Eco Living Series
What is Local Living
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Eco Mom Gloria Battista of GBC Style is back...
One of my passions is Local Living. It seems intuitive to me that it means living and buying locally, supporting my locally owned businesses, and creating a better place within my community. Does that still seem a bit vague?
Let me tell you a bit about my little town. If you like history you'll appreciate this. My town is a charming little town with a Main Street that is named after Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero. There are a couple of churches, mom and pop restaurants, a big post office, a little gazebo and an amazing old world movie theater. It is also filled with lots of shops like a shoe cobbler and some corky little bodegas. It's no different than most small Americana towns.
Most small towns have a history that is connected to both our nation and the local community. I cherish the uniqueness of my town's history. If you are interested in reading more about my Town of Suffern, Check out what Wikipedia says here
Local Living is more than just "doing what's right". It's about keeping an identity in ones' town; preserving the history and flavor that makes it unique. It's about not succumbing and allowing strip malls that seem to be everywhere, each looking more exact than the next. We are losing the sense of uniqueness. This is not what equality within our society is about. It's not about making us all the same; it's about celebrating and appreciating each of our differences. What might our founding fathers say about this homogenized equality?
So I do my part by supporting local businesses. Don't get me wrong, it is difficult at times. The price of certain goods is drastically reduced at larger chain stores, enticing me to spend my dollars with them. I pose the question - What is it that I need to buy that can't be bought locally.
For instance, my baker does a great job with bread. Do I really need to buy everything in bulk? Meat - my butcher is eager for my business so any special cut my heart desires he can get for me. All I need is to plan ahead. Does it cost more? Perhaps, but it is also a higher quality and a quantity that makes more sense for my family. Produce, I'm fortunate to live in a town that offers a great green grocer, so I buy what I need for the day. It's all in town.
I encourage you to do the same, in whatever way is comfortable and fitting for you and your community. Even in the big cities, you too can support your locally owned businesses. Just get out there and do what you can. And as always, let me hear from you. We can all learn from each other.
One of my passions is Local Living. It seems intuitive to me that it means living and buying locally, supporting my locally owned businesses, and creating a better place within my community. Does that still seem a bit vague?
Let me tell you a bit about my little town. If you like history you'll appreciate this. My town is a charming little town with a Main Street that is named after Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero. There are a couple of churches, mom and pop restaurants, a big post office, a little gazebo and an amazing old world movie theater. It is also filled with lots of shops like a shoe cobbler and some corky little bodegas. It's no different than most small Americana towns.
Most small towns have a history that is connected to both our nation and the local community. I cherish the uniqueness of my town's history. If you are interested in reading more about my Town of Suffern, Check out what Wikipedia says here
Local Living is more than just "doing what's right". It's about keeping an identity in ones' town; preserving the history and flavor that makes it unique. It's about not succumbing and allowing strip malls that seem to be everywhere, each looking more exact than the next. We are losing the sense of uniqueness. This is not what equality within our society is about. It's not about making us all the same; it's about celebrating and appreciating each of our differences. What might our founding fathers say about this homogenized equality?
So I do my part by supporting local businesses. Don't get me wrong, it is difficult at times. The price of certain goods is drastically reduced at larger chain stores, enticing me to spend my dollars with them. I pose the question - What is it that I need to buy that can't be bought locally.
For instance, my baker does a great job with bread. Do I really need to buy everything in bulk? Meat - my butcher is eager for my business so any special cut my heart desires he can get for me. All I need is to plan ahead. Does it cost more? Perhaps, but it is also a higher quality and a quantity that makes more sense for my family. Produce, I'm fortunate to live in a town that offers a great green grocer, so I buy what I need for the day. It's all in town.
I encourage you to do the same, in whatever way is comfortable and fitting for you and your community. Even in the big cities, you too can support your locally owned businesses. Just get out there and do what you can. And as always, let me hear from you. We can all learn from each other.
