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Life on the Farm

‘Tis the season to fret about Christmas gift buying. Will Amazon or Lululemon cut through the supply chain logjam in time? Stressful, isn’t it?

 I’ve got the solution you need to take the stress out of online shopping. Shop local, buy local. You’ll be surprised to find that it’s easy to do and those people on the receiving end will marvel at your creativity and thoughtfulness.

If you aren’t a long-time resident, you might not be aware of what awaits you in our small towns.

Start by visiting one of the many farm and feed stores dotting our landscape. A bag of birdseed, a salt block for their animals, a pair of work gloves, a chew toy for their dog. If you have never strolled around a farm and feed store, you’re in for a treat.

Visit The Hay Rack in Landrum or Farmer’s Friend in Rutherfordton, to name only two. Sidle up to Don Williams, the owner and constant presence at The Hay Rack, and ask his advice on what your horsey friends might like. Don probably knows more about horses than most horse people know.

Scoot over to Forest City and stroll downtown. It’s like shopping in Hendersonville except you won’t need half an hour to find a parking spot. While you’re there, you can dart into America’s Fudge Shop or The Pie Safe Baking Company (actually located in a former bank building with a huge safe) and pick up some sweet delights for your friends. And maybe just a smidgen of tasting for your naughty self.

Pop into the Mill Spring Farm Store and grab a few bags of Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn. It’s unique. And slightly addictive. But the store is loaded with organically grown food, so you can reduce the guilt by picking up some of that. Much of the store’s inventory is food and crafts produced here by local farmers and artists.

Hit one or more of the local farmers markets. At this time of year, most of them have a boatload of hand-made gifts from wood turned bowls, forged iron art and jewelry to a potholder just like your mama used to have.

Who doesn’t like eating out? We’re blessed with a plethora of good restaurants, and nearly all of them sell gift cards. Treat someone to dinner.

It’s a nearly endless list of local places you can shop, and you should because when you spend your dollars at these locally owned places, you are adding to the local dollars in circulation.

That way, you’re actually not only helping the local shop owner but also helping those folks employed by him or her.And you’ll feel better because you will really deserve that local bakery’s tiramisu.

Larry McDermott is a local retired farmer/journalist. Reach him at hardscrabblehollow@gmail.com