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.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, January 12, 2009
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:
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.
Monday, January 5, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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.
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.
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