my blog: yardavore.blogspot.com for a review of the book and more. Self sufficiency is a path that make sense in uncertain times and it can be a beautiful thing! I would love to hear from others…. I’m in Ashland, Oregon.Feel free to contact me at yardavore@gmail.com…..I’m Tonia….. Happy Holidays All!
Hi,
My name is Nick and in anticipation of the perceived weirdness of this post I’d like to say that I am an extremely sane, functional, “Radical Homesteading Homemaker” who is a stable, happy, fun and fully integrated adult person.
I love you all, which is why I have a lot of friends…thank god they have a sense of humor. If you go/have gone to NOFA or PASA or Weston A. Price, you might have met me.
I have four things to say…
1.) I bought 25 copies of “Radical Homemakers” to give away to like-minded people after meeting Shannon Hayes and her husband at the NOFA-NY winter conference of 2010 (or was it 2009?)…and I have six left. This is a very special book. If you can afford it, and you care about the world, you should do the same. If you can’t afford it, well…don’t go spending money! Stay thrifty.
Listen, the best things in this world include NOFA, PASA, The Zeitgeist Movement, The Venus Project, Noam Chomsky, etc, and I believe that together we can save this world…or at least begin to move in that direction for future generations. So let me start some action…
(The world premiere of “Zeitgeist Moving Forward”, also known as “Zeitgeist 3″, is happening between January 15 and 25, probably at a theatre near you…. Look up “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward”in a search engine, and see what I mean. You might just as well see “Zeitgeist: The Movie”, and ” Zeitgeist: Addendum” online for free, while you’re at it… These folks are committed to change. So am I…)
2.) I can start an intentional community at my house:
I own my property and have a steady job. (which I would ultimately like to quit)
I am incredibly resourceful and intelligent. I care about the world. I live for truth and justice. I have lots of tools, lots of room and I need help here. I can fit up to 3 more couples in this huge house and we can live off this land. With my connections, and my friendly and persuasive demeanor, we can convert parts of this local area into a sustainable paradise. There is much unused land that can grow tons of food.
If we do a good job we can make a video of the process and sell or give that to the world.
If we do a REALLY good job we can sell the place and move somewhere that won’t be underwater in 40 years.
Let’s do this thing.
[Warning: I have no time for people who live in fear or anger, so I tend to shy away from folks who usually identify themselves with political movements that prey upon people’s capacity for fear rather than on people’s capacity to love. This might rule out right-wingers, or other racists, sexists, homophobes, etc…
I am also very good at recognizing fools, liars, thieves, substance abusers, or crazy persons…if you are not sane, fear this.
3.) The house: I find too much TV makes people fearful and conforming. There is no cable TV here. I eat organic food. I own an acre of land upon which I have 8 chickens, two beehives, and a 3000 sq. ft, garden. I have 10kw of photovoltaics on my roof, for electricity.
I am going to buy an electric car for local use. I would like to live on a big farm. There is more to tell…(ask me about my 0.1kWh/day refrigerator!…and I have 2 cars ready to convert to run on used vegetable oil)
4.) Because this is labeled as a “connect” sort of thing, let me go out on a limb and say I also hope to find a radical mate: ( I know this is a longshot…)
I am ultimately looking for a beautiful, sexy, wise, exciting, cool, hardworking and stable female partner to make a life that will survive the economy with me. I am emotionally available. I love to communicate my feelings. I think children would be much safer, smarter, and capable if raised far away from a city. I will not raise children to be greedy or selfish.
I am not a very young man… I am well over 40, but I am reasonably attractive. I am active and young-looking. Most people think I am much younger. I plan on living for a long time and hoping/helping to make great changes. in people’s lives.
If this does not happen for me it will be fine, just a little bit sad.
Like I said…It’s a longshot.
Profession: Teacher
…but also Bandleader, Gardener, Handyman, SCUBA Instructor, Electronics Technician, etc.
In closing…
Fortune favors the bold, and nature abhors a vacuum…. When the current structure fails SOMETHING must fill the void.
It is WE…HERE…US… who need to supply that SOMETHING…let’s fill that void with love, generosity, tolerance, sustainability, ecology, compassion, and wisdom.
Did I leave anything out? That part is up to you.
In my opinion,”Radical Hoimkemakers” is one of many sparks that can light the fire to blaze the trail.
We must ALL keep writing..here and elsewhere. (…especially you, Shannon.)
But we must also keep THINKING and DOING.
Don’t be afraid.
Smile when you are ready…
your pal,
Nick
PS: For the legalistic among you…. The above post was written for entertainment purposes only.