Resolving to Go Local for a Year

It's a new year, which means it's time to make resolutions! You know, those vague promises you make to yourself for self-betterment that you will be avoiding within two months. Everyone makes them, but only a few people stick them out. I'm hoping this year to be one of the successful ones.

In my experience, the best resolutions are the ones that challenge and interest you. Planning on losing weight in 2011 is a vague, unfocused goal; planning to incorporate one vegetable into each meal in 2011 is a far more interesting concept that may hold your attention a bit longer.

And so my goal is this: to make a yearlong commitment to purchasing only local goods and services. I took on a similar challenge a few years ago called "Don't Buy New Stuff," sponsored by a friend's nonprofit as an attempt to raise awareness of what we consume and why. I lasted five of the six months before caving to buy a handcrafted glass telescope from a street vendor in Florida. So with that near-success under my belt, I'm ready to see what challenges lie ahead in buying local.

I know I'll be avoiding chain stores of all kinds, from groceries to clothing to entertainment options. On the surface that seems simple, but I've already anticipated tougher situations, like: What to do when friends invite me out? Where to find hard-to-responsibly-purchase items like bathroom supplies and gasoline? How am I going to afford this while only having part-time jobs? But I'm confident that I can surmount these difficulties (and the others that will surely arise as the year goes on) and hopefully lead a more responsible, sustainable life.

There should be a variety of advantages to making the switch to all things local. My food will be fresher and healthier, and I'll probably develop better cooking skills as a result. I will know that my money is going back to support my community and individual families, without being gobbled up by greedy companies with unseen agendas. Everything I own will have a good story behind it. And so I'll be sharing those stories with you, the jubilant thrift store finds and the frustrating quests to find local milk in January, when the farmers markets have closed up shop.  Each week I will document my new lifestyle and hopefully together we will gain a greater appreciation of the wonderful things all around us.

For now, feel free to offer suggestions in the comments of rules to abide by during my yearlong challenge, and wish me luck! Happy New Year.