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AI is creeping closer and closer to my world.  Like any technology, we must learn to find the balance - to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms.  And to do that, it’s important to know our own thoughts, before a computer starts telling us what to think.  I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 14 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow, the last recorded episode of the season. Find the text copy of this on The Radical Homemaker Blog.  Return to the blog for updates throughout the year until next year's podcast season.  Support the show

“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 only way to protect the family business is to never leave it.  I disagree. I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 13 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 text version of this episode over on the blog.  Support the show

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 full transcript over on the blog.  Support the show

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 the show

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 to Season 7, Episode 7 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow.  Find the transcript of this story over on the blog.  Thanks to Thomas Oxford with Unsplash! for the toad image.  Support the show

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 Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow.  Find the text of this story on the https://www.sapbushfarmstore.com/s/stories/fearless. Support the show

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.  Support the show

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 Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow. Want a text copy of this story?  Find it over on the blog.  Support the show

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? I’m Shannon Hayes, and you’re listening to Season 7, Episode 2 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow.   Prefer the written version?  Find it here.  Special thanks to Tanya Barrow at Unsplash for this week's image! Support the show

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 transcript, check out The Radical Homemaker Blog at SapBushFarmStore.com.  Support the show