Hairdryer update...nevermind new

I have a functional hairdryer!

Once I put my request out there, all sorts of help was offered. One friend searched the thrift stores she visited and another person inquired at beauty salons (a viable possibility if one is looking for the Mercedes of hairdryers). The end of the quest came in the form of a no longer needed dryer gifted by a good friend (who also just happens to be an amazing inspiration for simple living). Yay!

Lesson learned: fie on cheap, small appliances designed for an early death. Alternatives: second-hand from thrift stores, quality items from a specialty store, or tool-sharing/passing among friends.

The Basics

My hairdryer is about to meet its demise. It chokes along and spits a burst of hot air if I push the cord at just the right angle but it's clear that the device's days are numbered. I have no illusions of possessing a mechanical inclination but the idea of just tossing it is unattractive so I considered trying to fix it. However, the thing is designed as a few pieces of interlocking plastic so I'm pretty sure that if I took it apart, I'd never get it together again in a way that would be at all safe to use. Thank you, planned obsolescence.

The only local place I can think of to get a new one would be Collier's, my local drug store. Sadly, they sell no hairdryers. In fact, they sell few health and beauty aids at all. Two brands of make-up and a few types of shampoo take up a short aisle next to school supplies. This isn't a rant against them for limited selection. They stock Burt's Bees and Almay, two companies which do not test on animals and get some good rankings from tests by the Environmental Working Group on some of their products. I don't need 10 brands of lip-balm if there is a safe, cruelty-free one for sale.

The point is that I'm realizing that local shops don't generally sell much in the way of basic, everyday goods. You can't get a hairdryer or underwear locally. Specialty goods- luxury yarn, handmade pottery, higher-end clothing, sure. The cheaper versions of those things, as well as the 2 dozen other dull, daily-use items that reside in our homes and offices, are the domain of Wal-mart and Target and other big-box stores.

They can either dictate what price they will buy them from the manufacturer or buy in such massive quantities that there is no way a small shop can offer a similar price. If you want a unique t-shirt, your local boutique will have it and you'll pay the higher price because it's unique. A package of 3 white tee's however, is not a draw. The shop would have to charge more than most people would be willing to pay, especially when the mega-retailer sells them for next to nothing. They can. They paid very little for the item and can make up a small profit margin on the other 10 goods one is likely to get while in the store.

So what is the solution on the hairdryer? I don't want to cave and buy another poorly constructed one. A friend suggested thrift stores so I'll be trolling those, hoping one shows up before mine finally gives up the ghost. Until then, swearing and twisting the cord just so will have to do it.

(Note: It was later suggested that I just do without a hairdryer. Duh! This never occured to me. We'll see how I do with flat hair.)

Not Alone

Other people's reaction to our resolution has been mixed:
"That's...uh...different."
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
and the occasional overwhelming enthusiasm.

In response: I suppose it IS different, it's not impossible (though at times, highly inconvenient), why is slowly becoming clearer than the original idea that this is generally a Good Thing, and the enthusiasm is always appreciated.

Solidarity is always nice when people are thinking you quite odd so it was nice to get this link from my sister yesterday. Some nice, financially secure, folks in Seattle are doing there bit to keep their local bookstores afloat in the current crappy economy. They aren't shopping 100% at local stores but they are conscious of the tenuous position of small shopkeepers and are actively spending money in a way to keep the community alive that they enjoy.

As great as that is, this British woman gets top honors. Eight years ago, she made a New Year's resolution (yay!) to shop on only one street.* She did it to support the shops and has ended up saving money, eating better, and enjoying socializing with shopkeepers. The whole experience was so positive that she has continued to do her shopping on one road for eight years. Wow.

There is a common thread in the interviews with these local shoppers. They like walking to the stores, chatting with the shopkeepers and participating in the local community. When was the last time you walked to Barnes and Noble or Best Buy and had a chat with the owner? Or did you go from house to garage to car to parking lot, pick up your goods and pay for them with maybe a sentence or two exchange with the checkout clerk, and go back into your car, garage and home?

Isn't that a little lonely?

The alternative is to reduce your carbon footprint, get some exercise, interact socially and be a part of the community where you live. If you buy locally, the money stays local and you are probably indirectly helping local charities or arts that your shopkeeper supports.

Or you can shop at the chain store from which most of your money will be sent off to parts likely unknown. But hey, you'll probably save a few bucks on your purchase. That might cover gas, part of the gym membership, and a little 'feel good' purchase to make up for the lack of community belonging.

*In Britain, most towns have a High Street where there are a lot of different shops in a row. Americans: think Main Street. But not the abandoned strip or square of vacant buildings that is likely at the center of your city. Main Street in the 1960's, before the invention of the strip mall and move of commerce to the then fringes of town.

Ice Storm, pt. II

I have one other confession to make from the time of the storm. I shopped at a chain grocery store. The co-op was closed and I chose not to drive north to see if the Asian markets were functioning or not (unlikely). I chose to shop at the chain and have my apples when I wanted them.

There. I own it.

Now that a recovery week has passed and things are opening up again, it is a little worrisome to see the rate at which different stores recover. The chain grocer and Wal-mart (I'm told) are back up to normal stocking in produce and dairy. My co-op still looks decimated. Where did the food for the chains come from so fast? Who put it out when most were still without power and safety at home? In a sustained crisis situation, would we all have to rely on Wal-mart to feed us?

Peril and Comfort

I, like most of northwest Arkansas, just spent a week without power. After an amazingly beautiful, amazingly destructive ice storm went through the area, everything relating to normal everyday life stopped. Hot showers, central heating, refrigerated foods, stop lights, schools, work, shops.

After a few cold meals, hurriedly grabbed from the warming fridge, eaten by candlelight in the steadily cooling house, one wants a hot meal. Not needs I grant you, but wants.

I sinned last week. A friend brought a meat-based, warm meal purchased at a chain fast food restaurant. So many no-no's for this food conscious, vegetarian, local consumer.

I ate it gratefully, happily and without regret.

In times of discomfort, I have learned, I will sacrifice my principles to feel better. Hm. I ain't proud, but I'm trying to be honest.

Rule #4: Hair/beauty products from the natural foods co-op and only those that pass the test

The main point of this year-long experiment is seeing what it is like to only shop locally: what are the challenges and frustrations, the limitations on consumption and the little hidden gems we'll be forced to seek out.

However, if you look at the list given on the first post, you'll see that items 2-8 have nothing to do with local and are really just about making conscious choices in shopping. We brainstormed all the things that we don't feel safe or good about consuming and came up with concise ways of banning them. The hope is that a ban will make us stop and consider the harm a choice may cause and, when people ask us what the heck this is about, we can share these ideas. With as little a step up onto the soapbox as possible, of course.

Rule #4, "Hair/beauty products from the natural foods co-op and only those that pass the test: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/" is one of those 'consider the harm' add-ons. In this case, it is harm to ourselves that we are considering. There are really cheap products to aid washing and primping. A lot of these are banned in the EU. Eh? Our government okaying something that another governing body says is too dangerous to be allowed on our citizens? Obama didn't state that there would be a return to taking science seriously for nothing.

About 750 personal care products sold here aren't considered safe in other industrialized nations. Yikes. Almost all products for sale contain something that hasn't been publicly assessed for safety.

Being far too scared of lye to resort to homemade soap, we've settled on the assessments made by the Environmental Working Group as to safety. Looking at the ingredient list and the potential threats for health is pretty disturbing but this is a case where not knowing seems pretty foolish.

I expect costs in this area will go up this year as we stick to the limited number of safe products. However, chemo sucks and I'm all for spending some extra money in an effort to avoid it.

Local Groups for Localism

A little more internet research reveals that there are a couple of groups in town working to promote the local economy. One is a local chapter of amiba, the Fayetteville Independent Business Alliance (FIBA), and the other is Fayetteville Goes Local.

FIBA came to my attention via an article by ace reporter D.R. Bartlette (who has an excellent blog). There are three parts to their mission:
1. General education and awareness
2. As a political link
3. Marketing and advertising
I'd like to see on their website what the money from membership goes to and why shopping locally is important. Give it to me in a nutshell. I'll then pass that nutshell on when people ask why the heck we're doing what we're doing. The group sounds interesting so I'll look into it more and post again later after I finish my homework.

Fayetteville Goes Local confuses me. Their headline on the home page is "empowering people to create a thriving local economy" and the mission statement sounds like it aims to be a hub for any local activist groups. That sounds like a neat idea but the activities listed don't really have anything to do with the local economy. Just using the current trendy phrase to get some interest? I don't know.

The best way to correct the not knowing would naturally be to attend one of their weekly meetings...which I can't do. "Why?" you ask. Too lazy, too introverted, too broke? Nope. They meet at Qdoba. Huh. A group about the local economy that meets at a chain restaurant, which is itself owned by an even larger chain (Jack in the Box). At 440 locations, they are definitely a no-no for us this year. The group has their reasons for why they meet at a chain but I'm not convinced. If I'm going to spend money at a restaurant there are at least 15 local ones in a 2 mile radius from Qdoba I can choose from and know I'm still in Fayetteville, not any-Qdoba-town, USA. I just can't take a group seriously that can't put its money where its mouth is.

More woe on the 6 or less limit

I had my first oopsie last night. It was unwitting error but breaking the law through ignorance doesn't get you off the hook.

Tasty, cheap, lovely Eureka pizza is off-limits for the rest of the year. We picked one up after a night of pool only to discover, horror of horrors, that there were 9 outlet locations listed on the box. 9 locations across a 30 mile range. Amiba's magic number of 6 was surpassed by the more magical but now taboo number 9. Woe.

Noting that the damage was done, I still lifted up that accursed, informative lid and ate the contents, flavored with the anticipation of bitter separation.

Goodbye, sweet pizza, goodbye.

Uh Oh.

-or-
PPPPPPP vs Amiba
-or-
Go Hardcore or Go Home


One great thing about jumping right into a new project is that you can get all fired up about it keep the momentum of new! exciting! going straight into the first stage of said project. The downside is getting started before you have a real clue about what you are doing.

In retrospect, a clear definition of "local business" would have been wise.

In our pre-New Year's discussions, hashing out the rules seemed pretty methodical but when we made a list of acceptable and no-no stores, we covered the obvious. Barnes and Noble and The Gap, no. Nightbird Books and Cheap Thrills (clothing resale shop), yes. Easy. Clear. Done.

Wal-mart was unclear as it started as a local business on a town square 25 miles from here but has gone international, big time. Harps, a regional grocery chain, was started only 8 miles away and has 52 stores in 3 states. Where to draw the line? Well, I drew it once but some redrawing seems to be in order.

According to the American Independent Business Alliance (Amiba), "a "Local" Independent Business" is:

• Private, Employee, Community or Cooperative ownership


• Owned in majority by area resident(s)


• Full decision-making function for the business lies with its owner(s)


• No more than 6 outlets, bases of operation lie within a single state

Uh oh.

Of course, I don't have to follow their definition. There was a line of reasoning when the rules were made and I could stick to it. But it feels like cheating. Like if I'm really going to have some revelations during this project, they aren't going to come if I'm not fully committed. It seems like hard times and a little suffering are necessary if this is going to be worth something.

Alright, I'm game. I love (love, love) my co-op but they don't always have everything on the shelves one has come to expect at a modern grocer. However, they are it for me during 2009.

Look for future posts of regret and culinary woe.

Rule#3: No newly made clothing or electronics.

The New Year progresses smoothly with groceries and a calendar the only purchases made thus far. Local co-op and bookstore, respectively.

As there are not yet trials or tribulations to report, some musing on rule #3.
No newly made clothing or electronics.

See that link on the right to the Story of Stuff? Yeah? Click on it. That's pretty much it in a well-organized, clearly illustrated nutshell.

With underwear out of the way, there really isn't any need for new clothing. Jonesing for something different to wear can be satisfied by thrift/resale which is better for my stressed pocketbook anyway. Even the most wonderfully hippie, organic, bamboo, hand-dyed garment is off the list for a year. I cringe a bit at not supporting people who hand-make and sell clothing (it's expensive 'cause its a load of work, people) so my post-2009 shopping may widen for that arena. However, cotton farming is incredibly damaging to the environment, the factories where most clothing is made are still dreadful for the laborers, and there is just plain no need for making more stuff when there is so much in re/circulation.

Pretty much ditto on the electronics. Nasty chemicals, lots of unnecessary waste going into landfills. If it can't be fixed, I'll be without it for the year. Lucky me with no TV and no need to deal with the planned obsolescence of the old ones.

It begins!

Happy New Year's day!

I love New Year's; the energy of new beginnings and the sense that everything can change and improve, starting now.

Today is the first official day of the experiment in 100% local consumption. I'm not going shopping so there isn't much to report in terms of temptations and peril of early failure. I'll use today's post for a little explanation on the first two rules.

1. Only buy from local stores.
Pretty straight forward. No big box stores, no chains with distant headquarters to which most of the money ultimately goes. Our geographic location did present a little difficulty in this one. There are two locally started chains where one can by groceries: Harps and Wal-Mart.

That's right, we could actually count the biggest of the big, the retailer with higher annual profits than many countries' GNP, as a local store. However, we voted that one of our local island. While the Waltons are very generous in supporting the local university, arts and cultural events, as they spread and make more money, single location businesses lose customers and close. Its sticky. Half of my immediate family works for them so I see the good and the bad. They seem to be using their power for good with changes in sustainability practices in the retail world but their treatment of their workers freaks me out. Thus, a vote of 'no.'

Harps however, stays on the list. It has spread to MO and OK and does qualify as a chain store but the stores are 100% employee owned. Most of my groceries come from the co-op but Harps has been deemed acceptable back-up. If my standards are double, at least they are on the table.

2. Only eat at local restaurants.
Easy-peasy. Why eat food that was processed in some factory and shipped to the franchises over something made in the back kitchen, possibly with local ingredients? There are way more good local eateries in this town than I have money to spend at them.

Delicious soup image from Greenhouse Grille.