10 Steps to Becoming a Radical Homemaker?

Yes, 10 things! Shannon Hayes, author of Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture, has created concise break-down of ten steps for radical homemaking. I'm always on the lookout for articles about food activism and back-to-the-land movements and I was happy to recently come across THIS article on Alternet.com by Ms. Hayes. But don't let these 10 steps be the end of your journey, definitely read her book. In the meantime, if one of your resolutions for 2014 is to live a greener life with a closer to connection to the land and your community, here are 10 things you can start doing in the new year.


10 Easy Steps for Becoming a Radical Homemaker 

- Commit to hanging your laundry out to dry.
- Dedicate a portion of your lawn to a vegetable garden.
- Get to know your neighbors.
- Cooperate with family and neighbors to save money and resources.
- Go to your local farmers' market each week before you head to the grocery store.
- Do some spring cleaning to identify everything in your home that you absolutely don’t need.
- Donate to help others save money and resources.
- Make a commitment to start carrying your own reusable bags and use them on all your shopping trips.
- Choose one local food item to learn how to preserve for yourself for the winter.
- Get your family to spend more evenings at home, preferably with the TV off.
- Cook for your family.
- Focus on enjoying what you have and who are with.
- Stop fixating on what you think you may need, or how things could be better "if only."

Artist and Illustrator Phoebe Wahl