“I observed an interesting conversation on Facebook over the weekend that had to do with shop small versus shop local and thought it might be an interesting article,” Nicole Flora of the Lake County Economic Development Corporation and Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce begins. I feel her calm presence felt even over the phone, and I’m already intrigued as Nicole has a wealth of knowledge about the relationship between small businesses, the local economy, and their interdependence.
She continues, “In short, some people think that shopping small–more commonly referred to as locally-owned small businesses–is the only way to support local, when in fact, many of our chain stores are locally owned as well, like Foods Etc. in Clearlake. And look how they support our community over and over again. Other than paying their annual franchise fee, the money they earn stays in our community. Even by shopping at Walmart, you are at the very least supporting a chain that employs a large number of our residents,” she concludes. I appreciate how unfettered and calm she remains when she talks about what truly matters to her.
“I’ll see if I can plug it in somewhere in my articles,” I reassure her before ending our phone conversation, which of course got me thinking even more.
In short, I don’t have a list of all locally owned chain stores in Lake County. But what my conversation did encourage me to remember this holiday season is that, no matter where you spend your money in Lake County, you are making a difference in our local community, even if, at the very least, you are supporting a neighbor’s employment. So, in advance, thank you for every dollar you spend right here at home, no matter what store or business you patronize.
One of my favorite things about living in rural California is how easy it is to grow your own garden, whether it’s in a collection of pots or a fenced-in garden. Growing food, collecting your own eggs, or the joy of indoor plants can be among the most rewarding parts of living in the country. So I thought we’d kick things off with something a little different this year, and it’s all about shopping for that gardener in your life!
Whether you prefer planting in pots or might be thinking of building something more permanent, such as a greenhouse, raised flower bed, or fencing structure, you will find all you need at Mendo Mill, conveniently located in the heart of Lakeport and Clearlake. And let’s not forget about our local favorite, where you can find everything from clothes to plumbing: Kelseyville Lumber.
And for our neighbors who are hard-core Ag, a gift card to Tractor Supply in Clearlake or Lakeport just might be the most thoughtful present yet. And let’s not forget about our friends and neighbors who are pet owners and or handle livestock who probably already buy their feed from Rainbow Ag in Kelseyville and Middletown. But if you truly want to support small, consider visiting Chesty’s Family Pets in Lakeport or The Pet Center in Clearlake.
And if we are talking plants, you can’t go wrong with Flowers by Jackie in Lakeport or Star Gardens Nursery in Middletown.
Or perhaps you or someone on your Christmas list might be a little bit like me and love the idea of gardening, but are not always happy with the results because we weren’t born with a green thumb. Not to worry, there is hope! Shannon Family of Wines has the cure: they sell Captain Clay’s Super Juice. Yep, you read that right. It is a sustainable soil amendment product made by transforming winery waste into a natural fertilizer. You can buy it at the Shannon Family of Wines Mercantile. Here is the video I found about it, and if you need more information, contact Shannon Family of Wines.
And for that thoughtful, handmade gift straight from the farm and minus all the work from you, consider supporting Peace and Plenty Farm this holiday season.
That’s all for this week, but I promise, there is more to come in the following weeks! I recommend looking at the continuously updated list for Lake EDC’s second annual Eat, Drink, Shop Local Campaign. It’s an excellent resource for businesses to be seen and promote their special deals and discounts. And the really great thing is that the list is constantly being updated, so check regularly here.
