Country Girl – No McDonalds and Shopping Locally
Since I have lived in this part of England I have not visited a McDonalds, shopped in a big Supermarket giant or had a Starbucks, Costa or Coffee Republic frappe. “Oh my god!” screamed my friend recently when I announced this fact, “that’s amazing.” And well, I suppose it is really. You see, before we sold up in the city and embarked on our new life – gosh 20 months ago now – we would often be tempted by these city living perks: pancakes and syrup on a Saturday morning, a weekly ‘one shop’ for everything – from clothes and food to light-bulbs and computers, and regular trips to browse around large shiny shopping centres. Everything we desired was at our fingertips and although we did think about the ideals of buying locally and supporting local business, it just seemed too easy not to. OK so we went to the odd farmer’s market, but the lure of getting everything we could possibly need in one place after a busy day, was too tempting to desert entirely.
But over time we started to question our feelings towards convenience and commercialism more frequently, and that’s when we made the eventual decision to sell up, opt out for a while and find out what was really important to us regarding our lifestyle. What we found – most poignantly during our time living in a small Spanish community – was that we really liked not having convenience at our fingertips and that having to make things ourselves and buy locally, which although sometimes more expensive made us consider with much more depth ‘do we really need this?’ was something we wanted a bit more of. We didn’t however think it was a way of life that could be found in our own country and coming back to the UK in search of that seemed like a ridiculous dream. However, I have to say that in the three months we have been back, I’m starting to believe that it is possible and I’m hopeful that here, we have found the right balance. You see, I do want to grow my own food and buy my potatoes from local farmers, but I also want some access to convenient services like a pizza place and a pub (no chains though!) Where I live now is a town where the independent owner of a coffee-shop talks to you about how he started up his business, where you buy your fruit and veg at the Green Grocer or at the side of the road, leaving your money in an ‘honesty box’ and where pancakes are made at home. I believe there is a McDonalds 40 minutes away, but I can rustle up something better in under 20 now. There are of course no hard and fast rules, and I’m still learning every day about the amount I want of this and that. But what I do know is that I’m thoroughly enjoying feeling as if I am not just lining the pockets of the fat cats.
Just this evening I made dinner with Pak Choi grown in my very own garden and it felt flippin marvelous! Earlier on we picked our pumpkins from a local farm and had a five-minute conversation with the farmer as he hung out of his tractor telling us how well he’d done this year. I even officially turned into my mother today when I purchased a pull-along shopping trolley so that I can walk into town and do my shopping without the car. And when a petition against the possibility of a large supermarket being built in my town was mentioned – EEK! – I thought to myself that I would sign it! I’m no crusader, but I do think that if we could all do a few little bits we might all benefit from a stronger sense of community. It’s not something I really experienced greatly in my old life, but it’s something I am really enjoying now.
Would love to know what kind of community you live in and what your thoughts/feelings are on shopping locally and moving away a little from mainstream convenience … feel free to start a discussion in my very welcoming comment box section below :-)
Alice Griffin is a writer and traveller who lives on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, England. Although she accepts the fact that she will most certainly always have itchy feet - she's surprised to find that she may also be falling for a place that could be her permanent base. You can catch up with Alice’s day-to-day life on her personal blog ~ Fanciful Alice ~
But over time we started to question our feelings towards convenience and commercialism more frequently, and that’s when we made the eventual decision to sell up, opt out for a while and find out what was really important to us regarding our lifestyle. What we found – most poignantly during our time living in a small Spanish community – was that we really liked not having convenience at our fingertips and that having to make things ourselves and buy locally, which although sometimes more expensive made us consider with much more depth ‘do we really need this?’ was something we wanted a bit more of. We didn’t however think it was a way of life that could be found in our own country and coming back to the UK in search of that seemed like a ridiculous dream. However, I have to say that in the three months we have been back, I’m starting to believe that it is possible and I’m hopeful that here, we have found the right balance. You see, I do want to grow my own food and buy my potatoes from local farmers, but I also want some access to convenient services like a pizza place and a pub (no chains though!) Where I live now is a town where the independent owner of a coffee-shop talks to you about how he started up his business, where you buy your fruit and veg at the Green Grocer or at the side of the road, leaving your money in an ‘honesty box’ and where pancakes are made at home. I believe there is a McDonalds 40 minutes away, but I can rustle up something better in under 20 now. There are of course no hard and fast rules, and I’m still learning every day about the amount I want of this and that. But what I do know is that I’m thoroughly enjoying feeling as if I am not just lining the pockets of the fat cats.
Just this evening I made dinner with Pak Choi grown in my very own garden and it felt flippin marvelous! Earlier on we picked our pumpkins from a local farm and had a five-minute conversation with the farmer as he hung out of his tractor telling us how well he’d done this year. I even officially turned into my mother today when I purchased a pull-along shopping trolley so that I can walk into town and do my shopping without the car. And when a petition against the possibility of a large supermarket being built in my town was mentioned – EEK! – I thought to myself that I would sign it! I’m no crusader, but I do think that if we could all do a few little bits we might all benefit from a stronger sense of community. It’s not something I really experienced greatly in my old life, but it’s something I am really enjoying now.
Would love to know what kind of community you live in and what your thoughts/feelings are on shopping locally and moving away a little from mainstream convenience … feel free to start a discussion in my very welcoming comment box section below :-)
Alice Griffin is a writer and traveller who lives on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, England. Although she accepts the fact that she will most certainly always have itchy feet - she's surprised to find that she may also be falling for a place that could be her permanent base. You can catch up with Alice’s day-to-day life on her personal blog ~ Fanciful Alice ~
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Comment by Alice Griffin on November 10, 2009 at 6:27am - Roz ... thank you :-) I am glad you like to stop by and enjoy my posts enough to say hello! The Pak Choi was delicious - we had another one in a pasta bake last night! I think I am still finding my way in striking that balance with what is important in life. Sometimes it is tricky, but you know - we're getting there. Thanks again for stopping by Roz and hope you and your family are well x
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Comment by ECHOage on November 9, 2009 at 7:25am -
Hi ALice,
I always love your posts, think you are bringing forth all the right questions about what's important in life.
Happy Pak Choi eating - it looks beautiful. Well done!
Roz
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Comment by Alice Griffin on November 7, 2009 at 1:18am
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Hi Lynda and welcome to my little Twittermoms space! it sounds amazing what you are doing - you must be so dedicated. I think that's the hardest thing, finding the time to do all these things. When we live busy lives, convenience is the easy option - but like you say, if we all try one step at a time we are collectively making changes. I also think the kitchen is the heart of the home and there is nothing better than the whole family getting involved with making. In ours the radio is always on and even Isabella enjoys peeling the onions, helping me chop etc etc.
Ahhhh Scotland - I've been once, but we would like to do a camping tour of the islands ... maybe in the summer!!!!! Thank you for stopping by and sharing a comment :-)
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Comment by Lynda Tatrai on November 6, 2009 at 2:24pm - I live in Sonoma county,Calif. right by Napa. and all the fantastic wineries. We are all about living in a sustainable way-living off the land,buying only local produce and preferably grow your own. Emeril Lagasse just did a feature on this very subject in our area called Emeril Green. I have 4 kids plus their friends.myself and my husband hanging out in my kitchen quite often so it is hard not to go for that quick fix, frozen lasagne or buy the pizza from the cheap corner shop.I think though if we all try one step at a time we can all be more self efficient. It sounds lovely where you live, I dream of living in the country. My family is from Scotland and England, oh how beautiful it is there! Enjoy and it's nice to meet you!
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Comment by Alice Griffin on November 5, 2009 at 5:59am
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Hi Charity and thanks for stopping by and sharing! I have to say that I am happy to hear you have raised your own animals for meat. We are a vegetarian family, but I believe wholeheartedly that if you do eat meat, you should recognise and appreciate where it comes from (it's not a faceless bit of flesh wrapped in cellophane). Sadly I think many people ignore the reality and as such children grow up not understanding - I think it is far healthier and a much more real to nurture your own animals for food and truly respect the process.
As for your vegetables - at least you gave it a go! I'm yet to see really how I can get on - although the pak choi has been a success so finger's crossed.
Lovely to receive your comment :-)
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Comment by Charity L. Maness on November 4, 2009 at 7:32pm -
As an author of a humor column titled "Welcome to the Country" I am completely aware of the limited descisons we have living in the "country" yet am more than willing to give up the mass mall shopping for the buzz of bees pollinating and the peace of nature. While I find it hard to grow anything in my iron ore soil I have in the past raised all my own meat, the range fed way. We raised one heifer per year, two hogs and many chickens. These were all allowed to roam many acres and eat at will. I feel my children are much healthier for it.
Back to my agricultural experience..my carrots grew to about 1 1/2 inches, my tomatoes looked like little red grapes and my lettuce resembled an odd form of crab grass, so for produce I shop locally, absolutely!
...country living is not for those that want to be coddled...lol
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Comment by Alice Griffin on November 4, 2009 at 5:46am
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Hi Lea, thank you for your comment! Yes, I think it is all about balance ... you know, the world is expanding and there are many great things about cities/big stores etc. But I think it's good to also try and invest a little in the local area, or opt for bigger stores/companies who have good beliefs :-) you know, we're all just trying to do our bit at the end of the day!
I just looked up bok choy - it looks the same! I hadn't heard of that name before.
Hope you are well x
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Comment by Lea Curtes-Swenson on November 3, 2009 at 12:18pm - Alice, I love that you're finding your balance -- it's something I strive for in my own purchase decisions (local vs. convenience). I'm not winning any awards for lowest grocery bills, but I am making decisions for my family based on health and eco-consciousness (buying local) more often than not. Congrats on the pak choi! (Is that the same as bok choy?)
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Comment by Alice Griffin on November 3, 2009 at 10:19am
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Hi Mariangela,
Ahhh Sardinia - lovely. Just imagining all the colourful fresh vegetables there :-)
I think it is nice to support the smaller people. Like you my focus now is on fresh vegetables, eggs etc from locals (and hopefully increasingly from my own patch next year!) and then additional tins etc from a supermarket. We only have a small supermarket here and quite an ethical one at that, so I'm keen to support it. I don't think we can always avoid chains - and you know, they're not all bad! but I do think it is great to support the smaller community on a regular if at all possible.
Thanks - I made Pak Choi gratin and it was DELCIOUS!
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experiences :-)
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Comment by Mariangela Garau on November 3, 2009 at 2:55am
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Hi Alice,
I have never been a fan of big chains, I avoided McDonalds and pizza chains even when I lived in London, but I must admit I enjoyed my coffee in Costa or Cafe' Nero and I also used to do my groceries shopping at tesco's online...although I am proud to say I shopped for greens at local grocers. I would stock up with free range meet at the farmers market in Palmers Green on Sundays and get my fish at the fishmongers. I agree with you that is so much nicer and a completely different approach to buy your vegetables and more directly from the source from an ethical point of view and a healthy one too. Since we've been living in Sardinia (6 years already!) I have enjoyed buying my fruit and vegetable directly from the farmers stalls at the local market and if I get up early enough I can even get first choice of the catch of the day down by the port when the fishing boats come in. I still shop at supermarkets for non food items, but try to avoid large chains.
Great Pak Choi by the way, it looks delicious!
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