It is nice when I can buy local

I just wanted to express my joy at an incident that just happened.  I live in a small, relatively isolated small town in NE Missouri, ninety miles from any city of any size (we are 17,000 here and by far the largest in this part of the state, until you get to the Mississippi, and Hannibal is only slightly larger than we are).  I do a lot of my shopping on the internet (books, electronics, etc.), and I often don't even think of shopping locally for such things because I have been so often disappointed.  But I thought about it today, and I am glad.  I heard an interview with an author of a book about climbing Everest (Michael Kodas; the book is High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed) and I wanted to read it.  Instead of automatically going for Amazon, I thought I would check the local Hastings, and they had it on the shelf so I will go in and pick it up this afternoon.  A good experience like that will encourage me to think about them next time I need a book.

This got me to thinking about other things I can buy locally (not necessarily produced locally, but at least not mail-ordered).  Even in a small town, I can buy...

local produce:  the Farmers' Market is every Saturday on the square.  There are usually at least 8-10 merchants including at least one organic farmer, often the guy who raises organic chickens and beef, and several bakers.  The produce is seasonal (we are running late this year, and as of last week were still getting asparagus, and a bit of lettuce and the last of the strawberries -- soon it will be tons of lettuces and greens -- I bought beets and turnips (without the greens, which frustrated me -- I love turnip greens)) and fresh, for the most part -- there are also people who bring in tomatoes that are hydroponic, but you can easily tell that.  

eggs and dairy: Even in the grocery store you can get locally-produced, free-range and (if you want to pay more) organic eggs.  There is a Christian settlement nearby that pays for itself by producing organic milks and creams in glass bottles and their goat cheese is to die for.

I already dealt with new books above, but the library in town has a good selection of loan books and books on tape and CD (great for long trips).  Benefit -- they are free.  Except for the cost of the fines when you don't get it returned in time (ooops).  There is a pretty decent used bookstore in town, which is good for paperbacks, not for academic stuff.  The library and the university library both regularly hold book sales, too, so I can buy books there, if I want.  I am more likely to donate to them, frankly.

There is a small health-food store (eggs, milk, and lots of organic sauces, shampoos, etc.) and a small imported food store (get your digestives and papadums and woven Nepalese fair trade baskets here).

Also there are a lot of dollar stores, which are great for things like Pears Soap ($1/bar -- I stock up with ten bars when I wander in), and wrapping paper and blowing bubbles for summer parties.  I know that these have become the fashionable place to shop, according to the NYTimes, but there are some handy things there.

I avoid Walmart when I can (had to go this last week, as there is no other sewing store in town anymore), and buy locally when I can, and buy specifically from locally-owned stores when I can.  I couldn't do that today (there is no non-chain new bookstore in town), but I could get the book I wanted, and support the local store.  I was happy with that.  And I wanted to share.