The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow
Episodes
144 episodes
Fearless
Did you ever think about the adjectives we choose to describe a good female student, vs a good male student? Ula graduated this weekend, and we heard a lot of adjectives being thrown about for the scholars. But what word should be c...
The Beautiful B+
The school year is coming to an end for our daughters. Finishing projects and finals is not just about escaping classes….It’s about weighing the demands of the classes up against the siren call of spring. Apparently this is a recurr...
Unwise Decisions
Last summer, Bob and I moved down to the farm at the start of lambing season to help pull things together in the wake of Mom’s death. All in all, it was a bad idea. I’d do it again. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to ...
Sound Investing
Farming’s a tricky business, and managing for cash flow is hard. Managing for profit is even harder. So we farmers learn to be careful with our money. Those management skills mean we get pretty good at living within our means....
Someone Like You
Did you ever notice what makes a community feel inviting? It’s not the big box stores. It’s not the chain restaurants. It’s the small businesses that create a true sense of place, that let a traveler know that a given corner o...
Grosbeak Winter, Grosbeak Spring
Healing isn’t really possible unless we’re willing to look at the wounds we’ve been hiding. For most of my life, I haven’t been willing to look. That’s changing. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 1 of The ...
The Importance of Lazy & Soul
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.&...
How doable is doing less?
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 blo...
Prepping
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...
The $500K Book Advance
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’...
Slow Learners
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 ...
I'm No Garrison Keillor
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...
The Well-(S)Oiled Machine
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 Homemak...
What the dust stirs up...
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 s...
The All Girls Tractor School
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. Bu...
Let what comes come.
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 kno...
709
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, an...
Mothers' Day
This year marked my first Mothers’ Day without a Mom. I didn’t think it mattered much, in light of the fact that I abhor the day and refuse to mark it. But that doesn’t make me celebrate my mother any less. I’m Shannon Hayes, and yo...
Sometimes, you need a time-out.
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...
We are the art.
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 listen...
Step Away from the Crowd
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
Hands Off The Farmers
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 mou...
My Emotionally Avoidant Dog
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 s...
