Hidden revolution? I think not.

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God..." -- D&C 88:119

I grew up reading this scripture every time I opened my mom's refrigerator.  My mom was and still is a fabulous homemaker.  Our house was always organized and clean; still is.  Before voting booths and voting machines, voters would come to our house to mark their ballets.  I recall my mom cooking many meals for sick neighbors.  Every Christmas we took homemade baked goods around to the neighbors, close friends, and family.  Don't get me started on the canning and preserving.  Every Christmas my mom sewed us pajamas; the one gift we got to open on Christmas Eve.  All of my doll and Barbie cloths were handmade too.  This year Joseph and I were able to make batches of roasted tomatoes thanks to my mom's garden.  As I study and research about homesteading, sustainability, over coming consumerism, and minimalists, I'm not reading about a new philosophy:  I am reading about new skills of course, but empowerment of the home was taught to me at a very young age.   

"Radical Homemakers uncovers a hidden revolution quietly taking hold across the United States.  It is the story of pioneering men and women who are redefining feminism and the good life by adhering to simple principles of ecological sustainability, social justice, community engagement and family well-being.  It explores the values, skills, motivations, accomplishments, power, challenges, joy and creative fulfillment of Americans who are endeavoring to change the world by first reclaiming control of home and hearth." --Shannon Hayes. 

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 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."

Thank you mom for raising me with the skills and values I need to become a radical homemaker.  The more I study, learn, and plan for our future homestead, the more excited I am to apply what I'm learning and what I already know from being raised by someone who is a radical homemaker in her own right.  

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