Written by Homegrown
|
07 July 2009
Posted in
7) Summer Fun & Frolic
We got a great quote the other day about making buying choices:
"Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want." (Anna Lappe).
It’s a keeper, and not surprising since it was a contribution from Dan Milman, famed author of Way of the Peaceful Warrier, and more, and esteemed writer on mindfulness.
Help Making Your Buying Decisions…
It’s so true isn’t it? We are “casting a vote for the kind of world we want” each time we purchase something. Whether we make local buying choices; or whether we choose organic ones, or both; or those produced in an eco-friendly or Fair Trade fashion, we "cast a vote".
For a more in-depth view on the subject, we contemplated this very issue in a section called Talkin’ Turkey our Winter Guide (’09). We concluded that decisions are not always simple, nor obvious, but that each time we have a choice. Take note of the choices you are making these days and be sure they are representative of the “votes” you would like to cast.
Finding Your Local Treasure Chest
In order to buy your treasures locally, you have to find your treasure chest so-to-speak. There are many locally owned stores or ventures in a variety of locations around the city, some even working out of their homes.
We’ve assembled a list (below) of buying areas, which often assemble several locally owned stores or locally producing ventures in each location.
So cast your vote when you buy your treasures this summer, even when you decide where to go, what to do and where to eat. Then you’ll find the "X" that marks the spot for your true treasures, from local businesses that sell fun, summery, local, green, and/or fair trade “gems”.
X Marks the Spot: Where to Buy Your Local Treasures
1. Agricola/ North St & Creative Crossing area merchants including:
• Café Aroma Latino
• FRED Beauty Food Art
• Local Source Market (your source for local food & food products)
• Laura Chenoweth Fashions (Canadian design-wear sold by special showings)
• Nurtured (many local toys & natural parenting products like cloth diapers)
• Statements (household furnishings & accessories)
• and more…
2. Bishop’s Landing shops & restaurants incl:
• Bishop’s Cellar (sells locally-made wine such as Jost & more)
• Bish & Hammachi Steak House (high-end waterfront dinning)
• Pizza a Mano (casual pizza & Italian dinning)
• Turbine (locally designed & manufactured clothing & accessories)
• and more…
3. Dartmouth Waterfront:
• Casaroma Wellness Center (essential oils & wellness products & services)
• Dartmouth Market (opened Saturdays, some vendors open during week)
• Ducky’s on the Waterfront (casual waterfront dinning with patio)
• and more…
4. Halifax Waterfront incl:
• Cow’s Ice Cream (from PEI)
• Halifax Farmer’s Market (opened Saturdays)
• Keith’s Brewery (tours & products available)
• Sugah! (hand-paddled ice cream & confectioneries)
• Steve’s General Store (local & NS-made goods)
• Rum Runner’s (historical rum cakes)
5. Historic Properties & Harbourfront Market shops & restaurants incl:
• Aitken’s Pewter
• Carrefour Atlantic Emporium, and more…
• Harbourfront Market (multiple restautrant kiosks
6. Hydrostone Market shops and restaurants such as:
• Bogside Gallery (sells giftware & art from local artists & craftspeople)
• Epicurious Morsels
• Hen House.
• Julienne’s Bakery
• Topiarary (outdoor & gardening accessories)
• and more…
7. Pier 21 Area merchants:
• Guarrison Brewing (micro-brewery & taste house)
• The Java House (Fair Trade coffee roaster & cafe)
• Remember Pt Pleasant Park & the Waterfront are nearby!
8. Quinpool Road locally-owned shops such as:
• Aerobics First
• Bib & Tucker (baby accessories)
• The Trail Shop (outdoor living & adventure)
• Video Difference
• and more…and remember, the Commons Park is nearby!
9. Spring Garden Rd area merchants including:
• Aigle (new earth-friendly fashions)
• Bradshaw Pure Esthetics (uses 2 organic lines incl. Jurlique)
• Jennifer’s of Nova Scotia (sells giftware & art from local artists & craftspeople)
• Life Salon Spa (uses Aveda Products)
• Love, Me Boutique (local & Canadian-made giftware & accessories)
• Lulu Lemon (Canadian yoga & healthy lifestyle clothing & accessories)
• P’lover’s Environmental Store (earth-friendly before it was trendy)
• The Smiling Goat (organic & Fair Trade café)
• Woozles (children’s books & toys, many made of wood)
• and more… and remember, the Public Gardens are just around the corner!
10. One-off Locations:
Remember locals who sell things beyond locations above like:
- Laura Chenoweth Fashions (Canadian design-wear sold by special showings)
- The EAC: eco-undies, “Eating by the Seasons” cookbook or ticket for raffle of restored 1971 canoe (Get yours at the Jazz tent this summer or at their office on Fern Lane.)
- and others…
11. If you’re going to go to the mall:
Seek out locally-owned businesses, especially those that sell locally-made products such as:
• Pumpkin Village (Bedford/ Pete’s Fruitique Mall)
• Coconut Creek (Halifax Shopping Center)
• and more…
