It's been a bit since I've talked about Start Local, and living local.
That doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about it though!
I think I've figured out what living local means to me.
First I look for product that was made in Canada. Or really, as close to my home as possible. Sometimes that means Ontario, and sometimes that even means Toronto. Being in a big city means I have the luxury to get on the ttc and seek out Toronto made items.
Then I need to stick to my small independently owned stores. My green grocers and butchers. Rather than Lablaws or Soby's. When I need to go to a larger store for things like toilet paper in more than 4 rolls (and eco friendly) I will go to an independently owned grocery store like No Frills. We had a local independent large grocery store, but it close recently.
I'm challenging myself to buy one thing a week local that I normally wouldn't. Go to the butcher, farmers market, health food store, small pharmacy.
I live in a neighbourhood that has all that and more for me to shop local. I don't want anymore good stores to close in my 'hood because I was being lazy!
The Start Local team has a trailer ready! Click HERE to watch!
Showing posts with label Start Local. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Start Local. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
what does it mean?
Start Local's indigogo campaign only has a day left!! go poke around the sites and see what's new. there are a handful of videos that are really quite inspiring. It was one of the sponsor videos that got me inspired to hope on board!!
So.
What does it mean to live local?
I've been musing over this for a few days.
Regarding produce, I buy Ontario over Canada, Canada over US, and US over South America.
I'm not sure I would be able to eat much produce in the winter just buying local.
Regarding everything else?
I try to go to small independent stores first. I live 'on the Danforth'. For me that means going to The Big Carrot, Strictly Bulk, or one of the small produce stores first before I go to Lablaws.
And that's about it for now. That's as far as I think. Food.
I buy my underwear on sale at the mall, or at big box stores.
I buy my toothpaste at Shoppers because Tom's of Maine is less expensive there.
I buy my toilet paper at Lablaws 'cause, well, it's less expensive than the corner store, and I get the PC 'green' TP.
In a Big City, what does local even mean?
There is a health food store that Sister works at that I go to because she works there. It is independently owned. And as long as they treat her right, I'll go there when she doesn't work there when I am in the neighbourhood, over going to Shoppers across the street from it.
In the summer I go to the farmers market in a park near me.
And when I have Saturday mornings off I go to St. Lawrence Market.
I think my focus is going to be keeping out of Big Chain stores. Lablaws, Shoppers, Ardene (heh...I have an Ardene addiction!), Home Depot, Starbucks (well, you know...unless I'm at work), Mac Donalds (yes, I eat Mac Donalds on occasion), Dollerama etc.. I've go a lot of navigating to do. Like where to buy my underwear, toothpaste and toilet paper.
On the entertainment front I feel like I'm ok. When we go to the movies, we go to a local theatre, rather than a chain. We go see live shows our friends (or I am) in.
I wish Toronto had more than one bowling ally!
So.
What does it mean to live local?
I've been musing over this for a few days.
Regarding produce, I buy Ontario over Canada, Canada over US, and US over South America.
I'm not sure I would be able to eat much produce in the winter just buying local.
Regarding everything else?
I try to go to small independent stores first. I live 'on the Danforth'. For me that means going to The Big Carrot, Strictly Bulk, or one of the small produce stores first before I go to Lablaws.
And that's about it for now. That's as far as I think. Food.
I buy my underwear on sale at the mall, or at big box stores.
I buy my toothpaste at Shoppers because Tom's of Maine is less expensive there.
I buy my toilet paper at Lablaws 'cause, well, it's less expensive than the corner store, and I get the PC 'green' TP.
In a Big City, what does local even mean?
There is a health food store that Sister works at that I go to because she works there. It is independently owned. And as long as they treat her right, I'll go there when she doesn't work there when I am in the neighbourhood, over going to Shoppers across the street from it.
In the summer I go to the farmers market in a park near me.
And when I have Saturday mornings off I go to St. Lawrence Market.
I think my focus is going to be keeping out of Big Chain stores. Lablaws, Shoppers, Ardene (heh...I have an Ardene addiction!), Home Depot, Starbucks (well, you know...unless I'm at work), Mac Donalds (yes, I eat Mac Donalds on occasion), Dollerama etc.. I've go a lot of navigating to do. Like where to buy my underwear, toothpaste and toilet paper.
On the entertainment front I feel like I'm ok. When we go to the movies, we go to a local theatre, rather than a chain. We go see live shows our friends (or I am) in.
I wish Toronto had more than one bowling ally!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
a choice!
Today I made a choice to use a local business.
I needed to print a couple pages, and out printer isn't functioning. So I went to Copy Cat. I really only spent 75 cents there. Not a huge thing. The lady was nice (and patient. She had 4 bratty kids in the store whose father couldn't/wouldn't control them. They went and typed on someone elses document while he was at the desk asking a question, and pushed buttons on the printer and activated something. She was great. Firm, and great) I'll go back!
I was printing some signage for Brazapalooza. Click the link and you'll go to the event page. Click THIS and you'll go to Braz's band page, with the album. And a letter, from Braz, about what is going on.
J is donating an hour massage. I'm donating 2 8X10 photos, and a 3 item package: a Li'l Scrapper, an 8X10 photo, and some photo gift cards. My work also donated a gift bag!
I'm feeling pretty jazzed about this, with all this local talk going on. Braz's community: Friends from Lunacy Cabaret, his other bands; The Starfires and The Fabulous Quitters, a local coffee shop; Merchants of Green Coffee, friends and family are all coming together to help him.
THAT is why we need to live locally. Big box stores wouldn't do this for you. As charitable as Starbucks is (hey, my store donated to the cause!) they would never hold an event like this.
Tonight is going to be a fun night. A celebration of life, community and art.
Only 5 days left to contribute to the Start Local movie. Help a fellow out eh?
http://www.indiegogo.com/startlocalmovie
I needed to print a couple pages, and out printer isn't functioning. So I went to Copy Cat. I really only spent 75 cents there. Not a huge thing. The lady was nice (and patient. She had 4 bratty kids in the store whose father couldn't/wouldn't control them. They went and typed on someone elses document while he was at the desk asking a question, and pushed buttons on the printer and activated something. She was great. Firm, and great) I'll go back!
I was printing some signage for Brazapalooza. Click the link and you'll go to the event page. Click THIS and you'll go to Braz's band page, with the album. And a letter, from Braz, about what is going on.
J is donating an hour massage. I'm donating 2 8X10 photos, and a 3 item package: a Li'l Scrapper, an 8X10 photo, and some photo gift cards. My work also donated a gift bag!
I'm feeling pretty jazzed about this, with all this local talk going on. Braz's community: Friends from Lunacy Cabaret, his other bands; The Starfires and The Fabulous Quitters, a local coffee shop; Merchants of Green Coffee, friends and family are all coming together to help him.
THAT is why we need to live locally. Big box stores wouldn't do this for you. As charitable as Starbucks is (hey, my store donated to the cause!) they would never hold an event like this.
Tonight is going to be a fun night. A celebration of life, community and art.
Only 5 days left to contribute to the Start Local movie. Help a fellow out eh?
http://www.indiegogo.com/startlocalmovie
Friday, February 22, 2013
only a few days left to help!
I posted a bit ago about my friend Nate, and his movie Start Local.
They've got 7 more days on their fund-raising campaign, and if you could donate, that would be fab. $5000 would be AMAZING. But $5 is too. They break down what the money is going to be used for on the indiegogo page (link is the different coloured words just above)
And on *that* note. I've decided to join Ashley and Nate on their local living initiative.
We are all dipping our toes in right now. Testing the waters, and figuring things out.
What are the rules?!?
In the month of July, we will be living 100% local.
From now until then we'll be figuring out what exactly does 'local' mean?
Am I only allowed to watch CBC and CTV? Listen to Toronto bands? ONLY BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO GREW UP HERE!? What tooth paste do I use? or can I just buy it from my mom and pop shop? What if I need underwear in July? I buy that at big box store. Are there independent retailers that sell underwear?
I don't want to 'cheat' and buy up all the things I'll need before July.
I'll be chronicling things I discover here.
And just exactly *why* am I doing this? What inspired me? 1st is Nate's passion for what he does. He's pretty inspiring. But as for this project? Supporting my community first is important. It has been for a while, but I've never explored it. There is a reason people like small towns, and we need to make the effort to preserve that feeling. I live in a BIG city. Our neighbourhoods though, are small towns. I want to support my small towns, and the people who bust their butts to do something they believe in, rather than work at big box store. (says the girl who works at Starbucks)
So here we go. Lets see what we see!
They've got 7 more days on their fund-raising campaign, and if you could donate, that would be fab. $5000 would be AMAZING. But $5 is too. They break down what the money is going to be used for on the indiegogo page (link is the different coloured words just above)
And on *that* note. I've decided to join Ashley and Nate on their local living initiative.
We are all dipping our toes in right now. Testing the waters, and figuring things out.
What are the rules?!?
In the month of July, we will be living 100% local.
From now until then we'll be figuring out what exactly does 'local' mean?
Am I only allowed to watch CBC and CTV? Listen to Toronto bands? ONLY BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO GREW UP HERE!? What tooth paste do I use? or can I just buy it from my mom and pop shop? What if I need underwear in July? I buy that at big box store. Are there independent retailers that sell underwear?
I don't want to 'cheat' and buy up all the things I'll need before July.
I'll be chronicling things I discover here.
And just exactly *why* am I doing this? What inspired me? 1st is Nate's passion for what he does. He's pretty inspiring. But as for this project? Supporting my community first is important. It has been for a while, but I've never explored it. There is a reason people like small towns, and we need to make the effort to preserve that feeling. I live in a BIG city. Our neighbourhoods though, are small towns. I want to support my small towns, and the people who bust their butts to do something they believe in, rather than work at big box store. (says the girl who works at Starbucks)
So here we go. Lets see what we see!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Start Local
I have a pet project.
The making of the documentary Start Local
One of the producers/film makers just happens to be a friend. But thats only part of why I'm supporting this project.
There are some really good reasons to support your local area. Being in Toronto, that means shopping at the independent stores in my neighbourhood, before I hop on the TTC and head to big box stores. And, shop in Toronto, before I hope in a car and go to Buffalo.
Nate and Ashley Live in Midland so that is where they are focusing.
But but, I'm not *from* Midland you say. That isn't supporting Local!
To that I say, support this project and help get that word out there. What it's like to support your area. And maybe local is Ontario, or Canada vs. the US, or France.
Here is Nate's take on why one should support Start Local.
I happen to agree!
If you have a little extra money, please go to the indigogo page and donate.
Can't donate? Share the story.
Edit:
an article about the movie
http://www.simcoe.com/community/midland/article/1574925
The making of the documentary Start Local
One of the producers/film makers just happens to be a friend. But thats only part of why I'm supporting this project.
There are some really good reasons to support your local area. Being in Toronto, that means shopping at the independent stores in my neighbourhood, before I hop on the TTC and head to big box stores. And, shop in Toronto, before I hope in a car and go to Buffalo.
Nate and Ashley Live in Midland so that is where they are focusing.
But but, I'm not *from* Midland you say. That isn't supporting Local!
To that I say, support this project and help get that word out there. What it's like to support your area. And maybe local is Ontario, or Canada vs. the US, or France.
Here is Nate's take on why one should support Start Local.
I happen to agree!
If you have a little extra money, please go to the indigogo page and donate.
Can't donate? Share the story.
Edit:
an article about the movie
http://www.simcoe.com/community/midland/article/1574925
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