Welcome to a bold new experiment. For the next 90 days, I will be borrowing a chapter from Morgan Spurlock and his 30 days concept (if you haven’t seen Super Size Me, you really should). In Spurlock’s experiment, he chose to eat only McDonalds for a month straight, every meal. Somerville Local First is all about spending our money locally. So, for the next three months, I will try to do 100% of my spending at locally owned, independent businesses.
Before we get started, let me say that I am not perfect. I am not 100% sustainable in my lifestyle, nor will I be at the conclusion of this experiment. I don’t expect to be able to spend all of my money in Somerville or at locally owned businesses for that matter. But this is all about being on a path: I may not be there today, but I’d like to be, I’m trying to be, and I’d like you to join me.
The intent behind this project is to learn about what a typical 20-Something (soon to be 30-Something, but that’s another story all together) can do to go local. I basically have two full time jobs and I work almost every day. I mention this, not to boast , but because one of the main reasons I hear people don’t shop locally is because they don’t have the time. Well, if I can find time to do it working 80 hours per week, you probably can as well.
Also, I’ve heard a lot about shopping locally being more expensive. Well, during this experiment I’ll attempt to track my spending and compare it (when possible) to alternative non-local businesses. At the end of the three months, I should have a good sense of any true financial difference.
Finally, I have established some rules for the experiment. These rules are meant to guide me, and to inform you, of how I’m going about my choices. Here they are:
Rule #1: If I spend money it must be at a locally-owned business, if at all possible.
Rule #2: I will favor products that are made locally. In other words, if I can get a beer brewed in Massachusetts, I should do so over a beer brewed outside the state. If I can find a beer brewed in Eastern Massachusetts, I should do so over a beer brewed in Western Massachusetts.
Rule #3: I will attempt to spend my money at Somerville businesses first, whenever possible.
I hope you will find this experiment interesting, engaging and thought provoking. Most importantly, I hope you’ll consider how you could make these same everyday choices and help us build a truly vibrant local economy and sustainable community.
Locally Yours,
Joe G.
