neela
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I don't own my own business or work at a local restaurant. I'm barely getting into farmer's markets/organic food. So I realize I may be totally out of the loop here. What sort of "buy local" campaign does Columbus have?
off the top of my head we have lots to work with:
- local retail (like Tigertree)
- web-based but local companies (like skreened)
- farmer's markets and organic food (thread)
- local craftsy retail (Tiny Canary)
- local restaurants (take your pick) and local chains (Aladdin's)
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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Fortunately, on this board, you're kind of preaching to the choir, but I agree...I'd love to see further efforts in this direction.
My parents are the typical "burbs living retirees". Every time they say they're going out to dinner, it's at some chain restaurant or another. For the past year I've forced them to eat at a place I choose instead (from Barcelona to Easy Street to Starliner Diner, etc.) and I paid...and they're total converts now.
I think if people just try to learn what's out there, new habits are easy to form to buy local!
mightymighty
North Side
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I think a lot of people don't buy local because they don't realize that they can, or where they can, or if they should or how it would benefit them.
wee.
Manatee
The eternal present
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Well, I know Jeni Britton is part of an organization called "Local Matters", and is very involved with that. I've asked her about it, I think it's fairly new.
I would certainly like growing our local business economy to be seen as "Indie Art". Not to mention the products are generally much better, in my estimation.
I was driving around Columbus today (something I don't do very often), and it amazed me to see how many great local businesses there were, and how much building was going on in city limits. It's such a joy to be able to use, and give, local products. To know the people who make the objects around you, and know just where to get what you really like.
I think we are awakening to the understanding that many values such as buying local, sustainability, validation of creativity, and urban renewal are concurrent with and supportive of other values we hold dear as a community. When these things are all raised up together, I think we're going to see an amazing synergetic snowball effect.
For the first time, today I thought, "Damn. It's kind of sexy to be in Columbus. What's next?"
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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Columbus Brewing Co, Barley's, and Anheiser Busch for beer.
When buying Budweiser or other AB products (most suck) look at the Born-On Date. If the first letter in the second 4 digit code is a "C" it means it was brewed on the north side of town.
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Here's a good "buy local" site... http://www.dineoriginalscolumbus.com/
We could definitely use a few more farmers markets around town. It seems like some are pretty weak considering the quality of produce that comes out of this area.
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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Cyclist wrote Columbus Brewing Co, Barley's, and Anheiser Busch for beer.When buying Budweiser or other AB products (most suck) look at the Born-On Date. If the first letter in the second 4 digit code is a "C" it means it was brewed on the north side of town.
I met this quality control guy in a local bar a few weeks ago, and he was telling me some staggering statistics about how much of this beer is produced in Columbus, and how we still have to "import" it from other breweries because we drink all of it. Amazing.
I try to promote buying and eating locally as much as possible, and it's amazing how many people I meet who have completely changed their eating habits over the past few years. I think one way in which the "eat local" campaign has been a little lackluster in Columbus is that their webs presence is severly lacking. Also, they tend to take their message to areas where people are already listening - farmer's markets, etc.
One really cool thing that the Cbus Health department did this year is have a farmer's market, specifically geared towards lower-income residents of the city, who are frequently left out of the "eat local" message, even though WIC offers coupons for the farmer's markets. These markets were packed, and my friend who works for the health dept said it was a lower turnout than previous years (every day they had it was really, really hot).
It can be hard to start the ball rolling on eating and buying locally, but once you make it a habit, it's just that - a habit. For me, anytime I enter a Giant Eagle it feels very strange because I so rarely shop there. It's taken a few years to get to that point, and I still buy convenience foods from Trader Joe's sometimes, but most of what we eat in our house comes from local resources.
By the way, Cyclist - I'd love to talk to you about doing some sort of cooking/shopping/dining program on you startup radio station, if you all are interested in that sort of thing. No politics though!
LauraA
LaLaland
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Manatee wroteFor the first time, today I thought, "Damn. It's kind of sexy to be in Columbus. What's next?"
I agree with you manatee, i'm from the columbus area, lived on both coasts for 7 years and then moved back to be close to family. i've been back for a few years and suddenly i'm really excited to live here. i think columbus has a lot to offer.
neela
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Thanks for the suggestions everybody...
I think it's natural that the "buy local" efforts are focused on food right now, I think that's how most of these start. (The Philly one started that way too- http://www.buylocalphilly.com/)
But yea, I was thinking that a centralized website, even a marketing campaign would help educate lots of people, especially the suburbanites that Coremodels mentioned. It's about more than just eating. (See Walker's thread about independent shops.)
lisathewaitress wrote I think one way in which the "eat local" campaign has been a little lackluster in Columbus is that their webs presence is severly lacking. Also, they tend to take their message to areas where people are already listening - farmer's markets, etc.
Yea, the message definitely needs to start going "mainstream."
Manatee wroteI think we are awakening to the understanding that many values such as buying local, sustainability, validation of creativity, and urban renewal are concurrent with and supportive of other values we hold dear as a community. When these things are all raised up together, I think we're going to see an amazing synergetic snowball effect.
You put this so well. I completely agree. There are all this people, even with divergent interests (health, historic preservation, food, etc) who are going to realize all these things are connected. Whoo hoo!
neela
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I did a search today and found the following old threads about very similar stuff...
luchobucho and putneyswope have talked about this among others (Tigertree)
guess I should have searched before I posted this!
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