Welcome to the South!

I have the pleasure of introducing you to our new LLF Sustainable Agriculture Director! Check her out...

Name: Elizabeth Beaks

Background: Formally trained at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz. She has spent the last 10 years learning and collaborating with others interested in cultivating a vibrant, local food system in the San Francisco Bay area. She has coordinated garden-based nutrition education programs in the public school system, piloted farmers markets in low income neighborhoods, worked on farms, and managed farmer's markets! (WOW)

Elizabeth has family in South Carolina and grew up going to Kiawah Island!

Sidenote #1: Elizabeth just DROVE here from the San Francisco Bay area with a friend and Kimdog (her Golden Retriever and trusted companion, who will also be joining us at the office on a daily basis!) Apparently it was quite the treat for Elizabeth to have the opportunity to jump into a WARM ocean once she had arrived...

Sidenote #2: Elizabeth is excited to meet the Lowcountry community of growers, producers, cooks and eaters and grow some innovative local projects together. She is also interested in any tips for sowing her garden patch in this SC climate.

So join me in welcoming our newest member! I know she has great things in store for LLF members and the Lowcountry community! YEA ELIZABETH!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

It's been almost a month since the 10% Shift Launch Party (time flies when you're having fun)... and LLF has gained a number of new local business members! Log on to our website to check them out!

LLF has also had the privilege to partner up with Michael Furlinger at Terrace Theater for the showing of the documentary "Food, Inc." If you missed the opening showing on Monday, check out the Terrace's website for further showings... It runs through Thursday, August 13th. We promise you won't look at your food the same way again!

Another reminder to keep SHIFTING! It's amazing the things that can be accomplished if we decide to dedicate ourselves and work together... (hence, the title of this blog.. a quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead). So continue to support your local businesses!! Also, keep an eye out for the second edition of our Directory of Local Independent Businesses. We hope to have them printed and ready to distribute mid-fall.

Your partner in localization....

A Cornucopia of Thanks!

Once again, it's been quite a while since my last post - but I have a good excuse! I was busy shifting!! And I wanted say many thanks to a number of people...

1. Thanks to all those who came out to our Press Conference at Marion Square!
2. Thanks to everyone who has been on board with the 10% Shift from the beginning and all those who continue to support us!
3. Thanks to our WONDERFUL volunteers who helped out for the 10% Shift Launch Party (you all know who you are... but a special shout-out to Christine Osborne at Wonder Works).
4. Thanks to Noisette for letting us use the great space!
5. Thanks to all of the local businesses, Part-Time Heroes (the band), the food vendors, Palmetto Brewery, Firefly Vodka and Wood Aesthetics for making the party a success.
6. Thanks to over 500 of you who attended the event!

Now, the important thing to remember is to keep shifting! Remember to use the 10% Coupon at participating businesses, and if you haven't already, SIGN THE PLEDGE!

It's a movement!

So we've officially launched the 10% Shift movement! LLF held a Press Conference this past Tuesday, June 30th in Marion Square downtown Charleston. We had a great turn-out of about 130 people! Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Mt. Pleasant Councilman Joe Bustos represented the three surrounding municipalities. Check out articles online at the Post and Courier and at Charleston City Paper.

Also, check out the news broadcast by Channel 4. And keep an ear out on the local radio stations for our radio ad (done by Jabar Communications).

Get involved! TAKE THE 10% PLEDGE! Visit the 10% Shift website and pledge to shift 10% of your annual budget to local independent businesses. You can also donate to the cause in exchange for "Shift Bling" (consisting of some sweet buttons, t-shirts and stickers). Finally, we have uploaded a great promotional video (thanks to Justin Nathanson at The Cut Company) and you can also find the list of businesses participating in our 10% Shift coupon. You have to visit the site - I was put in charge of managing it, and for a first-timer at the whole writing code-thing, I think it turned out well!

Last, but certainly not least, come to our 10% Shift Launch Party next Friday, July 10th! It runs from 7-10pm at 10 Storehouse Row at the Navy Yard. It will be a great way to continue with the 4th of July festivities and interact with your local business community! Taco Boy, Monza, Street Foods and The Barbeque Joint will be providing the food; Firefly and Palmetto will be providing the booze; Part-time Heroes will be providing the music. It only costs 10 cents to attend - so come join us! See you there!

Visit me at the Downtown Farmer's Market!

This coming Saturday, June 20th, I will be set up at a table at the Downtown Charleston Farmer's Market representing Lowcountry Local First and the 10% Shift! I will be set up near the Stage and will be arriving bright and early.

So come on down and pay me a visit! You can pick up some sweet LLF bumper stickers, some groovy 10% Shift stickers, our directory of local businesses and I will also be handing out 10% off Shift Coupons that you can use throughout the entire month of July at participating local businesses! So if you're planning to stop down at the market, come find me and pick up some free stuff!

BE SHIFTY

Just in case you haven't heard, there's a movement underfoot! LLF is promoting the 10% Shift, a grassroots movement of citizens, businesses, government agencies and nonprofits working to shift 10% or more of their annual budget to locally owned and INDEPENDENT businesses. It's such a simple idea - buy from your neighbors, keep the moolah in the community!

To promote this fantastic concept, not only are we partaking in some serious guerrilla marketing, but we are also holding two events in which you MUST attend. The information is as follows...

Press Conference

WHERE: Marion Square, Downtown Charleston

WHEN: Tuesday, June 30th, 10:00am.

WHAT: Mayor Riley, Mayor Summey and acting Mayor Smith will all be signing the "Declaration of Independents" and taking the 10% Pledge. You can sign the pledge, too! So come represent!

10% Shift Launch Party

WHERE: 10 Storehouse Row - The Navy Yard at Noisette

WHEN: Friday, July 10th, 7:00-10:00pm

ADMISSION: 10 cents

We will have live music with Part-Time Heroes, food from The BBQ Joint, Taco Boy (you know), Monza and Local Street Food as well as beer, Firefly Vodka and Shifty videos.

We also need volunteers, so if you're interested, email me at amy@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Be there, or be square! But above all, BE SHIFTY!

I heart granola

I can definitely get down with some granola - it's such a brilliant concept. You can eat it in yogurt, milk, out of a bag, in a bar, in nuggets.... I had some great granola yesterday. Bobby Hendricks was kind enough to hand out a couple samples of his version of granola (gRAWnola) to Jamee and me. Their granola bars are gluten free, soy free, preservative free, peanut free and contain no processed sugar or flower. Many of the ingredients are organic and it tastes absolutely amazing. Apparently they're all over town. (I met Jamee for a meeting at Kudu Coffee on Vanderhorst and there they were, tempting me from the counter). So keep an eye out for these healthy and tasty treats. Almost forgot! Bonus point for the gRAWnola gang for becoming a member of LLF!!