Buy Local: Shop Often: Get to know the Artists, Farmers and Exhibitors

Do you want to be a part of an effective economic change?  If so, buy local.  Shop from small merchants, farmers, artists/crafters, and markets....and in the nation's capitol there is no better "first stop and shop" than the open air markets on Saturday and Sunday at Eastern Market.  These markets were started by local folk John Harrod (The Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturdays) and Tom Rall (The Flea Market at Eastern Market on Sundays)  for local folk, the Capitol Hill Community, who have been loyal supporters for three decades.

Manatho Masani: upclycling sculpture, surrounded by some of his many adoring fans

There is nothing more satisfying that sitting down to a home cooked meal made from locally grown produce. Any holiday celebration or regular meal is richer, tastier, and healthier when it's locally grown.

        Mr. "Bunk" Knopp of Knopp Farm and Green houses. His family has been farming since 1889


“Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still be part of a garden community and share in what is garden grown by buying your produce from farmers’ markets.” Michelle Obama in AMERICAN GROWN


                                http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/AmericanGrown?fref=ts



Another of the many  special aspects of the outdoor weekend markets are the wide variety of products on offer.

BAMI Products

One can find handmade soaps, jewelry, paintings, objets d'art, clothes, "fair trade" international imports like grass woven bags from Madagascar, and much more.

Aurora Bath jewels

Turtle's Webb

                                                                        Leah Sturgis

Andrea Haffner

Jeana Michelle: Range of Emotion

Sola Ope: Scarvalous

Quest Skinner

Dan Kessler

Tsolmon Damba

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-First-Lady-at-the-Ribbon-Cutting-Ceremony-at-the-Metropolitan-Museum-of-Art-American-Wing/ 

Thomas Bucci

Red Persimmon Imports

Steve Miller : photograpghy

Blue Ridge Cutting Boards

                                                            Paul Bierman: BoxBoy

 

Erica Rubel: letter and key holders

Wow, there is so much to see at the market someone should...write about it. And someone has--so try a little research!  Find out what to look for before you shop.  There is so much here to see, hear, smell, and taste (though please don't touch or take pictures without asking).  An informed consumer is a wise one. Plus, the merchants/farmers/artists loves it when one tells them -'I have read about you or wow I saw a piece of yours on a friend/colleague or at so and so's house or ..."  And after this conversational ice breaker these hard working merchants/artists/farmers will tend to me more talkative and informative about there wears.

However, that is not all:  one of the creators of this market, Tom Rall, in partnership, has grown the Market to include a wonderful once a year event- The DownTown Holiday Market

Many of the merchants and artists/crafters at Eastern Market helped found this must-see, must-shop holiday treat.

The DownTown Holiday Market: 2011

Still not sure?  Really, why should we shop local?  The site Sustainable Connections puts it best.

http://sustainableconnections.org/thinklocal/why

Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local

1.Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.

2.Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.

3.Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust

4.Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

5.Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally...
6.Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.

7.Invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

8.Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

9.Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

10.Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
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Witnessing,

Sonda T. Allen
Turtle's Webb