a month without supermarket - new challenge for 2011 starts at post 1013

rach

i'm sure lots of you have heard this already, but i got thinking about it when i was thinking about this challenge....
The Starfish Story

adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley
1907 - 1977
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

This story has appeared all over the web in various forms, usually with no credit given to Mr. Eiseley. Sometimes it is a little girl throwing the starfish into the ocean, sometimes a young man, once even an elderly Indian. In any form it is a beautiful story and one that makes you think.

Loren Eiseley was a anthropologist who wrote extensively. He was the 'wise man' in the story, and he was walking along a beach after a storm and encountered the fellow throwing the starfish back. I have not had a chance to read the original book yet myself but will post more background info here after I do.

charlies_mum

Went to a local DIY store yesterday, and right next door was a farm shop - I must have been past it loads of times, but never noticed it before. I'm going to go this week and find out what they have got.

sandieb

Every little purchase from a local trader helps.

JAMIEDODGER

This is a great thread! I have just read it start to finish:) well done CTC:D

I have a limited budget to work with as paying off the debts, however it does seem that you guys are actually saving money doing it like this!!!

I will be giving this a try. I have to get some pet food this week so will be checking out a place up the road which sells pet food/chickens (live ones!), and numerous things like straw and most pet supplies to see what there prices are like and to compare them with tescos.

mophead

Hi there, brilliant thread!! I've only just stumbled across it not got time to read it all only just got to page 6. This is something i feel quite stronglt about and i also shop locally i now find it much easier and less stressful. It does take time to get your head round it like CTC it breaking the habit and the brainwashing, once you have sourced your local shops which takes time it quite libertaing.

another site to chack out if you feel strongly enough.
http://www.localworks.org/

hazzie123

sandieb wrote:

Every little purchase from a local trader helps.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh just re-read that.lol.:rotfl:

Bargain_Rzl

sandieb wrote:

Every little purchase from a local trader helps.

I think it's important to be selective, though! There's no point shopping in a local shop that's rubbish, just cos it's a local shop - that just perpetuates the rubbishness!

Case in point. I have a corner shop 10 seconds walk away which is dingy, overpriced, and sells hardly anything. The only things I ever buy there are my Saturday newspaper and the occasional can of fizzy drink/bar of chocolate. And yet the place has a "Save our Small Shops Campaign" sticker in the window! Now I'm sorry, but I live in a part of the world where there are loads of small shops, and they ARE in competition with each other, and I'm not going to support a shop that doesn't deserve saving.

The most decent small shop on my street is a bakery. That's worth saving.

competitionscafe

Bargain_Rzl wrote:

I have a corner shop 10 seconds walk away which is dingy, overpriced, and sells hardly anything. The only things I ever buy there are my Saturday newspaper and the occasional can of fizzy drink/bar of chocolate.

I have one of those too (without the sticker), often wonder how they survive!?

But I also have several really good small local shops too - obviously they are the ones who get my support, even if they are a few minutes further to walk..

sandieb

Every little purchase from a quality friendly local trader helps

the_optimist

Every little money NOT spent at Tesco's helps