Take Back Your Power: Choose Local

Creating Actual Choice When we shop locally, we diversify our communities economically and culturally. Discover the array of unique products and services offered by artisans and entrepreneurs right in your neighborhood. By supporting these businesses, you ensure that your choices go beyond the generic options provided by big-box retailers.

• Etsy: Explore unique, handmade, and vintage items from local artisans around the world.

• Farmers Market Online: Directly purchase fresh and seasonal produce from local farmers.

Keeping Money in the Community Spending locally ensures that your money stays within your community, multiplying its impact. This supports job creation, fosters community development, and maintains the local character.

• LocalHarvest: Find and support local organic food sources, farms, and farmers' markets.

• Shopify Local Markets: Enables local businesses to set up online stores, expanding their reach without losing their local essence.

Becoming Aware of Our Shopping Habits Understanding and adjusting our shopping habits can significantly impact our local economies and the environment. Opt for a local grocer or a craft fair over a national chain store.

• Nextdoor: Get recommendations for local businesses and share your experiences to help neighbors make informed decisions.

• Yelp: Use to discover top-rated local eateries, shops, and services and contribute your own reviews.

Opting for Local Over Fast Food Choose a meal at a local restaurant or café over a fast-food chain. Not only does this support local entrepreneurs, but it often means a healthier and higher quality meal experience.

• Made Trade: Curate your home and lifestyle with ethically sourced goods that support local economies and the planet.

Taking Back Our Power by Changing Our Mindsets The movement towards local consumption is not just about buying things—it’s about rethinking our role as consumers. By choosing local, we vote for sustainability, community, and individuality.

• FairChanges: Shop for ethical products directly from conscientious creators, supporting fair trade and eco-friendly practices.

• CottageFoods.org: Learn how to support or start your own home-based food business, understanding the local laws and markets.

Your choices have power. By choosing to support local businesses through the resources listed above, you contribute to a more vibrant, sustainable, and equitable community. Join us in taking back the power—support local, think global, and make every purchase a statement of your values. Let's show our local businesses that we are committed to helping them grow and make a comeback. Together, we can change our world, one local purchase at a time.

Websites

Here’s a list of websites that can help people find and support local businesses and foster community and cottage industries:

1. Etsy - Perfect for discovering local artisans and crafters who might not have a brick-and-mortar presence but offer unique and homemade products online.

2. LocalHarvest - Ideal for finding local organic food, farms, farmers' markets, and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), encouraging direct support of local agriculture.

3. Farmers Market Online - Allows users to shop directly from small farmers and producers, supporting local economies and gaining access to fresh, seasonal produce.

4. Shopify Local Markets - A platform where local businesses can set up an online store easily, helping small businesses and craftspeople reach a broader audience.

5. Made Trade - Curates ethically sourced goods from artisans and makers, emphasizing fair trade and eco-friendly products.

6. Small Business Saturday - Promotes local shopping through American Express but has evolved into a year-round initiative with resources to find and support local businesses.

7. Nextdoor - A neighborhood app that’s great for getting recommendations on local businesses from your neighbors, finding local events, and community activities.

8. Yelp - While often used for reviews, Yelp can be a powerful tool for discovering local businesses and services, from restaurants to local crafts and produce.

9. Angie’s List - Useful for finding local contractors, service providers, and artisans who are highly reviewed and recommended by community members.

10. FairChanges - An online marketplace for ethical shopping, where each purchase supports independent creators and producers without middlemen.

11. State and Local Business Directories - Many states and regions have their own directories of businesses, which can be found through local government or chamber of commerce websites.

12. CottageFoods.org - Provides information about selling homemade products, which varies by location, helping small producers find and navigate local laws related to home-based businesses.

These resources can significantly assist individuals in finding and supporting local businesses, fostering community ties, and promoting sustainable economic growth in their localities.

Apps

Here's a list of apps that can support individuals participating in the "Let Them Eat Cereal" boycott, focusing on finding alternative food sources, reducing food waste, and promoting local small businesses:

1. Farmish - Connects users directly with local farmers and artisans to purchase fresh produce and handmade goods directly.

2. Farm Fresh 24/7 - Offers a platform for buying locally grown produce and goods, supporting local agriculture and farmers.

3. Too Good To Go - Helps reduce food waste by allowing users to purchase surplus food from restaurants and grocery stores at reduced prices.

4. Flashfood - Another app aimed at fighting food waste, Flashfood lets users buy items nearing their sell-by date from local grocery stores at significantly reduced prices.

5. Patch - While primarily a local news app, Patch can be used to share information about local markets, food co-ops, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.

6. Nextdoor - A neighborhood app that's perfect for sharing recommendations on local businesses, organizing local buying groups, or coordinating community initiatives related to the boycott.

7. LocalHarvest - Helps users find local organic food from farmers' markets, family farms, and CSAs nearby, emphasizing the importance of supporting local economies.

8. Seasonal Food Guide - Provides information on seasonal produce and helps users find locally grown fruits and vegetables, promoting a sustainable diet that reduces the carbon footprint.

9. Harvie - Connects consumers directly with local farmers who deliver fresh, seasonal produce and other farm products.

10. Eat Local - An app that helps users find and share information about locally sourced food, promoting short supply chains and reduced environmental impact.

Each of these apps offers a unique way to support local economies, reduce environmental impact, and find healthier food options during the boycott. They empower consumers to make informed decisions that align with the goals of the "Let Them Eat Cereal" movement.

Additional Ideas

Here are some creative ideas for individuals and communities looking to support local economies, utilize personal skills, and enjoy more sustainable living practices:

1. Selling Canning Overage: If you find yourself with more canned goods than you need after a season of preserving, consider selling or trading your overage. This not only clears out your pantry but also brings homemade, high-quality preserves to those in your community.

2. Weekend Baking Sales: Use your baking skills to whip up bread, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods to sell at local markets or through community networks on weekends.

3. Selling Foraged Goods: If you or your family enjoy foraging, consider selling excess foraged items like berries, mushrooms, and wild greens. Always ensure that you forage responsibly and sustainably.

4. Community Garden Produce Sharing: Participate in or organize a community garden where the harvest is shared among contributors or sold at local farmers' markets.

5. Backyard Garden CSA: Turn your backyard garden into a mini-CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Offer subscriptions where neighbors pay a season upfront and receive a weekly or bi-weekly share of the harvest.

6. Cow Sharing: Go in with friends or neighbors to buy a share of a cow from a local farm. This not only supports local farmers but also ensures you get fresh, locally sourced meat.

7. Homemade Craft Sales: Utilize any crafting skills you have (knitting, pottery, woodworking) to create items that can be sold online or at local fairs.

8. Seed and Plant Swaps: Organize or participate in local seed and plant swaps to diversify your garden and connect with other gardeners in your area.

9. Hosting Cooking Classes: If you’re a skilled cook, consider hosting cooking classes right from your kitchen, focusing on using local, seasonal ingredients.

10. Barter Systems: Establish or join a barter system within your community where goods and services can be traded without the exchange of money. This fosters community relations and helps everyone save on expenses.

11. Urban Foraging Tours: If you're knowledgeable about edible plants in urban areas, organize foraging tours to educate others about urban foraging and sustainable practices.

12. Pop-up Dining Events: Host pop-up dinners or lunches in unexpected places using local ingredients to create a unique dining experience that also promotes local farmers and producers.

13. Artisanal Condiment Making: Make and sell artisanal condiments like hot sauces, mustards, and vinegars using locally sourced ingredients.

14. Microgreen Farming: Utilize small spaces to grow microgreens, which can be sold to local restaurants, at farmers' markets, or directly to health-conscious consumers.

These ideas not only help in utilizing personal skills and local resources but also in building stronger community ties by supporting and sustaining local economies.