Spend money locally this week
Plus, three recipes that showcase the absolute bounty of summer produce.
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Tuesday marks Prime Day, Amazon’s annual mega sale. But this week, when you’re adding stuff to your carts, I challenge you to put a few things back on the virtual shelves and go spend that money in your neighborhood instead.
I’ve been a long time advocate of shopping locally, and I stopped buying from Amazon at the very start of 2020. Most weekends I grab a few reusable bags and take a big walking lap around Park Slope, Brooklyn, stoping at the Farmers’ Market, specialty food stores, and other small shops for everyday essentials. It’s a part of my weekend ritual that I always look forward to.
These walks helped me get to know the neighborhood when I moved here four years ago, combining the thrill of finding your new favorite store with much needed errands. Now, they make me feel invested in the community I’ve chosen to live, using my spending power to help shape the neighborhood.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. They provide jobs and stimulate the local economy, and they add charm and give our neighborhoods their unique personalities. But these last few years have not been kind to small businesses, and they’re struggling to compete. It seems like every week, a much loved business closes its doors due to their building being sold or skyrocketing rents.
It sometimes feels impossible to avoid big retail giants, but this week, think about where you’re spending your money. If you were looking to Amazon to buy holiday gifts, seek out a quirky gift shop in town instead. Or, if you normally make a big grocery store run on the weekend, look for your local farm stand or farmers’ market to buy some of your produce there. Amazon will be just fine without your cash, but shifting where you spend your money, even once a week, can have a big impact.
This week, I have three salad recipes that showcase the absolute bounty of summer produce — plus I was able to purchase most of the ingredients in my neighborhood. You should be able to find all of the vegetables and herbs at a farmers’ market, and the cheese and olives can be procured at a cheese shop or small Italian market. The remaining pantry staples, you likely have on hand.
