I opened my own small brick and mortar shop last fall, so this goal is even more important to me than ever. Each morning I walk to the local cafe for my cup of locally roasted, organic, fair trade coffee, I buy office supplies from a local company instead of a big box store, eat at small local restaurants, and try to support my fellow small businesses as much as possible. As I have made connections with other small business owners who are trying to revive our downtown business district, I realize that buying local is so much more than the products themselves, it is about fostering a sense of community and knowing customers and business owners on a very human scale.