Follow up to last weeks topic

Over the last week several people have asked how much impact can a small purchased item from a local source truly have on a local economy? I will give you a couple of examples.

1) Portable miller - to mill a log(s)things that are needed from the local economy - gas, blades, files or filing equipment, tools, oil, welding supplies, safety equipment, advertising, depending on location vehicle (gas, maintenance), depending on type of saw will need a tractor, bobcat or loader or a labour force, first aid - training and supplies, clothing and work gear, equipment to haul logs or trucking firm to work with you, food and beverage supplies, side lumber and sawdust - how do you utilize this material so it is not wasted, mechanical requirements for your equipment, custom sawing, planning, re saw work - do you do it yourself or hire the work out?

2) Buying and selling local produce versus buying imported vegetables and fruit -has an effect on labour, equipment(from tractors to pruning shears), maintenance and repair, fuel, tools, feed if you're using animals, bags or boxes and buckets to carry items in, storage, energy and water. Are you on or off the grid? If you are off the grid, where did you purchase your supplies from? Do you run a road side booth or table at a market - things to think about tables, coolers, cash boxes, packaging, advertising supplies, awnings or tents or lumber for building material plus building supplies for home made booth or boxes, fertilizers - are they organic or chemical based, fencing, posts and vegetable sticks, ties. Do you run a green house? Is it plastic or glass? How is it heated - thermal, wood, electric or gas?

They say that for every item we purchase or sell we come in contact with 300 people directly or indirectly. Take for instance going to the market or store. What and who do we come in contact with? What do we purchase and how is our money re-spent? Is your money reintroduced into the local economy through restaurants, stores (food and clothing), for insurance, gas, oil, health care, home maintenance, home purchases, mortgages, rents, travel, taxes - to pay for military, roads, health care, government run programs, schools...?

Endless opportunities exist when buying decisions are carefully thought through. Not only for job creation but market potential. For every item listed above it makes us think about where the items are manufactured - locally, state, provincially or country wide? How and what is the item made from? Where is it from? How many people were involved in the manufacturing process? How many nuts and bolts were manufactured locally? What type of metal, compound, material is in the product? How is that milled or manufactured? Where are the machines from? Who made them and how? How many local people were involved?

For local woodland and woodlot owners potential is only limited to creativity. Income sources can come from logs, lumber and wood bi products, recreational activities, camping, birding, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, horse back riding, ATV adventures, produce, floral, health care, herbs, meat and game products, educational adventures, B and B's, home care items....

Remember - take a tree not a forest!