Customer Comments

within the 260+ pages i found inspiration, validation, and insight from the lives of radical homemakers across america, including Hayes herself. using in-depth interviews with 20 radical homemakers and her own experiences as the foundation, Hayes has put into words a broad template for what radical homemaking might look like, and inspires us to put that template to work for ourselves. the overarching theme is that we can do more, with less. we do not need salaries or big houses or corporations selling us crap to be happy, nor are these markers the peak of culture, ambition, or productivity. we can be productive on a different scale, moving at an easier pace, and oftentimes accomplish more, with less goods, and be happier in the process.

lady english has a lovely way with words, the design is terribly cute, and her farmhouse lifestyle is very enviable- but also very do-able. she makes very clear the whats, hows and whys of canning, including jar selection, vegetable prep, issues about bacteria and pH and all sorts of important things you need to know before cutting up six pounds of berries or asparagus. this is a really comprehensive guide to canning, pickling, and ‘putting up’ all types of fruit and vegetables, with both basic and fancy recipes for jams, jellies, and curds.

this lovely cookbook is totally accessible- great for macro novices like me and those more familiar with the cuisine. the photos are lovely and the text is readable and charming, but most importantly, the recipes are amazing. though there are some fish recipes in the book (perhaps four) this book is totally vegan friendly- focusing on earth and sea vegetables, beans, rice, and vegetable protein sources. all ingredients and portions are carefully measured, and all the directions are clear- what she has written covers all the steps needed to create her photo-perfect soups, rice dishes, seitan or tempeh. there is a brief explanation of macrobiotics in general and a glossary to explain some of the less common ingredients also.