Local goes a LONG Way!

I think it’s working, this Buy Local thing!  An article released by Market Watch, “Tis the Season for Shopping Local: Mom and Pop Retailers Hopeful About Holiday Sales”, states that 49% of local independent retailers are feeling optimistic about holiday sales this year due in large part because consumers are choosing to put their hard earned dollars toward businesses that keep money close to home.

We are feeling optimistic too, because we know that our community wants to keep Charleston special. We know that the service we get from the one-of-a-kind boutiques and restaurants create the flavor that makes the Lowcountry taste so good!

 

The recently launched Shift Your Shopping campaign with partners in Arizona, Massachusetts etc., as well as the BALLE and AMIBA organizations shows that it isn’t just us, in our corner of the world that think this is a good idea, but communities across the country are uniting to have a louder voice and stronger message.

This holiday season and all year long, make a choice to keep your money home for the holidays!   Choose the Lowcountry!

The Revival is Here!

Last year’s economic slump lead LLF members to take it upon themselves to create an event, a spectacle of sorts to generate attention to the closing of so many of our local businesses.  Businesses we had just gotten to know and love and businesses that were already an established part of our lives.  Our Second Line, mock protestors, choir and pastor created a raucous event and saved the souls of many who were swayed by the bright lights of the big box store.

While we typically try to remain fairly subtle in our messaging, at least so far as keeping the message positive, the Revival is a time to preach the message of LOCAL in a way that reminds me of attending tent revivals as a child.  There was nothing subtle about what the visiting minister had to say and a call to action was necessary or there would be dire circumstances.

This Thursday the Medicine Man will be parading into town with his quick fix elixirs and sure fire remedies for our economy.  These quick fixes are sure to create jobs, boost economic activity and leave our town like ANYWHERE  USA, you’ve been there before, strip malls, businesses and fast food strips that creep up and take over and once they have devastated the local independent businesses eventually crawl out of town at night leaving behind a ghost town.  Now I’m not saying that this will happen to Charleston, but imagine the work involved in repairing the damage. We’ve all seen the devastation of a one night stand economy, LLF is working to build the relationship economy!

The Revival is a time to remember that we all have choices, and we encourage you to choose with your dollars, your time, your heart and in doing so choose the Lowcountry!

Join us October 6th at 6:00 for the parade down Upper King and Medicine Man show at the Music Farm.

September: Starting from Seed

This week's post from Nikki Seibert, Program Director, Sustainable Agriculture:

As we make our way into September, the temperatures are finally beginning to cool off and the time has come again to think about working in the garden! For gardeners, this time of year is often seen as redemption time, when we can clear out our fallen spring gardens (a long with any mistakes) and get a fresh start for the fall. There is something therapeutic about getting to pull-out the wilted tomato plants, preparing the soil, and trying something new. After making a few attempts at direct seeding my plants, I have learned that my best chances for success are if I give my plants a head start by propagating them in trays, pots, and flats first. Propagating is just a fancy term for growing plants; this can mean planting seeds, taking cuttings, or grafting. For those of you that have never tried starting your own seedlings, have no fear! Although it may seem overwhelming, the reward of growing a plant from seed to table is a reward well worth taking the time to learn. If you are interesting in finding out more, join LLF at Sea Island Savory Herbs this weekend for a lesson in getting your fall plants started.

Propagation: Starting from Seed
Date: Saturday September 17th, 2011
Cost: $55 per person
Time: 9am-1pm
Location: Sea Island Savory Herbs 5920 • Chisolm Road • Johns Island, SC 29455
Description: Join Danielle Spies at Sea Island Savory Herbs to learn about the basics of propagation including seeding, soils and cuttings. After the class, the group will be welcome to tour this diversified nursery specializing in herbs, native plants, heirlooms, and unusual plant varieties.

REGISTER NOW!

September: Starting from Seed

As we make our way into September, the temperatures are finally beginning to cool off and the time has come again to think about working in the garden! For gardeners, this time of year is often seen as redemption time, when we can clear out our fallen spring gardens (a long with any mistakes) and get a fresh start for the fall. There is something therapeutic about getting to pull-out the wilted tomato plants, preparing the soil, and trying something new. After making a few attempts at direct seeding my plants, I have learned that my best chances for success are if I give my plants a head start by propagating them in trays, pots, and flats first. Propagating is just a fancy term for growing plants; this can mean planting seeds, taking cuttings, or grafting. For those of you that have never tried starting your own seedlings, have no fear! Although it may seem overwhelming, the reward of growing a plant from seed to table is a reward well worth taking the time to learn. If you are interesting in finding out more, join LLF at Sea Island Savory Herbs this weekend for a lesson in getting your fall plants started.

Propagation: Starting from Seed
Date: Saturday September 17th, 2011
Cost: $55 per person
Time: 9am-1pm
Location: Sea Island Savory Herbs 5920 • Chisolm Road • Johns Island, SC 29455
Description: Join Danielle Spies at Sea Island Savory Herbs to learn about the basics of propagation including seeding, soils and cuttings. After the class, the group will be welcome to tour this diversified nursery specializing in herbs, native plants, heirlooms, and unusual plant varieties.

REGISTER NOW!

Keep Charleston unique: Help grow local businesses

Many Thanks to Charleston Currents for publishing this article by our own Executive Director: Jamee Haley:

AUG. 22, 2011 - A recent trip to Asheville demonstrated what the future of the local movement in Charleston could be. The signs in the windows of the nearly all local-independent businesses that reside in the booming downtown, say "Local, it's the new black." This partnered with the "Love Asheville, Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is" shows the loyalty and commitment of a community to local independent businesses.

Haley

While the support of local independent businesses has greatly increased with the Buy Local movement initiated by Lowcountry Local First in Charleston, we still have room for improvement. The idea of purchasing food from local farmers has become more than a trend but a way of life for many. When LLF first started almost 5 years ago there were no Community Supported Agriculture programs in the area. We now have over 14 farmers and fishermen participating in CSAs and over 3,000 members of our community now receiving the direct benefits of their labor.

How do we translate the same connections with growers in our area to other local businesses? We support area farmers and fishermen because we want to know who grew our food; the fresh products taste better and we want to play a part in the preservation of our farmland and seafood industry. These same desires can be translated to supporting local independent businesses: We typically receive better service, we can meet the shop or business owner, and we want to keep our area unique.

The benefits of supporting these local businesses are 3 times that of supporting a national chain. Local business owners live here, pay taxes, support our schools, parks and arts, and are engaged in the community. According to a study done by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, nonprofits receive an average 350% more support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.

So, I believe we have a great opportunity here to stop chasing the elephant that so many in our communities see as the answer to economic recovery. The idea that the huge corporation is going to come into the area and solve all of our economic woes is dated to say the least. But I often have to remind myself of the Buckminster Fuller quote, "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." The existing model is obsolete and we as a community have the opportunity to create the new model by investing in the people who already are invested in our community.

Charleston's rich history, natural beauty and understandable pride can be enhanced by being a little more like our friends in Asheville. The recognition Charleston receives as a Top Destination city in the country is not because we have national retailers on King Street, but because of the wonderful dining and shopping experiences that visitors and locals alike have when seeking out the those truly special experiences.

Lowcountry Local First is now over 400 members strong and our network of local business owners and community members is growing at a rapid rate. We continue to develop programs and ideas that ease the process of supporting our local independent businesses by offering discounts and promotions through the Buy Local card, establishing a new website with a more robust searchable directory, our 5th Buy Local campaign coming this holiday season and more.

The great thing about this movement is that it is one that everyone can get behind. It falls neither on the left or the right of the political line and establishes the new model that will sustain us for the long haul!

• Want to learn more about Lowcountry Local First or become a member? Go online.

  Jamee Haley is the executive director of Lowcountry Local First. She can be reached by email or by calling 843-276-6731.

BUY LOCAL FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

This weekend is tax free weekend - perfect time to do your Back to School Shopping!

We have all been there at one point or another, or maybe you're there right now: strategically planning your back to school shopping. There is no better time to BUY LOCAL, visit your favorite local spots for clothing, school supplies, art supplies and all the good stuff to start the year off with a bang. Check out the promotions below and make your Back to School Shopping experience more enjoyable, save some money and support your local economy.

Office Connections
Check out the GREEN SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Use the account code: 21 and password GREEN for special savings and easy ordering.

Wonder Works

Gift of the Month: Locker Lookz- starting at $9.99. Want to be the coolest person in school? Transform your school locker from basic to beautiful with these wonderfuntastical locker decorations that make it easy for you to have an amazing locker in no time! Only LockerLookz gives you the power to express yourself through unique mix-and-match locker design collections of wallpaper, accessories, flowers and rugs.

Charleston Children's Boutique

We have all your back to school needs covered! Nap mats, book bags, lunchboxes, pencils and carrying cases. Clothes, monkey bar buddies (aka…panty covers) and much, much more. All Buy Local Card holders get 10% off every purchase. This weekend is tax free weekend. All cash and check purchases get an additional 2% off! Could amount to a total of 20.5% off every purchase.

Country Bumpkin Arts and Craft Supplies
10% off to students of all ages taking an art class, including CCSD School of the Arts, and high school art students. Discount applies to stretched canvas, paints, brushes, mediums, paper pads, drawing/sketch supplies, etc. Just show us your supply list to receive discount.

What's Ripe in the Lowcountry?

So, here in the Lowcountry our climate is a bit different than other parts of our lovely state and we thought it appropriate to make sure those of you who are trying to keep it REALLY local might appreciate knowing what is actually in season here!  LLF has created several pieces to make this easier for you, first our Eat Local artist poster created by Karin Olah.  Karin has produced 4 seasonal posters for LLF that beautifully display the bounty of the Lowcountry and list fruits, veggies, seafood, meats and poultry by season.

The second piece is the long awaited Ripe Chart for the Lowcountry is out and looking very beautiful!  We are grateful to the talented Jay Fletcher for pulling this great and valuable resource together for us!  You can pick both up at the LLF farmer's market booth and any LLF event.

This fall we will be producing a "kid friendly" version of the poster for Charleston County Schools!

Remember to celebrate your Independence by supporting your Independents this coming week and all year through!