Story by Milli Thornton. Photos Copyright © Milli Thornton. Feature image courtesy Chris Cole of Peaberry’s Café.
WHEN WE SAY travel, we tend to think of world travel—or at least going to another county or state. But most of us travel every day without giving it much thought. Sure, we might be more conscious these days of the cost of gas (and its impact on the environment), but how much do we know that our local travel can make a big impact in other ways?
Do you have a beaten path to Wal-Mart, Target, Starbucks, etc. that you could almost drive in your sleep? I’m not suggesting you never shop in those places, but adding some new travel habits to your routine could prove life-changing.
Thanks to online friend Judy Clement Wall of Zebra Sounds, I’m now a member of the 3/50 project: Saving the Brick and Mortars Our Nation Is Built On. Have a look at these numbers from their site:
3 – Which three independently-owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?Get behind the 3/50 project!
50 – If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally-owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the impact if 3/4 of our employed population did that.
Below are my picks for the 3/50 project. I already have fun spending at least $50 a month between them, so my extra push is to feature them online with a link to each business.
My 'serene' route for errands
Also, I take the scenic route through Mill Creek Park whenever I can. This keeps me calm and serene for driving and feels like I’m treating myself.
Brian tells me I’m saving gas because I’m driving slower (35 mph) and not doing the Stop-Go for traffic lights and stop signs. I get to share the road with walkers, joggers and bike riders instead of maniacs in SUVs.
4350 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield, Ohio 44406, Ph: (330) 702-9230
Having a local coffee hang-out is essential to my writer’s lifestyle, and Peaberry’s meets my stringent criteria. The coffee’s always perfect (I drink double-shot breves), the service friendly, and I can sit in one of the quiet back booths to write.
Peaberry’s also makes killer gourmet sandwiches. My favorite at the moment is the #9: Cucumber with Asiago Peppercorn, Red Onion and Muenster Cheese on Croissant (I ask for turkey to be added). Yum!
The Flaming Ice Cube: Vegan Shoppe & Café
1449 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite 260, Boardman, OH 44512, Ph: (330) 726-4766
I *love* this business! I’m not vegan so I’ve only eaten in the café once, but I do love to shop in the eco-friendly New Age half of the store. I have bought candles, aromatherapy, books, a water fountain, CDs and other treasures. I found an agate candle-holder-cum-bookend that was just what I needed for a shelf in my office.
Cool merchandise: The Flaming Ice Cube
Fittingly for the theme of this article, the sign in the picture reads:
Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
Health Food Center of Youngstown
(new Website coming soon)
6015 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512, Ph: (330) 965-1515
I buy a lot of herbs and supplements, and I’m fussy about the quality of what I consume. This shop not only feels inviting as you walk inside, they do stock many items I was buying online.
I’ve also bought organic bananas for my organic banana bread, neem toothpaste (Do you read your toothpaste label? Do you know what you’re putting on your gums?), herbal shampoo, almond milk for my protein powder and more.
Which three businesses will you (or do you) support in your local area?
Visit the 3/50 project for more inspiration!
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MILLI INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE 3/50 PROJECT ON WKBN:
[flv:https://milliverstravels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/WKBN-Youngstown-Ohio–3-50-Project.flv 480 368]
Story by Steve Pacer of WKBN, Youngstown, Ohio. Thanks, Steve!
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Milli Thornton (aka Milliver) is the author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers. She is owner of the Fear of Writing Online Course, where her mission is to put the fun back into writing. Milli blogs at the Fear of Writing Blog and coaches writers individually at Writer’s Muse Coaching Service.
Hey Milli,
I think this is a great project and an inspiring post about your own contribution to your local stores. Hopefully more folks join in.
When you said : “Do you read your toothpaste label? Do you know what you’re putting on your gums?”
It made me smile. My answer? I did, I do, and I only brush these days with baking soda. It does the job of cleaning and removing stains without the chemicals in conventional toothpaste. Better for the body, cheaper on the pocketbook.
Karen :0)
.-= karen from mentor´s last blog ..Cat’s Bare Bones Story =-.
Yay you! Your pictures are gorgeous. I want a park I can drive through each day. I have park envy. And I LOVE the sign at the Flaming Ice Cube! Think I’ll print out your picture and hang it above my desk! So, does your neem toothpaste taste good? I hate the taste of baking soda, and I’ve come to associate minty toothpaste/mouthwash taste to clean mouth. Am I doomed?
Great post, Milli! I’m so excited by everyone’s participation in the 3/50 project. Go Indie!
.-= judy´s last blog ..The Halo 3 of Gardens =-.
I love Brandenburg Book Sellers and Coffee & A Good Book. Both are obviously used book stores. Surprisingly, I can find some awesome books there on American Indian mythology and history, an exciting bonus for me!
The other stores I love are Darbs Antiques and Collectibles and Two Sisters Too Antique Mall (I think that’s the name. I’ve only been there twice, but hope to go back soon.) I’m trying to collect tea cups and saucers. I’m also looking for an egg stand to hold the pysanky egg a friend made for me.
And, to go along with the places you posted, Sweet Bay Coffee Company has the very best Chai Latte around! I rarely get anything else there and that’s where the Yetis (writing group) meet.
That’s more than three, I know, but these are the places that I love to frequent, even if I don’t get to visit them as often as I would like.
.-= Lois Eighmy´s last blog ..That Crazy To Do List =-.
I really must start looking into these little gems around Branson. I’m sure they’re here.
There is a coffee section inside the Books-A-Million here. I’ll have to check it out sometime.
I love the theme of this blog! You made an EXCELLENT choice! 🙂
Great thoughts. In our eagerness to visit the hot spots in other cities, we often forget about the gems in our own areas. I’ll have to give this some thought and decide which local businesses I need to be supporting more often!
.-= K.M. Weiland´s last blog ..Winning Wednesday: Mouse Pad =-.
What a challenge! I live in Houston and I’ve found some wonderful little spots but not as much as Austin. I frequently used locally owned and family owned establishments.
I’ll have to do it more often.
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Hello Milli! I am very “late” to be commenting on this post, but I just can’t help it. I love that you can drive through a park. 🙂
I love that sign in the Flaming Ice Cube. And who can’t love that name, the Flaming Ice Cube.
I had never heard of Neem before and last night I was watching Dr. Oz (hubby wasn’t home so I was able to watch a portion of it!). They were talking about 5 things we could do to help “protect” against cancer. Brush and flossing (FLOSSING) was one. The doctor on that was helping Dr. Oz reccommended NEEM something. Could have been mouthwash, but it was the herb – NEEM, that was the point–I missed exactly what it was because my hubby called right then. But I find it interesting that again I see that “neem” today. And I am so happy because I forgot about it.
Thanks.
Terre! How lovely to see you here. I don’t care that you’re “late”—in fact, I’ve been thinking of taking the dates off my posts because it seems so pointless to make a post on a relevant topic look outdated only a few days after it hits the Internet.
I’m glad my story could remind you of Neem. Watch out if you see it a third time—that could mean you’ve been tapped to try Neem for some reason. 😉
Thank you for the visit. Delighted! ~ Milli
I would think I should try it no matter what. The information I saw said it is really good for dental hygiene!