Be a Local Yokal

Quite often with friends we reminisce about the "good old" days.  Now depending how old you are they may not be really that old but regardless we share similar memories. 

Running like mad to catch the Ice Cream man who salaciously tinkled his bike bells...I have ice cream kiddies ; )  Or the local bakery that made the best long johns you could ever hope to eat.  Or the Chinese fellow named Sandy who owned the local corner store that had a counter full of every kind of candy known to man.  You would hop on your bike and pick up some string licorice, even a pack of fake candy cigarettes...ah the good old days.

What that all has in common is it was all local.  All things you could get right in your very own community.  In those days my mom didn't drive and didn't have a car at her disposal even if she could.  So if something was needed it was send the kid to the store with a list and some money.    You really got to know the people who ran those businesses and they knew you too. 

Then things changed.  Everyone got more vehicles, giant malls cropped up...followed by big box stores and big box store areas...ala South Common.  Now, although much of this is convenient, it just doesn't have the same feel that your local store did.  As a result many of the various down towns and local stores all but curled up and died.  Now there is no where you can walk to...you have to get in the car and go to the store "zone". 

But there is hope, the local movement is fighting back.  One of the main fighters are the farmer's markets.  These collection of vendors are bringing people back into the various neighborhoods with their quality wares.  Suddenly people are excited to get back to quality over quantity and for hand made, hand grown products and produce. 

We live in St. Albert and their farmers market can attract 10,000-15,000 people every Saturday!    This helps the local coffee shops and stores and helps to remind people that there are independent businesses that need their support. 

A few more businesses have opened up lately and we have been trying to support them.  On our holidays we walked to the farmers market and also to the local restaurants rather than drive to chains for food.  This gets us off our asses for some exercise (sorely needed) and helps the business as well.

Hopefully people will keep checking out the little guys.  I don't really just want a society of Walmarts and East Side Mario's. Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name...and their always glad you came....

(Challenge Post Day #3)