The Season of Giving – Shopping Local

Judie Anders - Nathrop, CO

It’s the holiday season and I find myself reflecting on people and things in my life that I am thankful for. I love living in this Valley with its clean air, beautiful views, majestic mountains, great people and good food. Salida and Buena Vista have their own farmers, ranchers, gardeners, farm workers, food workers, and cooks who are long time food lovers and make the world a more delicious place in which to live. They are near and dear to my heart. My thoughts of holiday meals and gift giving are getting a lot of my attention these days and this year I am considering the impact of my food purchasing and gift purchasing choices and how that affects this valley in which I live.

Statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor in February — state that if half of the country’s employed population spent an additional $50 per month at locally owned businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion revenue.

From a 2008 study by analysts from Chicago-based Civic Economics — reveals that, of every $100 spent at a locally owned, independent merchant, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. This number drops to $43 per $100 for purchases at retail franchises.

I found these on a website called The 3/50 Project: Saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on. You might want to check it out yourself for some new ideas: www.the350project.net This website inspired me to consider how I could change the way I shop and make a difference where I live.

PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS

I am a member of Guidestone, a local not for profit organization which is devoted to supporting a sustainable future for the bioregion of the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Guidestone enhances our growing local food economy by supporting local growers through programs such as the Land-Link Initiative and Farmhands Education Program. It puts on great events like the Pumpkin Patch every year which brings people out to the farm for a taste of farm life and to meet the farmers who grow their food. Food production and farming, and their benefits to a happy and healthy lifestyle, is a passion of mine. Here’s a little history about our valley from the Guidestone website www.guidestonecolorado.org:

Believe it or not, historically, the Upper Arkansas River Valley was a thriving agricultural region. At one point the iceberg lettuce capital of the US, our soils played host to a large variety of crops and livestock. As our American culture began to lean more heavily on foods imported from elsewhere, much of our local agricultural knowledge and food economy was lost. We envision an Upper Arkansas River Valley of the future that embraces the agricultural heritage of our past while always keeping a keen eye for better and more sustainable methods of food production. Food is a celebration of life. It is at the core of who we are as people. It is often the centerpiece for community gatherings and events. It tells stories of our past and, we believe, our collective regional knowledge of it will determine much of our future.

Through our educational work and the facilitation of new relationships with farmers and landowners, we encourage the emergence of new farming enterprises here in the valley. We look for ways to bring buyers and producers of local goods together by promoting and offering opportunities such as CSAs, distribution centers, farmers markets, and events.

I realize that I can do something to keep our local economy GROWING by making unique, or sometimes just different, choices about what I purchase and where. I can support the local growers, restaurants and artists who make this valley more diverse, more sustainable and more enjoyable.

SHOPPING LOCAL

Support local artists and attend Craft Fairs where locally produced gifts can be purchased, often to the benefit of local charities and people in need right here in our community. There are fine cheeses, wines, breads, baked goods, clothing and tools made right here. There are many locally made gifts which can be found for everyone on your shopping list. Give a subscription to a local CSA Garden - Community Supported Agriculture - which provides in season vegetables fresh each week from local gardeners for a number of months each season. That will support our agricultural lands right at home and those who grow it as well. What about taking the family on a vacation to any number of the hot springs in the area, or eating out at a local restaurant for a special meal? These things would bring money to our friends and neighbors who live and work here and be pleasurable as well.

In this economy we may need to downsize the amount of money spent or number of gifts given this season. Even so, it’s good to remember the often quoted saying when giving or receiving gifts, it’s the thought that counts the most. When someone gives thought to the perfect gift it fits just right in every way. Shopping locally gives to the well being of the community and is a loving gift to someone special. Giving gifts that give again in growing the health and wealth of our community can be one of the joys of this season.

Happy Holidays!

Guidestone's Land-Link Program Featured on Front Page of Denver Post

Jason Blevins of the Denver Post recently visited with Land Link Director, David Lynch, and members of the Guidestone board to learn more about our newly developing Land Link program. From the article featured in today's paper:

"A Land Link toolbox would include a variety of leases that protect both the new farmer and the landowner. It could be a crop share, a profit share or a straight land lease or lease-to-own. It would include an educational component for young farmers. It would require prospective tenant farmers to have a solid business plan."

Read the entire article at this link.