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Welcome to the Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow, chronicles and lessons from a life tied to family, community and the land. I'm Shannon Hayes, and I own and operate Sap Bush Hollow Farm with three generations of my family in the Northern Catskills of Upstate New York. I'm the chef owner of Sap Bush Cafe, and I'm the author of a few books, including Radical Homemakers and The Grassfed Gourmet. This podcast features my weekly essays, where I explore the adventures of keeping life, business, family, community and fun in the balance.
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I was always an A student. Actually, I couldn’t NOT be an A student. After writing this week’s post, I think I could fairly say I was TRAPPED into being an A student. I’m beginning to see how that has been working against me. It’s time to turn things around and make life more sane. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 17 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. For a full transcript, check out The Radical Homemaker Blog at SapBushFarmStore...
If your doctor advised you to cut back and do less, could you do it? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 16 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. For the transcript of this story, visit The Radical Homemaker blog at https://www.sapbushfarmstore.com. Support the show
It never occurred to me that cleaning my mother’s house would shed light on her fears. But as we continue to work to revitalize the Sap Bush Farm House, more mysteries about her are solved…and revealed… I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 15 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the printed version of this story over on The Radical Homemaker Blog at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
We got a day off this week! Bob and I took off for a paddling trip to the Adirondacks, where I used to dream of buying a cabin with a fantasy $500,000 book advance. On this day off, I got a chance to reflect on where that dream got us. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 14 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. You can read this story on The Radical Homemaker Blog, which is now located on the Sap Bush Hollow website: SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
I’m 51 years old. I’ve spent nearly all those years living and working at Sap Bush Hollow Farm. How is it that I still don’t know how to be a farmer? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 13 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. If you'd like a written version of this story, find it on The Radical Homemaker blog at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
I received a letter a few weeks back from a woman who found an old copy of one of my most popular books, Radical Homemakers, in her public library. “I want to become someone I believe in,” she wrote to me. And she wanted to know how my beliefs and research have framed my life, and how my views may have changed since writing that book. It’s taken me a while to think of how to respond. On any given day, I found that I had a different answer. How would any of us tackle that que...
What will it take to get this farm to run smoothly and efficiently? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 11 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. For a written version of this story, check out The Radical Homemaker Blog, which can be found at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
s it possible to lose a beloved parent without an existential life crisis? Oh if only… I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 10 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. For the written transcript of this story, visit The Radical Homemaker blog at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
https://www.sapbushfarmstore.com/s/stories/the-all-girls-tractor-schoolFarming requires everyone to work hard, and to take pride and joy in doing so. But there’s a long tradition of dividing the labor along gender lines. That can be a problem if you’re trying to make sure a business can continue when the entire next generation is one gender. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 9 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. If you'd like to read the full trans...
My mother’s callous attitude about death could come across as shocking to those who didn’t know her. But her views were hard-won, and they’re getting me through the tough work we face here at Sap Bush Hollow. Those of you who’ve known mom and me personally are aware that she raised me to swear like a sailor. To be true to her parenting voice, I’ve employed our natural language here. If you’ve got tender ears within listening range, you might want to slip on some headphones f...
Efficiency. That’s key to profitability on a farm. Everything must contribute to the well-being of the whole. If it doesn’t contribute, it must go. But what, exactly, counts as a valid contribution? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 7 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. For the transcript of this story, visit The Radical Homemaker Blog at www.sapbushfarmstore.com. Support the show
I normally like to write alone, but this week’s essay was written in collaboration with Kit, my emotionally avoidant dog. It’s about the importance of a time-out. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 5 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the written version of this story over on The Radical Homemaker Blog at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
Final exams and final projects, lambing season, the loss of a local microbrewery, spring cleaning. It’s been a busy week here at Sap Bush Hollow, with lots of change and lots of surrender. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 3 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. You can find the text version of this story on The Radical Homemaker blog at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
For three years, I’ve been gently encouraging folks, even farmers and small business owners, to consider abandoning their social media accounts. But today, I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’m going to come out and ask you to do it. I think you’ll be happier for it, that your businesses will run better without it, and that you’ll be helping to take steps to restore democracy. And right now, the stakes are higher than ever. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re list...
It’s hard to ignore the news these days, even though I think a lot of farmers prefer to. We’re keenly aware that agrarian political views vary widely, and rural neighbors can’t afford too many political battles. I try to keep my mouth shut to get along better. But last week, farm and homesteading culture got thrown into the political debate. And I think a few things warrant discussion. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 2 of The Hearth ...
Winter is loosening her grip slowly this year, matching our emotions as we move into our first season without Mom here on Sap Bush Hollow Farm. We’re doing as well as can be expected…in spite of my dog’s utter failure to offer emotional support. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 1 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. You can find the full transcript of this essay on The Radical Homemaker Blog at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
It's the final episode of the season, and we're going to explore what it takes to make it in this agrarian way of life when aptitude isn't in the cards. For a written copy of this piece, visit The Radical Homemaker Blog. You can learn more about Sap Bush Hollow Farm at SapBushFarmStore.com. Support the show
Family farm life is rife with daily disasters. If we measure our happiness based on our ability to avert them, we’ll never be content. The trick is to enjoy the life in spite of them. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 5, Episode 19 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. To find a text version of this post, visit The Radical Homemaker blog. To learn more about Sap Bush Hollow Farm, find us here. Support the show
Living rural has typically necessitated car ownership. Our family tries to minimize that expense for ecological, financial and quality of life reasons. But now both our daughters are driving….What will this mean? You’re listening to Season 5, Episode 18 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the transcript over on the blog at The Radical Homemaker.net. Learn more about Sap Bush Hollow Farm here. Support the show
The real estate market is booming. What does that mean for our farmers? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 5, Episode 17 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the written copy of this story over on The Radical Homemaker Blog. To visit Sap Bush Hollow Farm on the web, find us here. Support the show
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