October – Made in the East Bay
September 11, 2009
Berkeley Natural Grocery
October is Made in the East Bay Month! This month’s email gives you the scoop on the fashion, furniture, food, sports equipment, scooters, bikes, websites and more items that are made right here in the East Bay. Not only can you shop at locally-owned businesses, you can buy items made here!
Then… make your journal entries by clicking here or on the word Comments below, and let us know what you did to support local artists this year…. and get a chance to win gift certificates from local businesses and artists!
Indie Rev Contest Eligibilty:
Note that in order for you to be eligible to win the $5800 in gift certificates, you’ll need to
1) make your comments below using the email address you’ve signed up on the Indie Revolution list. ( Note, you can put “Anonymous” or any name you want in the name field, if you don’t want your name publicized). and 2) Send in your hard copy booklets from January – April to Indie Revolution / East Bay Express / 620 3rd. St / Oakland, CA 94607
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Food is where we focus our finances for the locally-made category. Otherwise, this is a tough one for us; many of the other items we’ve recently bought aren’t available in a locally-made variety (e.g., games for our newly-received Wii console–though we are buying used where we can!). So we’ve been buying California- & regionally-produced food as much as we can–fresh and not quite fresh–and getting as much of it from our El Cerrito farmers’ market as we’re able. I’d say at least 75% of our food is from California, at least 35% within a radius of 80 miles, and at least 15% within a distance farmers’ market concessionaires are willing to travel. I know some of the food from the market is from the East Bay, as are my Clif Nectar bars (or their office is, at least; the bars are made in a town next to Los Angeles), and much of our raw food and sweets.
We’ve also participated in bartering with a local artist for her work.
Perhaps making things ourselves falls under this category? We’re not selling, so there’s no *external* economy stimulus, but we do make our own deodorant, face lotion, salsa, pasta sauce, bread, nut butter, laundry detergent, etc.
While we always check to see whether we can get a USA- or California-made variety of an item, we’ll have to be more vigilant in the future to see whether we can buy more locally crafted items.
Shopped and ate at Oakland Farmers Market
My family and I have supported local musicians and
purchased items (such as T shirts, jewelry and art) from
The Temescal And Jack London Farmers Markets
Temescal Street fair
Pro Arts tour
East bay Depot
Last month I visited Berkeley Bowl West for the first time because of your website. I like the spaciousness, the ample parking, the atmosphere, and the prices! This store has the best prices on organic produce and grain fed poultry I have found anywhere.
Thank you for bringing it to my attention!
“What will you personally do in September to support the local food movement?”
*Shop at El Cerrito Plaza Farmer’s Market
*Buy local/California-grown produce as much as possible
*Make my own food!
*Eat more fresh foods
*Eat at a restaurant that sources seasonal and local food
*Eat food from my garden
*Get meat for pets’ raw food diet from a local butcher
*Eat wild blackberries at the Albany Bulb
*Help friends eat food from their garden!