purchase consciously: organic, local, fair trade...

We’ve slacked off the past few months on this goal…with all that is going on in the world with the economy, crops, oil, etc. I need to pick this goal back up.

I can do this by:

Shopping more at the co-op
Shopping more at the Farmer’s Market (opens in April!)
Supporting local businesses
Seeking out local or fair trade products first when I need something
Possibly get a produce box arrangement from a local farm
Purchase food in season in bulk and can/freeze/dehydrate it
Find friends to do bulk local purchases with

Bought some fresh local strawberries and made some delicious freezer jam out of them…will be nice to have homemade jam for my homemade scones in the wintertime!

Just found out my organic latex mattress was manufactured less than 50 miles from my house…brand new. So that means I bought local too!! Cha cha!!

Purchased a natural organic mattress yesterday…the thought of sleeping on something most of your life that might be offgassing hazardous chemicals made me take another look at comfortable dust mite free options.

I have an affection for all things local, as well as an appreciation for local artisans. My most recent find while in travel mode was from the Farmer’s Market in Hood River, Oregon. A wonderful piece of pottery: a striking bright red chip-dip 2-in-1 platter with built in dip bowl, with a nice touch of black around the rims from Pisces Pottery. At first, I’ll admit I was hesitant, wondering if I was being too impulsive with my purchases, but now that I have it home I love it. It is durable, well made, and most importantly, from a “local” artisan. If I go back I will be looking for more pieces to match!

I just signed up for a life-long membership at our local co-op. Don’t know why it took me so long!! The one in Olympia, although small is like a miniature of the one up in Bellingham, and full of wonderful products. I was amazed at how many of my favorite products were stocked on the shelves, they have done an amazing job! This year I am really looking forward to utilizing the co-op and the farmer’s market more than ever!

I am pondering the benefit of belonging to a community exchange. You know, during the Great Depression, Tenino, WA survived by printing their own money and developing their own community exchange system. It can be read about here:

http://www.ci.tenino.wa.us/wooden_money.htm

If we are facing another financial hardship, wouldn’t a secondary system be a useful connection to have? I discovered this group out of Bellingham, WA called “Fourth Corner Exchange”

Their website states:

“Fourth Corner Exchange is a Sustainable Community Currency based in the Pacific Northwest USA, which operates throughout the USA and the world. Currently we have over six-hundred participating members, with branches in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, California in the USA, Nova Scotia and British Columbia in Canada. Founded by Francis Ayley and a small group of friends in 2002, Fourth Corner Exchange formally started trading in January 2004. From those small beginnings we have grown to over six-hundred members, exchanging a large selection of goods & services throughout the Pacific Northwest, centered around Bellingham and Port Townsend.

Our vision:

A world of economic freedom and justice for all, where all communities have access to a fair and equitable universal medium of exchange, issued by the people in sufficiency to meet their own needs and the needs of their communities.

Our mission is to create this world of economic democracy by rebuilding our communities through teaching people how to use our community currency in a socially just and responsible manner.”

You can join the group for a yearly fee. “Local, alternative and community currencies replace the money drained away, allowing the people to continue trading the essentials of life.”

http://www.fourthcornerexchange.com/index.php

Does anyone out there have any experience with a Sustainable Community Currency? I am curious and would love to hear your story.

My Organic Delivery came Dec 31 from spud.com

Not much in season right now in Washington State, but considering what I got, and the distance it traveled to get here, I’d say not bad!

in the box, I got the following:

Arugula – 1 (Cal-Organic Farms, CA)
Avocado, Hass – 1 (Calavo Growers, CA)
Bananas – 3 (Organics Unlimited, MEX)
Carrots, Bunched – 1 (Cal-Organic Farms, CA)
Celery – 1 (Pure Pacific Farm, CA)
Chard, Rainbow – 1 (Lakeside Organic Gardens, CA)
Collards – 1 (Purepak, Inc., CA)
Kiwis – 3 (Wild River Ranch, CA)
Lemons – 2 (Rainbow, CA)
Mangos, Tommy Atkins – Smaller – 1 (Natura Organic, MEX)
Salad Mix – 0.25 lb (Earthbound Farms, CA)
Spinach, Baby – 0.25 lb (Earthbound Farms, CA)
Organic Garlic Stuffed Olives – 5 oz (Santa Barbara Olive) Organic Olive & Garlic Hummus – 12 oz (Emerald Valley Kitchen)