We are blessed to live walking distance to Canada's largest farmer's market and try and obtain as much of our vegetables and fruit from there as possible. The surrounding Mennonite farmers have their own flour mill nearby, and so we could fulfill almost all our needs locally. Witnessing that the Mennonite community is self-sustainable with the foods they grow, offers additional encouragement to pause and ask whether we "need" or "want" something. However, I am quite sure that I do *need* coffee :) Thanks for your thoughtful writing Hadden!
Ha! Thanks Ruth, I thought "oh no" after I had published this piece as I remembered your comment about coffee before hand!
We are blessed in the community I now live in with so many local small businesses and food producers. It really is quite amazing as most of these businesses have died out in other parts of the country. I see it as my duty (and a pleasurable one at that) as a member of the community to support these businesses.
Thanks Elizabeth (I was partly preaching to myself when I said we don't need chocolate - I eat far too much of the stuff!)
I hadn't heard of Fibershed before but they look like an excellent organisation whop are doing some really innovative and beneficial work. On a related note, there is a Spring Show in the rural town I now live in. The woman who won Best in Show had made a bookmark out of woven flax that she had grown herself. The dedication! She was a worthy winner.
We are blessed to live walking distance to Canada's largest farmer's market and try and obtain as much of our vegetables and fruit from there as possible. The surrounding Mennonite farmers have their own flour mill nearby, and so we could fulfill almost all our needs locally. Witnessing that the Mennonite community is self-sustainable with the foods they grow, offers additional encouragement to pause and ask whether we "need" or "want" something. However, I am quite sure that I do *need* coffee :) Thanks for your thoughtful writing Hadden!
Ha! Thanks Ruth, I thought "oh no" after I had published this piece as I remembered your comment about coffee before hand!
We are blessed in the community I now live in with so many local small businesses and food producers. It really is quite amazing as most of these businesses have died out in other parts of the country. I see it as my duty (and a pleasurable one at that) as a member of the community to support these businesses.
A wonderfully nuanced article. Thank you!
Rude of you to point out that I don’t *need* chocolate! Seriously though, I love this. The “supermarket industrial complex” is a good phrase.
I wonder if the Fibershed movement has any presence in your part of the world? I’m a fan of the work they’re doing with flax in my region
Thanks Elizabeth (I was partly preaching to myself when I said we don't need chocolate - I eat far too much of the stuff!)
I hadn't heard of Fibershed before but they look like an excellent organisation whop are doing some really innovative and beneficial work. On a related note, there is a Spring Show in the rural town I now live in. The woman who won Best in Show had made a bookmark out of woven flax that she had grown herself. The dedication! She was a worthy winner.