235. The Cost of Slow Living: How to Align Your Values Without Burning Out

What happens when a listener writes in with the very questions your community is wrestling with? You invite her on the show.Emily Hillman has spent 14 years in the fashion industry — from the artisan workrooms of Midtown Manhattan to the fast fashion corporate world. After purchasing a 19th-century farmhouse in rural New Jersey and becoming a mother, she found that her priorities had quietly shifted. Finding herself at a crossroads, Emily reached out to Mary and Emma, not looking for all the answers so much as a grounded, honest conversation. . This is The Good Dirt's first interview back after a hiatus. Here we’re talking about the real tension so many of us feel: I want to live more simply, more slowly, more intentionally — but how do I actually do that in the life I'm already living?If you've ever felt the push and pull between the values you hold and the demands of the world you live in, this episode will speak to you.In this episode, we cover:Emily's journey from Vermont roots to New York City fashion workrooms — and what she learned firsthand about the difference between artisan craftsmanship and fast fashion productionThe "painful catch-22" of slow living: wanting a simpler life that costs money, while earning less because you're stepping back from the corporate grindWhy removing moral judgment from your daily purchasing decisions can actually free you to make more sustainable choicesPractical, accessible approaches to buying secondhand clothing for kids (and why our audience is already well ahead of the curve)The economics of slow food: buying in bulk, finding local sources, joining a CSA, and why embracing constraints actually sparks creativityComposting as one of the most powerful individual acts for the planet — and tips for making it work even in bear countryHow small, cumulative changes add up — and why you're probably further along than you thinkBook recommendations: Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass seriesThe concept of "blue sky thinking" — letting yourself imagine the life you want before the budget anxiety kicks inReconnecting with nature and the seasons as a compass for finding your authentic callingBooks & Resources Mentioned:Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes — [listen to our interview with Shannon here]The Artist's Way by Julia CameronYou Are a Badass and You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen SinceroFibershed — a network for regional fiber systems and slow fashionLocal Harvest (for finding CSAs near you): localharvest.orgWant to chat with us? If Emily's story resonates with you — if you're somewhere in the middle of this same journey — we'd love to hear from you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 443-459-1950.And if you're interested in joining our free, casual Slow Living Through the Seasons cohort, reach out to mary@ladyfarmer.com for the signup link.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:Wendy GrayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy