Comments on: chicks with chicks :: the femivore movement http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:36:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Moni http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1933 Moni Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:39:04 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1933 Bonnie, thank you SO much for linking this article. Although at first read, I was really annoyed with it, upon further reflection, it is a great piece - BECAUSE it gets you thinking. I guess I was annoyed because she kind of stereotypes all OTHER stay-at-home moms/homemakers as the "Betty Draper/Lysol" using type. Ironically, I think it was the shift to the 2paycheck lifestyle/feminist corporate movement that LED families to rely on things like Lysol and tv-dinners to make ends meet. The "Betty Draper" homemaker represents a very small portion of women, for a short period of history -- I know many MORE women who have always led a fully 'feminist' lifestyle by utilizing their talents & gifts for the betterment of their families, i.e. my mom, my grandma, etc. Is it weird that I grew up in a family where growing your own veggies and makings clothes was the norm? But I really do rejoice that so many women are being empowered to make intentional decisions to stay-at-home, to farm, to homeschool (!!), etc. And some dads too. All the better for women who truly LOVE their jobs/careers and use that to serve/support their families on top of being awesome moms, etc. Bonnie, thank you SO much for linking this article. Although at first read, I was really annoyed with it, upon further reflection, it is a great piece – BECAUSE it gets you thinking.

I guess I was annoyed because she kind of stereotypes all OTHER stay-at-home moms/homemakers as the “Betty Draper/Lysol” using type. Ironically, I think it was the shift to the 2paycheck lifestyle/feminist corporate movement that LED families to rely on things like Lysol and tv-dinners to make ends meet.
The “Betty Draper” homemaker represents a very small portion of women, for a short period of history — I know many MORE women who have always led a fully ‘feminist’ lifestyle by utilizing their talents & gifts for the betterment of their families, i.e. my mom, my grandma, etc. Is it weird that I grew up in a family where growing your own veggies and makings clothes was the norm?

But I really do rejoice that so many women are being empowered to make intentional decisions to stay-at-home, to farm, to homeschool (!!), etc. And some dads too.
All the better for women who truly LOVE their jobs/careers and use that to serve/support their families on top of being awesome moms, etc.

]]> By: Purse Pixie http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1850 Purse Pixie Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:52:11 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1850 Thanks so much for sharing this article. This is something my friends and I have talked about a lot lately and this offers some great insights. Thanks so much for sharing this article. This is something my friends and I have talked about a lot lately and this offers some great insights.

]]> By: UmberDove http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1804 UmberDove Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:52:59 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1804 Bonnie, as ever, I appreciate the things you bring to light here! As an artist all the way (but well educated, just to put that out there too ;) I've worked a slew of unfulfilling jobs to scrape by. About three years ago my husband and I decided to step back from the rat race and commit to living a life that fulfilled us (we had been living just outside San Francisco, working 3.5 jobs, making very decent money and seeing each other a total of 10 hours a week). We cut our funds by more than half and while we have had our fair share of financial stress, it's also PROVIDED / NECESSITATED a need to learn how to provide for yourself. My thought in all this is related to HelloBluebird's comment: when we decided to cut down to 1.5 jobs, we suddenly no longer had the means to purchase all the food stuffs / organics / sustainable goods we had supported before. We have to tread a delicate balance between holding our ideals of life quality AND supporting our ideals of quality food and products. It's NOT easy, but it is good. For me, it has absolutely been the "right" choice, and the satisfaction I have knowing that I can NOT buy certain items and learn just how much I can make, create, grow with my own two hands. Growing up in suburbia and then living in densely populated areas, learning small things like baking my own bread has giving me an opportunity to experience a visceral connection to centuries of womanhood. I think it all goes back to making the best choices that you and ONLY you can make for your life and your earth. (gosh, sorry this is sooooo long - getting off the soap box now) Bonnie, as ever, I appreciate the things you bring to light here!

As an artist all the way (but well educated, just to put that out there too ;) I’ve worked a slew of unfulfilling jobs to scrape by. About three years ago my husband and I decided to step back from the rat race and commit to living a life that fulfilled us (we had been living just outside San Francisco, working 3.5 jobs, making very decent money and seeing each other a total of 10 hours a week). We cut our funds by more than half and while we have had our fair share of financial stress, it’s also PROVIDED / NECESSITATED a need to learn how to provide for yourself.

My thought in all this is related to HelloBluebird’s comment: when we decided to cut down to 1.5 jobs, we suddenly no longer had the means to purchase all the food stuffs / organics / sustainable goods we had supported before. We have to tread a delicate balance between holding our ideals of life quality AND supporting our ideals of quality food and products. It’s NOT easy, but it is good.

For me, it has absolutely been the “right” choice, and the satisfaction I have knowing that I can NOT buy certain items and learn just how much I can make, create, grow with my own two hands. Growing up in suburbia and then living in densely populated areas, learning small things like baking my own bread has giving me an opportunity to experience a visceral connection to centuries of womanhood.

I think it all goes back to making the best choices that you and ONLY you can make for your life and your earth.

(gosh, sorry this is sooooo long – getting off the soap box now)

]]> By: bonnie http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1802 bonnie Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:24:07 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1802 hi alex! yes, i know how you feel! by no means does this mean every woman should or could do this. most simply can't survive on one income. i think the more important issue is for woman not to feel like they <em>have</em> to do anything other than follow their heart. if their passion is in the workforce, by all means, that's where they should be! and if it's at home, my hope is that one day women will feel like they can do that without being held to social criticism. though, some won't be able to do what their heart desires for financial reasons. it's all part of it and it is all ok. i know some who read this are feeling like it's yet another standard that the woman should uphold and add to her to-do list. but, doing what we can is (in my book) what's important. not <em>necessarily</em> quitting your day job to head to the farm. small things like teaching our children that vegetables grow from the earth, eating local when we can, and using reusable grocery bags. everyone's small acts combine to make a huge difference. aren't we lucky to be able to do both? to own shops, (brick & mortar or etsy) or be in the workforce, and still be able to do some things that bring awareness to getting 'back to the basics'. i think where everyone is in this movement and in their lives is beautiful. if what this article stands for is important to us, we have to mold it to fit our modern lives, however much that may be- by a little or a lot. thank you alex for the thought provoking conversation! hi alex! yes, i know how you feel! by no means does this mean every woman should or could do this. most simply can’t survive on one income. i think the more important issue is for woman not to feel like they have to do anything other than follow their heart. if their passion is in the workforce, by all means, that’s where they should be! and if it’s at home, my hope is that one day women will feel like they can do that without being held to social criticism. though, some won’t be able to do what their heart desires for financial reasons. it’s all part of it and it is all ok.

i know some who read this are feeling like it’s yet another standard that the woman should uphold and add to her to-do list. but, doing what we can is (in my book) what’s important. not necessarily quitting your day job to head to the farm. small things like teaching our children that vegetables grow from the earth, eating local when we can, and using reusable grocery bags. everyone’s small acts combine to make a huge difference.

aren’t we lucky to be able to do both? to own shops, (brick & mortar or etsy) or be in the workforce, and still be able to do some things that bring awareness to getting ‘back to the basics’. i think where everyone is in this movement and in their lives is beautiful. if what this article stands for is important to us, we have to mold it to fit our modern lives, however much that may be- by a little or a lot.

thank you alex for the thought provoking conversation!

]]> By: Mel - The Organic Mamas http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1801 Mel - The Organic Mamas Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:24:33 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1801 Thank you SO much Bonnie for finding and posting this link. The article could have been written about me - uncannily so. I am a fairly highly educated woman who gave up my career totally after the birth of my 2nd child - there was alot of eye-rolling from my colleagues. I have embraced my new role but it does present the exact challenges mentioned in the article. I have really struggled with the concept of relying on my husband's salary and that was part of the reason for starting my own business. But I take pride in my work at home - and it is so satisfying knowing that I can provide for my family from our backyard. Often it is hard work and more often it is tedious as well. But I take delight in feeling the sun on my face, hands in the dirt, the smell of washing on the clothes line and maybe a little just a little bit of chicken poo! mel x Thank you SO much Bonnie for finding and posting this link. The article could have been written about me – uncannily so. I am a fairly highly educated woman who gave up my career totally after the birth of my 2nd child – there was alot of eye-rolling from my colleagues. I have embraced my new role but it does present the exact challenges mentioned in the article. I have really struggled with the concept of relying on my husband’s salary and that was part of the reason for starting my own business. But I take pride in my work at home – and it is so satisfying knowing that I can provide for my family from our backyard. Often it is hard work and more often it is tedious as well. But I take delight in feeling the sun on my face, hands in the dirt, the smell of washing on the clothes line and maybe a little just a little bit of chicken poo!
mel x

]]> By: alex/hello bluebird http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 alex/hello bluebird Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:42:46 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1798 My husband and I were just winding down the night with chatter about our garden, which took a beating when we opened our retail shop last summer: this is one of the hardest parts of having strong ideals with limited time. It becomes even harder with limited resources. I know a lot of this trend is associated with the recession's implications that we need to get back to basics--but, and I don't want to offend anyone here, truly--it is hard not to feel like this movement is still primarily accessible by women in economic classes that are fairly comfortable. I would love to be able to garden more, stay home with my children, sew, cook--in fact, I do a lot of those things, but I honestly live beyond my means in an attempt to live according to my ideals. And there is actually no possible way for our family to survive on one income. Luckily, I own my own fledgling business, which allows me the flexibility to adapt to daily circumstances--but what about the millions of American women who have even less than me? I am sure I am being way too brief and vague as it is way too late at night to be posting (after a long day running the shop with my 4 year old in tow, and then preparing a late-evening meal of locally-raised organic chicken, putting the kids to bed, planning our garden--"back to basics" is simply exhausting!)...but I just wanted to throw these thoughts out there. I believe in everything this movement stands for, but it can be yet another overwhelming pressure on women, who continue to bear an incredible weight in this culture. My husband and I were just winding down the night with chatter about our garden, which took a beating when we opened our retail shop last summer: this is one of the hardest parts of having strong ideals with limited time. It becomes even harder with limited resources. I know a lot of this trend is associated with the recession’s implications that we need to get back to basics–but, and I don’t want to offend anyone here, truly–it is hard not to feel like this movement is still primarily accessible by women in economic classes that are fairly comfortable. I would love to be able to garden more, stay home with my children, sew, cook–in fact, I do a lot of those things, but I honestly live beyond my means in an attempt to live according to my ideals. And there is actually no possible way for our family to survive on one income. Luckily, I own my own fledgling business, which allows me the flexibility to adapt to daily circumstances–but what about the millions of American women who have even less than me? I am sure I am being way too brief and vague as it is way too late at night to be posting (after a long day running the shop with my 4 year old in tow, and then preparing a late-evening meal of locally-raised organic chicken, putting the kids to bed, planning our garden–”back to basics” is simply exhausting!)…but I just wanted to throw these thoughts out there. I believe in everything this movement stands for, but it can be yet another overwhelming pressure on women, who continue to bear an incredible weight in this culture.

]]> By: Jes - oh, buckets http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1786 Jes - oh, buckets Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:20:30 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1786 what a great discussion today - I really enjoyed checking back throughout the day to see what folks had to say! what a great discussion today – I really enjoyed checking back throughout the day to see what folks had to say!

]]> By: Maxine http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1783 Maxine Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:03:38 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1783 I agree that balance is important while working as hard as you can to keep your priorities in tact. My children are grown and I've learned that a willingness to learn along the way helps, too. I love learning from my children! Do as much as you can (even if it's little) and feel good about it. Great post, Bonnie. The chickens are lovely. I agree that balance is important while working as hard as you can to keep your priorities in tact. My children are grown and I’ve learned that a willingness to learn along the way helps, too. I love learning from my children! Do as much as you can (even if it’s little) and feel good about it. Great post, Bonnie. The chickens are lovely.

]]> By: Malerie http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 Malerie Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:39:51 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1782 Very thought provoking indeed! I've certainly embraced my role as a homemaker- but I too have experienced at times feelings of monotony, boredom, and "economic dependence," {in terms of wishing I could contribute financially to our family's budget}. For me, opening my Etsy shop a few months ago really broke that boredom away, gave me something to delve into that was keeping my mind fresh, creativity expressed, and even something to talk about beyond kids- not that I don't still love to talk about them, but I felt as if I couldn't even have adult conversations at times! I think it's vastly important that housewives have some sort of indulgence- find your joy, passion, and where you can invest yourself & your abilities! For me, making money from it is just a perk. Beehives, chickens, organic gardens...those are dreams of mine! Our current housing situation wouldn't allow it- but something I highly respect and look forward to enjoying someday! Not only for the fulfillment and healthier lifestyle- think of the money you'd save! I imagine it would also open up so many wonderful learning opportunities! for your children as well! Bonnie- love what you wrote about balancing vs. becoming an extremist, and women supporting one another! I wholeheartedly agree. Very thought provoking indeed! I’ve certainly embraced my role as a homemaker- but I too have experienced at times feelings of monotony, boredom, and “economic dependence,” {in terms of wishing I could contribute financially to our family’s budget}.

For me, opening my Etsy shop a few months ago really broke that boredom away, gave me something to delve into that was keeping my mind fresh, creativity expressed, and even something to talk about beyond kids- not that I don’t still love to talk about them, but I felt as if I couldn’t even have adult conversations at times!

I think it’s vastly important that housewives have some sort of indulgence- find your joy, passion, and where you can invest yourself & your abilities! For me, making money from it is just a perk.

Beehives, chickens, organic gardens…those are dreams of mine! Our current housing situation wouldn’t allow it- but something I highly respect and look forward to enjoying someday! Not only for the fulfillment and healthier lifestyle- think of the money you’d save! I imagine it would also open up so many wonderful learning opportunities!
for your children as well!

Bonnie- love what you wrote about balancing vs. becoming an extremist, and women supporting one another! I wholeheartedly agree.

]]> By: Julia http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/simple-living/chicks-with-chicks-the-femivore-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-1781 Julia Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:12:04 +0000 http://www.goinghometoroost.com/?p=2561#comment-1781 I really enjoyed the article. I'm a young wife and new mother and a recent college graduate--I majored in Agribusiness and Studio Concentrated Fine Arts--odd combination I know, but I did it with a sound plan in mind. I always wanted to work from home in order to raise my child on the farm, so I started my own business. I currently raise a few calves for the freezer, a flock of chickens, some rabbits, and have a garden, but eventually I'd like to be less dependent on outside resources. I'm hoping to sell our excess produce and livestock at Farmer's Markets and auctions as well as selling my art at local shows and on the internet. I'm working on self-sufficiency and I'm hoping to teach my daughter how important that truly is. Like Peggy said in the article, who is more prepared if something was to happen, a woman with an amazing career or somebody who can go in their backyard and pick up dinner? I write about this a lot, and it's always brewing in my mind. I'm not a dooms-day-er, but I do think people are too trusting of things like grocery stores and fast food establishments for their meals. A flood or other natural disaster comes along and people are justifying looting stores because they are hungry. Makes you think. I intend on writing a blip about this article on my own blog and will definitely mention your post as well. Thanks so much! I really enjoyed the article. I’m a young wife and new mother and a recent college graduate–I majored in Agribusiness and Studio Concentrated Fine Arts–odd combination I know, but I did it with a sound plan in mind. I always wanted to work from home in order to raise my child on the farm, so I started my own business. I currently raise a few calves for the freezer, a flock of chickens, some rabbits, and have a garden, but eventually I’d like to be less dependent on outside resources. I’m hoping to sell our excess produce and livestock at Farmer’s Markets and auctions as well as selling my art at local shows and on the internet. I’m working on self-sufficiency and I’m hoping to teach my daughter how important that truly is. Like Peggy said in the article, who is more prepared if something was to happen, a woman with an amazing career or somebody who can go in their backyard and pick up dinner? I write about this a lot, and it’s always brewing in my mind. I’m not a dooms-day-er, but I do think people are too trusting of things like grocery stores and fast food establishments for their meals. A flood or other natural disaster comes along and people are justifying looting stores because they are hungry. Makes you think. I intend on writing a blip about this article on my own blog and will definitely mention your post as well. Thanks so much!

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