Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Buying Local, Not Just Food

Yesterday I drove 45 minutes to the nearest Target to buy baby shoes and curtain rods. Sure it was cheaper, until you add the cost of gas. So then I thought, next time I'll just order from Amazon, just like the laundry detergent. 

Hmmmmm. Wait a minute there. I talk high and mighty about local food, but what about other things? It's not really cheaper once the cost of the drive and my time are added into the equation to drive all the way into town, even if I were to only go 30 miles to the nearest WalMart. 

Then I remembered. At church on Sunday (yes, church, but that's another post) I met a lady in the nursery that just this week opened a children's consignment store on the square- and she was really excited! If I continue to waste my money and resources driving to the big box stores, it is exactly people and shops like hers that suffer. Funny thing is, I enjoy shopping that kind of store more than the big ones anyway! 

So, I am going to challenge myself in the next month to not shop outside my county. It's going to be hard, but it will challenge us to find the resources that we will need in the long run, make the connections we need to. If our farm is going to work and succeed, we will need to tend the roots first. 

3 comments:

  1. GOOD LUCK!! I wish you the best trying to stay local. And you are right, you need local roots!! Remember to stop by the feed store as much as possible (buy dog food, see if they have chicks, etc). Those guys will get to know you, and then, you're in. Not a local, but people will know you.

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  2. Good challenge! Keep updating us.

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  3. Good for you ~ I love local purchasing, and the feed store rocks!

    P

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A blog about farming, unschooling, feminism, 22q deletion syndrome, cooking real food, homesteading, permaculture, and motherhood.