This weekend I finished Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture, by author Shannon Hayes. While parts of the book served up what I expected – ideas and encouragement for pursuing a self-sufficent, good, old-fashioned lifestyle – one of Shannon’s central messages did take me by surprise. That message is Shannon’s vision for a “Life-Serving” economy.
Now, I’m not much for current events, watching the stock market, economics, etc. But, I do recognize that the economy directly effects my life. I don’t care for the “buy, buy, BUY!” basis of our American economy. It seems so circular – buying begets the ability to keep buying. But, what are we buying? It’s all so temporary… and so we keep buying! But, I honestly didn’t think there could be another way. Check this out:
“…the essential work of Radical Homemakers is to build a bridge that crosses us from the dominion of an extractive economy, which primarily serves its own perpetuation, to a life-serving economy, where commerce… directly fulfills a material human need rather than generating wealth for its own sake (pg. 282).”
“Money is simply an accounting chit created out of nothing, without substance or intrinsic value, which has value only becasue we believe it does… At the heart of Radical Homemaking is the quest to identify those elements of life that have tangible value, that deliver genuine wealth, and then make a beeline directly for them, relatively undistracted by the intermediary of money (pg. 120).”
So, what is poverty?
“One of the first determinatns of ‘impoverishment’ was a lack of personally ‘owned’ time… Other signs of impoverishment included the inability to access nourishing food, to get adequate rest, to properly nurture their relationships, or to live an ecologically responsible life (pg. 117).”
And what is wealth?
“Many of the homemakers counted the ability to provide their children with stable, peaceful home lives as a central feature of their wealth (pg. 121).”
“Radical Homemakers gauge their ‘wealth’ by their ability to include in their lives such incalculable values as good relationships, good food, or self-determination (pg 123).”
I can’t help but agree. These are the things that make for a good life. Money is just a tool, and when we overspend on things, it’s a tool used badly. I don’t want to exchange my time for excessive money, when I could make a “beeline” when I exchange my time for the real stuff. The bulk of the second half of Shannon’s book is real-life stories and principles for pursuing this kind of wealth. I guarantee you’ll be challenged and excited if you take a peak!
. Spring cleaning, here I come!
We buy a locally grown, fresh Christmas tree. Real trees are renewable resources that can be recylced (as wood chip, for example – many cities have recylcing programs) or composted. Plus, when you buy a real tree locally, you encourage the growth of more trees to freshen the air of your state. Buying locally reduces wasteful transporting expenses and the fossil-fuel to transport as well. Ideally, buy an organic tree to reduce pesticide use and avoid bringing pesticides into your home - but I have yet to see them for sale around here. 
