my "shopping small" successes of late

community resiliency requires supporting small producers and artisans

When it all comes crashing down, connections with our community will prove paramount. Borrowing, gifting, growing, bartering, shopping outside of complex, international supply chains, and sharing our abundance of all sorts with those close to us will help us endure the upheaval ahead.

To counter the darkness of yesterday’s piece, let’s share some wins for community building through conscious consumption choices that support local artists and producers. I anticipate that we will need them even more as consolidated power pushes us deeper into our tight-knit communities. 🫶🏼

Clover Market

I searched high and low for wooden cooking spoons to replace the plastic ones that were on their last legs. I even landed on Amazon's site, despite my aversion to shopping on Amazon, to no avail.

This past weekend, I finally found exactly what I imagined at Clover Market, a traveling market for artisan makers and vintage sellers with semi-annual stops near where I live.

In a mood to browse with a rare few hours and nothing planned, my mom and I meandered through the market and found a few gems.

Are we still doing flat lays, or am I showing my age?

Wooden Spoons + Wood Butter

I scoured the internet for wooden spoons. I even considered buying them from Amazon. If you know how I feel about Amazon, you know I approached it as a last resort. Even on Amazon, the spoons I wanted were out of stock.

Last weekend, I stumbled upon handmade wooden spoons and spatulas from a family who lives about 30 minutes north of me. My mom and I each purchased a few of them as they were exactly what I wanted.