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The Farm Bill’s “Government Handouts”: Who Really Benefits?
There’s nothing like talk of “government handouts” to get people upset. But when it comes to farm bill, the real culprits might not be who you think they are.
A Tax System for the 99 Percent
Feeling like taxes are more unfair than ever? Three ways corporations, banks, and individuals exploit an unjust system—and three ways the people are pushing back.
What If Your Kids Want to Get Political?
Using young children as political props is problematic, to say the least. But when they do form their own opinion, it’s important to let them express it.
What Our Kids Can Teach Us About Trying Over
Children’s future happiness is not tied to how well they behave or whether they will be able to hold a job. It is tied to their ability to create with their minds and their hands.
Behind the Kitchen Door: A Must-Read for Anyone Who Eats at Restaurants
Review: More than half of the nation’s worst-paid jobs are related to food. Saru Jayaraman’s new book dives into the explosive movement for better rights for those who plant, process, and cook the food we eat.
Instead of Trying to Feed the World, Let’s Help It Feed Itself
We know about the ecological problems that follow when farmers are asked to “feed the world.” What would happen if they just tried to feed their neighbors instead?
Radical Investing: 4 Ways to Live on a Tight Budget
"We have a lovely home, we eat well, we have lots of fun, we’re warm, and we don’t worry about how we’ll keep the lights on." Shannon Hayes on how she has managed to live a fulfilled and happy life without going broke.
4 Lessons for Growing a Family Farm Across Generations
Breaking our families into nuclear units has an ecological and emotional cost. Could the multigenerational farm remind us where to turn for a viable future?
Food or Ethanol? Why Farmers Shouldn’t Give in to Monocrops
It’s a good time to be in farming if you like to grow corn. It’s a tough time if you see yourself as a steward of the land. Shannon Hayes on why growers pressured by corn-heavy markets should hold out for crops that nourish the Earth.
Married with Children? It’s Not the End of Individuality
Sometimes Shannon Hayes finds herself missing the days before she was a mother. But the circle of familial give-and-take love makes the trade-off worth it.
9 Stories That Will Change Your World in 2013
2012 was a year of superstorms, mass shootings, debt strikes, and the most spendy election ever. Here’s how last year’s most important stories will shape 2013.
The Gift of Remembering Those We’ve Lost
All of us lose loved ones over the course of our lives, and the pain of those losses is especially sharp during the holiday season. Passing on their memories to younger generations is a gift that truly lasts.
4 Ways to Leap the “Fiscal Cliff” to a Better U.S.A.
Sarah van Gelder looks beyond the hype about the deficit and finds four ways to balance the books while protecting our health and financial security.
3 Lessons for Appalachia’s Post-Coal Economy
Appalachian residents are working to keep local and sustainable sources of wealth central in a post-coal economy.
The Endangered Repairman
Getting your stuff fixed instead of throwing it away is good for the environment as well as for your bank balance. So why is this craft dying out in America?
More Than Nutritious: Why Organics Are Still Healthier
Two recent studies concluded that organic food is no more nutritious than non-organic food. But the value of organics involves health on multiple levels, from that of farmers to eaters to the planet itself.
Keeping the Farm Safe (and Sacred) as Hurricane Sandy Looms
The Hayes family gathers in prayer and gratitude for the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, which marks the beginning of winter and the new year. But this year’s beginning will be unlike any other.
As Parents Learn More About Health, Will Doctors Listen?
Many doctors and nurses refuse to respect the knowledge of parents about their kids’ health. Shannon Hayes explains why they might be missing a lot.
What Bullies Can Teach Our Kids—And Us
Shannon Hayes on having a child face a bully and come away stronger and more self-aware.
Time for Some Good Jobs Guarantees
Corporations often take big helpings of public funds, saying that they’ll provide jobs in return. But how can communities make sure they deliver?
