One Small Change

We have spent many cozy evenings talking about our predictions and wishes for the coming year. The One Small Change project has been a part of these discussions. We are all inspired by the idea of choosing one small change each month leading up to Earth Day. We have generated a list that could go far beyond the next 4 months.

For this month, however, I chose to "not go to 12A". 12A is the strip of shops in our region containing all the big national stores and restaurants. There's a Walmart, several big grocery stores, a Kohls, etc. It looks like all the other strips in the United States.

By not going to 12A I will:

  • shop from locally owned stores
  • think harder about what I need, if I really need it, and where I'm going to get it
  • shop from our local COOP grocery store which will also change the food that comes into our house. While I already buy mostly organic, now I'll be forced to buy more local organic.
I'd like to think that I'm not a big 12A shopper, but I think I end up there more often than I realize. Last night I took Helen to the movies to see New Moon. Rather than go to the movie theater on 12A with its surly teenagers dressed in cheesy tuxedos, overpriced yucky popcorn and sticky floors, we went to our little town hall theater which plays one current movie a weekend.

There we found a huge screen, surround sound, reasonable prices, and reasonably sized (and priced) snacks offered by a friendly volunteer. Even better, our money went to support our local arts organization.

I think I'm going to like my month of "no 12A".

julie  – (January 5, 2010 at 9:31 AM)  

Sounds like a great idea. I'm trying to do similar, shop locally, make more homemade produce rather than buy in, buy organic where we can etc - it'll be interesting to see how we all do.
I loved your daughters reading list and recognised lots of my childhood favourites on there, especially the Enid Blytons, I don't like wishing time away, but I do look forward to sharing these with my own daughter. I'm newish to your blog and to the Waldorf way, but have really been enjoying reading your blog and learning more about it all - it's especially good to read of someone with older children as many of the blogs I've found focus on younger children, and I need all the tips I can get as I move to a more waldorf way with a 6 year old boy, so thank you, and I look forward to reading more and learning a bunch more too!

Lisa Anne  – (January 5, 2010 at 10:08 AM)  

I love the idea of shopping at small locally owned businesses, that is one thing that is hard here as our area is not developed in that way. We are helping to start a store front co-op, we already run a food buying club from our farm...but we are leaving this farm at the end of March, so we are looking to be out in the community more and something permanent. We are not making small changes we are making huge changes here, it is a bit overwhelming.

Hip Mountain Mama  – (January 5, 2010 at 3:58 PM)  

Thanks for joining us! This is a change that we strongly support as we LOVE shopping local!
Good luck!
Suzy

kristin  – (January 5, 2010 at 5:50 PM)  

i love everything about this post Sarah! especially your movie-going experience...it sounds like a great place.

Casey  – (January 5, 2010 at 8:29 PM)  

I love reading the One Small Change posts and I love this one in particular. My husband is a small business owner who tries to encourage his clients to favor local business over large chains on the Post Road (we're in New England, too). It's not always easier to find time to pop in to small stores on the green with shorter hours, but it offers you a great chance to build relationships with people in your community and support your local economy.

Great job!

dawn klinge  – (January 5, 2010 at 10:04 PM)  

I think that most towns have their own "12A" section. I like what you're doing for your one small change. Shopping locally always seems to be a more rewarding experience.

Angela  – (January 6, 2010 at 7:49 PM)  

This is a great idea. thanks for the link. I think that it is so important to recognize all the unconscious decisions we make that aren't the wisest, if we had just taken a few moments to ponder. Much food for thought here....

Anonymous –   – (January 8, 2010 at 6:09 PM)  

I'm very inspired by this! We definitely have our own "12A" down this way, and it just makes me feel icky every time I go there. I always come home feeling grouchy, and feeling bad about my purchases (which usually turn out to be far more that the few "needs" that I went to get!) Thanks for the inspiration and happy new year!

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