the 3/50 project

I'm pretty excited about the 3/50 project: http://www.the350project.net the premise being that every $100 you spend in locally owned independent stores $68 of it returns to the community in payroll, taxes and other expenditures. For me, having the option of buying groceries from local farmers and workers is invaluable. You do not get the same quality or experience shopping at large chains. The food is often better quality, local, seasonal and sometimes organic.

I thought about the three local stores that I would be most sad if they went away and without much surprise realized that they are all local food stores that I've started buying from exclusively. What I find is, is that even though the food is slightly more expensive, there is less waste. I buy smaller quantities for the week and eat that food, when I shop at places like Food Lion or Wal-Mart I tend to buy more food than we need and it goes to waste.

I also like knowing that I can buy food that isn't processed, it has heart and thought put into it. The food is better and is better for you. Win, win.

This is what I picked up yesterday:

and lunch from groceries