Skipping The Supermarket

by Kyrstie on March 1, 2012

Skipping the Supermarkets, Shopping Centers & Chain Stores For One Month

Today this post is linked to Thankful Thursday at Kate Says Stuff because I am thankful for:

What am I doing ?

I am joining Tricia and her family from an urban family trying to have…Little eco footprints on their challenge to skip supermarkets, shopping malls and chain stores. Tricia is completing the challenge for 1 year! We will participate for a month to check how Local our lifestyle is.

I will post an update weekly on how we are progressing and what we have done to replace the products we would normally purchase at the supermarket.

Why?

When I started this blog I had an aim to reduce my trips to the supermarket. While I grow as much produce as I can in our garden, life is busy and I am guilty of taking shortcuts and choosing convenience at times. I could do, and want to do, more.

I like to put Cuddles in the stroller and get Punky’s scooter out and head to the local shops, with a visit to the park on the way home for a play.

I like the smile and greeting I receive from my butcher and the laughter that Punky draws as he scoots around the local fruit shop with his mini trolley loading it with fresh produce that takes his fancy.

I enjoy meeting and talking to local producers about their products. I like knowing who grew or made the things I eat. I like asking questions about growing techniques, processes and ingredients. I like that I can return to the person if I have more questions (I usually do..), feedback or a concern., or to tell them how much I love their product.

I was a qualified Aromatherapist some time back, specialising in skin care. I developed a range of skin care products that I have not made for an unknown time!??? I can’t remember the last time, or even where I have stashed the recipes… At one time it was my passion, it was what cooking is to me now.

Some days I need a reminder of these things.

We will:

1. Skip the supermarket. We will shop at smaller local suppliers instead or replace products where possible with home made. (This will be fun, I just hope not more expensive!)

2. Not shop at shopping centers (malls).

3. Not shop at any large chain stores. This means no Officeworks, Bunnings, Spotlight, Target, Myer etc.

How?

I will let you know! I will update our progress weekly with a series of tips and activities you can start to do to cut down, or skip, the supermarket. Join in! It will be fun. I want to ditch some of our lazy habits.

Home Grown Fresh Vegies

Areas of concern for me:

Time – I have re-commenced work this week. I imagine that this will place additional strain on my time. With equal amounts of apprehension, fear and relief that I have this challenge to keep me on track and true to my principles.

This challenge will be an interesting test for me to see if it’s success in our home depends on having me available to dedicate time to additional household duties and cooking of items that would otherwise be purchased at the store.

Products I rely on – these will challenge me as my current supplies are used up:

Money – will it be more expensive to shop at smaller retailers and suppliers than larger ones?

I am in awe of Trish and her family for taking on the challenge for one year! There are a number of other people who have taken up the challenge as well. You can check them out here.

How long could you go skipping the supermarket, shopping centers and chain stores? Do you want to join in as well? Read more at an urban family trying to have…Little eco footprints .

Visit Kate Says Stuff to see what others are Thankful for this Thursday and enjoy your day.

Tagged as:
Organising,
Skipping the Supermarket,
Thankful Thursday,
Vegetable garden

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Love that you are joining us Kyrstie. I have a sneaking suspicion you will enjoy skipping the supermarket so much that you’ll do it for longer than a month

Re your ‘areas of concern’… I’ve found skipping the supermarket actually saves me time. Now that my pantry is organised, and I’m in a meal planning routine, I spend very little time shopping. I do a bulk pantry dry-goods buy every three months (through a local co-op that buys from Honest to Goodness in Sydney), pop into the greengrocer once or twice a week, and the farmers markets on the weekend. It’s only an hour or so each week at most.

Regarding Pantry Staples – do you have a local Organic food store or co-op where you can buy in bulk?

For the nappies and Sanitary items – have you considered switching to reusables? I’m now using a Lunette cup and cloth pads. I love never having to worry about running out.

And yoghurt – does your local greengrocer or organic food store sell yoghurt? I get yoghurt from the farmers market or greengrocer and also make it myself when I have the time.

And re Money – we are definitely saving. The supermarkets have tricked us into thinking that they are the cheapest place to shop. Have you read Frugavore by Arabella Forge? She offers heaps of great tip on how to save money and still buy ethical and sustainable food.

Sorry my comment is so long. I love that you outlines your concerns.

Thanks Tricia, i am really enjoying investigating the options at the moment. So far so good, I am looking forward to sharing our adventures as we go and I think you my be right that we will probably continue as I am guessing that one month will not be too much of a stretch for us and I would like to give it a good go.
I will be over on your page soon with some questions