My Weekend Of Encouragement

I found some encouragement this weekend that I am not alone in my quest of being green(er).  It was quite welcoming at the time of year where you go into big box stores and look around and you just want to run and hide.  The more you learn about the way things are made, energy consumption, waste, and so-on, the more you look at the world differently.  Go into a big box store and look around - look how much product there is - cheap stuff from China.  Look up and see how much dead space there is being heated (or cooled) and lit. 

On Friday night, we decided to go to Wheaton, IL for dinner.  We knew that we weren’t in the mood for a chain restaurant.  Sometimes a chain is comforting because you know what you’re going to get.  So we remembered seeing a place that looked good last time we were in town.  On the way there, we passed a store called “It’s Our Earth.”  We passed it and went to dinner and figured we’d look in the window after and go back another time when it was open.  Dinner ended and we walked to the store.  Luckily for us, it’s the holidays - which means extended hours - even for this locally run business. 

It’s Our Earth  was a refreshing surprise.  We talked with the owners as we browsed.  They were very knowledgeable about every product in the store - and a big reason is that they either made it themselves from recycled materials or they facilitated having the product made.  Some example products include: juice box purses (which they collect from local schools), bags from candy wrappers, bags from coffee sacks, bags made from seatbelts - that were actually cut out of cars versus being made with new belts, earrings made from scrabble tiles and old typewriter keys, cloth napkins, lip balm, paper made from elephant dung, books, journals, and much, much more.  Lucky for you, they have a store online where they sell items directly or through their eBay store.  My wife and I didn’t buy much, but we’ll be back.  We purchased a Cherry Pit Heating Pad (made by the owner) and some natural lip balm.  We’d been thinking of buying or making a cherry pit pad, anyway.  It’s a great replacement to an electric blanket.  Just throw the sucker in the microwave for a minute and put it under the covers and it makes a nice little oven.

I’m not sure where exactly we heard of Heritage Prairie Market.  It was either through the paper or a website or wherever.  I’m not sure - I’m just happy I know now.  This place was fantastic and I wish there were more stores like it.  The only unfortunate part is that the store isn’t exactly close to my house.  Once we did hear of it about a month back, we wanted to go.  So finally the opportunity presented itself.  We had a clear Saturday and it was well worth the 30min drive just to know that the place exists.  Heritage Prairie Market is a small store off a country road in the far western suburbs - in a town called Elburn, IL. 

It was a pleasure to walk into a little store and feel so much at home and connect immediately.  One of the first items I saw was a kitchen composter - which I had to buy online and search for.  Then I saw local honey and candles made of pure honey.  They sold local products such as greeting cards and photos, homemade candles and ceramics.  There was winter produce like squash and some herbs.  I gravitated first to the fridge/freezer.  This is where I found eggs - in cartons that were labelled by hand.  I found real local organic beef and pork.  I found milk from a dairy in Wisconsin - it is pasteurized (heated to kill bacteria), yet not homogenized.  So the cream will rise to the top - real milk from cows that were raised in a responsible way.  There were several varieties of cheeses from both cow and goats milk. 

After shopping around for a while, it was time to checkout.  At the counter, much to our delight and dismay, was a small bowl full of Chico Bags.  We were shocked to see them at a store.  We bought ours online about a year or so ago, so they were surprised, too, when we pulled ours out to pack up our goods.  We bought a couple pounds of ground beef, a dozen eggs, butter (made from only cream and salt), various cheese sticks, a pint of cream, some homemade candles, and some chocolate turtles.  Then when we were about to leave, the kind cashier asked me for my coffee cup so that they could compost it.  How great is that?

It was a refreshing weekend in many respects.  Whenever you can go into one of these places and meet good people who have similar interests to you.  It’s just great - to feel like you’re not alone in this thing.  There are other people out there that care.  I wanted to give them my money.  I didn’t care that it costs more than the chain grocery store or something you’d buy at Target.  I’d gladly pay more to get real food - food that you know isn’t filled with pesticides and hormones - the real cost.  I’d gladly pay for goods that are recycled or are locally made - and I think you should, too.