Putting your money where your mouth is

Next on my list of changes was mentioned in a comment about banking. I have been with TD Canada since they were Canada Trust (20+ years) and had not even considered how my banking could effect my Locavore identity. But it really does matter where you put your money and the more I looked into the banking industry the more I realized how important it was to align your money with your values. Centralized banking institutions fund major industries that are environmentally harmful such as coal, nuclear, and logging which means your money could be going towards supporting them too. (There is a reason why bond villains and the bad guys on Despicable me are bankers.)  Keeping your money local via a Credit Union,  supports your local community and keeps your money where you are. I chose to switch to Integris which supports things like the SGU Dome Green House and students success in the north. The switch was easy once I knew how important it was and when I went in to the bank they were so friendly and welcoming, unlike any bank I have ever dealt with. Integris didn't even mind my mounting pile of student debt and embarrassingly large credit card balance. 

I still have a cell phone through Koodo, which is a subsidiary of Telus who is head quartered in Alberta....can I do better? Or should I even have a phone? 

Can you think of anything else I can switch to a more local option?


Have a lovely week,

Melanie

"Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments." Bethenny Frankel

1 month down, 11 to go!

Handmade Earrings from Clever Twist 

Our first month as locavores is complete and I can safely say it went great! So much love and support was sent our way that the transition was seamless. September was a great month to be a living local in Prince George with harvest time, fun events and farmers market goodness. Already our story has been shared on the internet, radio and on t.v much to my shock and amazement. People ask if I am missing out on anything but I feel as if I am in fact gaining a better appreciation of how wonderful eating local really is. Only confession I have is that last week I had a dream I went shopping at the mall and then realized I couldn't buy any of it so had to return everything... what a nightmare! In real life I get my retail therapy shopping at the farmers market like these gems I found at the University Farmers Market last Tuesday.

Looking forward, I still have some old non-perishables in the fridge from eons ago but am now starting to think about what to do when they run out. I wish I would have canned and froze more produce for the winter, but I am confident we can survive (and thrive). Over the summer we had a pickling party with friends and made home made dills and bread and butter pickles. Last week we got some mushrooms from the market and cooked and froze them. My roommate brought some beautiful apples up from her families house on Salt Spring Island (and goat cheese yum!) that we have been eating everyday and made some delicious apple sauce for canning. I also froze the 10 lbs of peaches I bought at Home Sweet Home for peachy goodness in the winter time. My roommates call me a squirrel because I have stashes of food everywhere but again one of the little tricks that will make living locally easier outside of the harvest months with just a little planning and foresight.

We were so inspired today by David Suzuki, J.B Mackinnon (author of 100 Mile Diet) and Utcha Sawayers (Food Share) during a virtual classroom on Hungry for Change as part of the Blue Dot Tour. (If you haven't already got your tickets the Blue Dot Tour is in PG Nov 1st) Talking about food security and the importance of organic, local food with students from across the country was so reaffirming that what we are doing is valid and important to share. Together we watched the film Island Green about organic farming in PEI, can you imagine an entire province going organic?

In good food,

Melanie

"For me the most important thing is to think of the Earth as our mother, not the motherlode." -David Suzuki