Local?

Alright so today I want to take a bit of time to list some more shopping choices that some may have never considered. In our communities across the board, there are localized shops and then there are retail companies. We have all become accustomed to using the more mainstream outlets for our groceries, toiletries, gifts and etc. What a lot of us fail to consider is that there are alternatives out there.  For example, you can start with simply buying more local brands at the grocery store, using local produce stands as much of the year as possible, shop for gifts at your local Gift Shops, or cultural outlets that are made here in your community.
 Following practices like this will do the following:
It allows your communities or Provincial small businesses to thrive.
It allows for you to feel a better sense of economic worth, you know that there was not a lot of fuel used to ship the product as it is local, fewer preservatives, you will have the luxury now of asking how and with what was it made, and on average less packaging is used and therefore lest waste.
It will lead to more communial relationships, and frienship.  You will gain personalized sellers, not fancy logos and men in pricey suits.
It will also support the independance of your Province as a whole.


There are many more positive effects this will have on you as a member of your community. You are doing good is many ways, and at the same time you allowing your community to prosper with your contributions. We are not involved in our communitues anymore, we have lost that over the years. Some of us do not know even our neighbours anymore. We seemed to have lost our sense of balance. Corporations and cyber retailers have come in to replace that sense of community. We need to bring it back, better yet, we need to give it back to ourselves. We need to be the change we want to see in this world as quoted from Ghandi.


Now with Christmas around the corner, you can even do a major chunk of that shopping at a local retailer!  I will include a list for my fellow Islanders as insight to what your options can include. Here a list of the more commonly used craft/gift shops displayed by area for convenience for our newcomers:  http://www.gov.pe.ca/index.php3?number=66553&lang=E


Out of experience from this is list I suggest The Two sisters in Charlottetown, Villiage Weavery (Stratford), and ofcourse our Anne of Green Gables outlets. These are more of the mainstrea, I will add. Another great option is Basket weaving for a gift option, call in advance and see if you cannot make an appointment for you and your child(S) to go in a they can learn a bit of culture and do a basket for their Grandparents or family that live off island. This is an experience for your family to participate with a culture in which we connect with daily as well as handmade which I think adds extra to any gift.  I would even suggest going to the craft fairs held throughout the year in various locations on PEI. PEI is having there 47th Annual Craft Fair tomorrow November 11th-November 13th:  Link for details is http://www.peicraftscouncil.com/
Why not get out there and support them and also get a head start on your Christmas shopping :)


Through out this month and into December I will also be including some of my DIY projects to give some ideas. Hope you found todays post inspirational or at least got to thinking.  Thank you for tuning in again. Hope you Have a Passionate Day


Chelsea