The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow

“DEAD FARMERS CAN’T TAKE VACATIONS.”  The ad for temporary farm relief workers appeared in my Dad’s weekly Country Folks paper.  Just a kid, I clipped the lead and pasted it to the bathroom mirror at Sap Bush. I thought it was funny. Mom tore it off and threw it away years ago. But every time I stand in front of the bathroom mirror down at the farm, I still see it.   Lots of farmers believe the on...

How many times have you heard a farmer tell you they’ll rest when they’re dead?   Truth be told, I think they fear that if they do rest, they might die.   I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 12 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Please note that this episode contains a few expletives.  So if you’ve got young ears in the vicinity, you might want to use headphones.   Find the...

Have your kids ever asked you what led you to decide to start a family?  Were you able to give them an honest answer? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 11 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the text version of this story on The Radical Homemaker blog.  Support the show

Mom and I once took a class in farm transition planning, where the instructor taught us an important lesson: family farms are ALWAYS in transition.  And that’s definitely true.  But some days, I feel that more keenly than others.   I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 10 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Looking for the written version? Find it over on the blog .  Support t...

Ula is not the only one graduating with her associates degree this spring.  Saoirse earned her degree as well.  But she wasn’t sure if she even wanted it.  It took four batches of caramel to come to a decision.  I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 9 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow.  Want a text copy of this story?  Find it over on the blog .  Support the show

I was raised on this farm to view shirking responsibility as a failure of character.  But there’s a difference between being irresponsible, and not being responsible.  I struggle with that distinction. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 8 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the full text version of this story over on the blog .  Support the show

If we could, Bob and I would continue operating our cafe together forever.  But we’re realizing, much as we love the work, that if we don’t start transitioning our skills, the cafe will only last as long as our knees and feet will hold up.  If it’s going to last forever, it has to stand without us.  And that brings it’s own travails to our hearts and minds. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening...

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 chosen for a girl like Ula, who wondered if she would ever be able to complete a college degree? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 6 of The...

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 recurring issue in our family.  I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 5 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Find the text version on the blog .  Suppor...

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 Season 7, Episode 4 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow.  Find the text of this story here .  Support the show

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.  But they can cause a total head trip on those rare occasions when it’s time to stretch beyond them. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 3 of The...

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 of the world is cared-for and cherished.  But how much burden and responsibility can a small business shoulder for a community’s well-being before they are unable to exist?...

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 Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow.  Find the text version on this story over on Shannon's blog .  Support the show

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 t...

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.c...

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...

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 give...

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-school Farming 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,...

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 g...

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 .  Sup...

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 you’re listening to Season 6, Episode 6 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. For the written transcript of this story, visit the Radical Homemaker blog at SapBushFarmStore...