I’ve been trying to buy local lately, and buy things made in America. I sometimes find what I need isn’t available, or if available, visible. The go to place used to be Etsy but that has grown from a community of local artists and craft people, to re-sellers, and too many items to effectively sort though to find things. I often even find what they are offering is shipping from China.
So what to do? The solution I believe is to become a maker. Make something, scarves, candles, soap, dishcloths, accessories for painters, knitters, cooks or whatever your heart desires. As much as you can, buy things from local sources. I’m not talking about the big box craft stores either. Then find an outlet to get it to market, local holiday craft shows, farmer’s markets, or another local storefront.
I decided to make beeswax candles and sell them via my local Putnam Arts Council Holiday Craft show. The truth of the matter is that even if I sell them all I won’t make a lot of money. But I will have circulated a few of my dollars through beekeepers (and we all know how important bees are to our food supply). The Arts Council will get a cut and people who I know and like will get something beautiful. Beeswax is a healthier wax to burn in your home as well. So this supports good things in my community.
So this season, let’s put beautiful things out there for the eye and the soul, and interact with those groups we want to support. And let’s not buy things that are made that pollute the environment, and ignore the rights of creatures great and small.