Yesterday, I finished my pre-”Go Local” Challenge. I did the challenge before the proposed date during Independent’s week, but I did it to learn if it is feasible, and to gain enough experience in case someone needs help during the actual challenge.  As far as I can tell, I succeeded to buy everything local. Here are some thoughts about it.

Well, first of all, it is possible. I noticed that in general I don’t buy tons of stuff (which is good I think). During this week, I bought pretty basic stuff such as gas, a little bit of groceries, lunch, ice cream, some pictures…

I found myself asking other people (mostly Don) if a business was local or not, or where could I go to get this or that. Also, I found myself going to the Homegrown site to see which businesses offered things I needed (members: your membership is worth it).

I realize that you need some organization and thinking ahead to do it. We are so used to “our little routines” that breaking them is a not so easy. What I mean by “our little routines” is that we are so used to going to the same stores, or we just stop in the stores that are on our way home or to work. Even for people like me, who sometimes drive as much as 80 miles a day visiting clients and prospects all over town, it’s hard to go to different stores than the ones I am used to because most of the time I don’t think about it. So I just say, “I will buy it when I am going back home”; it makes sense, doesn’t it? Therefore while taking the challenge you need to plan ahead. Think about where you are going, what you need and where your local options are. This will only take a few minutes of your time but it will make things much easier.

You may have problems finding/discovering local places. A good way for you to find them is, well (clear throat), this site, ask co–workers, friends, or if you can, take the opportunity to “explore” those little shopping plazas on your way to work. You never know what you will find, and what experiences you may get.

To be honest with you the hardest part about the challenge for me was to give up my “regular” (sadly) coffee place which is a walking distance from home. The same thing may happen to you; you may find having to go that extra mile (literally), it may not seem as convenient, but think about how you are helping our local economy, and that very likely some of that money is going to be given back to you one way or another (think about donations from those business to your schools, those same businesses using your services, etc.).

I think the most important thing that I got from this “pre-challenge” is that I can see myself changing my consumer behaviors, not just for a week, but forever. It makes me realize how the service that I get is much better, it makes me realize how much money I can save, it makes me realize that they know me by my name at those places, it makes me realize that I am doing my part. Are you?

P.S., I will do another field trip tomorrow, this time I am going to Doniphan st. I want to find where to buy groceries in the west side, and something tells me that I will find it somewhere there. I will let you know.