Radical Homemakers - Shannon Hayes - Part 4

Radical Homemakers - Shannon Hayes

2017 Reading Challenge - Day 73

  March 14, 2017 

Book 23 - Radical Homemakers - Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture
by Shannon Hayes (2010)
 Part 4 - pages 184-230
Reading Time - 50 minutes

Last part of the book and the section that I found least inspiring. Or at least, it wasn't what I was expecting. The first few chapters were really good but someone I expected more... maybe a template for what a Radical Homemaker does or looks like or something. But I also get that Radical Homemakers come in all shapes and sizes and do what they do in myriad different ways.

In this last section, the author pulls together the 7 Skill Sets that she has identified as being key for Radical Homemakers.

1. Nurturing Relationships - family, friends, community - no one can go it alone and relationships are at the heart of a life-serving economy. Which makes sense for me based on the other stuff I've been reading.
2. Working with a Life-serving Economy - include everyone (even kids), capitalize on available resources (salvage) and minimize waste. The idea is to go from being net consumers to net producers. The idea that we can barter and spend money where it matters most - that means locally. Every dollar that we spend locally triples in value.
3. Cultivating an Ability to Self-Teach - find teachers, work with what you have and don't be afraid to make mistakes. It's all about thinking independently.
4. Setting Realistic Expectations and Limits - fairly obvious... if the garden is taking way too much time then cut back.
5. Redefining Pleasure in our Lives - producing vs. consuming. TV is a consumer activity. And if pleasure is an intentional and conscious experience... one wonders why we spend so much time in the front of the TV and never feel rested. 
6. Rediscovering the Taste of Real Food - our taste buds have been seduced by the unholy trinity of salt, sugar, fat. Figuring out what our regional, local food tastes like can reboot our taste buds.
7. Adopting a Fearless Attitude in Withstanding Contrary Cultural Expectations - stand up with courage in the face of people who don't understand why your truck is 21 years old. The goal isn't to impress people but to live life with courage.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! I do think it needs a further read and time to sit and simmer.