I AM by Tom Shadyac

I just finished watching I AM the documentary by Tom Shadyac and it's really got me thinking. I've often struggled with, and I believe Susan has to, with the idea of consumption and that buying something can make you feel better. We all know that doesn't work, at least not for long. Life has got to be about more than that.

Susan and I have joked, about how weird it is that two "non-shoppers" like ourselves have somehow developed a local shopping website. It really just started with us trying to bring local artisans together with local customers.

What we've learned in our journey so far, is that by shopping locally you are not only supporting your local community, which in and of itself is really important, but it is about so much more. It's about living a sustainable lifestyle and how important that is to our environment.

• Using less fossil fuels by not having stuff shipped from far away to recycling and upcycling, to creating products that don't have harmful chemicals and toxins in them can have a huge impact on keeping our planet alive and vibrant. 
• Buying goods that are created by people who are being paid a fair wage is the right thing to do. Often paying less than something it valued at means that someone else is paying that price for you. 
• Supporting your local community gives you a chance to connect with the people that nourish you and that have a passion for what they do.

After watching "I AM" I realize we didn't actually develop a local shopping website. What we've created, or at the very least, what we are trying to create, is a place where artisans, local businesses and customers can come together and work as a community, and this is going to sound a bit dramatic and holier than thou, to make the world a better place. Seriously!

100 mile finds is really about:

• making it easier to make shopping decisions with a conscience. 

• creating a community that supports one another. 

• making it easier to buy products that are respectful to the environment.

• to support fair trade both here and abroad.  
  
• bringing artisans, farmers a local businesses together to create stronger, more involved communities.

Both Susan and myself have been described as 'connectors' we're all about introducing people to one another. We, as many of you are, are concerned about the environment, we want to lead a life that is responsible and caring to others and we want to set a good example for our own children and for the children of the future.

I hope that approaching the 100 mile finds with these objectives more clearly defined brings great success to all of us in the 100 mile finds community.

All the best to you and yours in 2012.