Green Living and buying local

I’m going to depart from the recycling theme a little to talk about the idea of supporting local business and how that ties in with being “green”

I grew up in the Leave it to Beaver generation. My parents worked for the same good company all their lives. We had one car and one bathroom and both parents were home at 5 o’clock because their job was only 1 mile from home. That was pretty normal in those years. Folks worked where they lived and because of that they cared about their community. It wasn’t just a place to sleep and go to soccer games. They had a vested interest in it.

People had a butcher and a baker and a milk man and an undertaker. You knew these people. You socialized with them, you worshipped with them and you depended on them and they depended on you. And as kids we knew that they were part of our community and we could go to them if we were hurt or scared.

Somehow, those days disappeared when we weren’t looking. First the mega grocery stores came, then the malls and then the big box stores. Price became the driving factor for every purchase. We were saddened when we saw the butcher close his doors but after all he was expensive. When the druggist finally had to give up, we said the same thing. I guess we forgot about how he gave the family credit when dad was out of work or that Christmas eve that he came by with a prescription before he went home. We don’t need the guy who owned the hardware store anymore. After all he was expensive with his quality goods and we don’t need to have him bill us anymore for that dozen wood screws becaus we can charge it at the big orange place.

I’m sure you get my point but there is so much more to say about what the loss of local business does to communities. Money spent at a local business is re-invested locally. Local business owners are much more likely to join Rotary and Kiwanis and give willingly of their time. They are also much more likely to purchase locally. I’m a small local business owner. I depend on the local guy because the big orange store isn’t likely to use my services and the big office supply place is my competition so where’s the justice there.

Local businesses are part of the community. They hire your neighbors and your neighbors kids. They help build schools and playgrounds, host summer concerts and raise money for your kids education.

Buy local! Help keep your community strong and green!