Radical Homemaking & Radical Living

I've stumbled across an interesting phenomenon called Radical Homemaking. Just like my new resolutions (can I borrow? make? or rent? instead of buy?), the idea of Radical Homemaking is a switch to making family, community, social justice, organic farming, and green living the center of their lives. Based on principles of Shannon Hayes' book Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture, it is full of back-to-basics homemaking ideas.

Yet I find it difficult in our local community to enact some of these ideals. Our soil proved too much to plant - only weeds found a local home. All else died on the vine. We do try to do our part, more for our local ease of life rather than any "green"-driven motive. We mend socks and shirts, try to fix appliances (although recently our cuisinart and the waffle iron gave it on up), and grow tomatoes, basil and anything else we can (A's hydroponic veggies this summer were delish).

I keep going back to this switch from consumption to production. My previous career as an attorney, as a non-profit manager, all focused on asking for deals, asking for grants, asking for money. I didn't feel that I was able to produce anything tangible. The closest thing was the local Art Walk, but even that wasn't necessarily physical in its actuality.

A on the other hand, is an architect. Plans, homes, additions. There is a physical end to his creations. Our friends (also architects) make new pieces out of reclaimed wood.

I used to think that most of the work we did at home was a side-note to our other, more important job - that of being "out" there in society - a "real" job. But now I am seeing more of the importance of the home front. Not to say that my JD won't come in handy. But that we can slow down and have a more fulfilling life, even if it's not by the societal standards of simply working in another building.

Perhaps all has been leading me here - from a bambino who is the pickiest eater ever (how to get nutrition in that kid!) to my own health issues and the overall concern about our consumption and limiting plastics in our environment and home. I suppose time will tell.

What are your radical living ideas?