Fair Trade Blog

What do you do when the world is getting you down and you can’t take anymore bad news?  For Enika Poehling, the answer was somersaults. 

Enika was in our shop a few days ago picking up fair trade gifts for a family with a newborn along with a couple of other items.    We chatted for quite awhile and, at one point, she related how she recently resolved the symptoms caused by contemplating the more frustrating problems of the world. 

After listening to a particularly horrendous news story about a government contractor using tar full of toxic waste to pave municipal streets, she had reached her breaking point.  “I was like this,” she said gritting her teeth and clenching her fists.  I’m sure you can relate. 

Someone had advised her to put her feet up to combat stress and muscle strain.   It occured to her to just continue the movement and roll all the way over.   After completing a series of somersaults, she said she was cured of the stress of the moment.  “I’m 59 and half and I’m doing somersaults,” she chuckled at me giddily. 

Sometimes the thing we need is silly, delightful, and a bit childish, like running through puddles or making snow angels.  On the other hand, there are lots of practical and powerful ways to combat the world’s problems. Perhaps buying fair trade artisan goods is like doing a somersault with your pocketbook. 

Thanks, Enika, for a great story. 

Keep shopping your good values! 

Kile

People are increasingly shopping with their principals as well as their pocketbooks in mind.  It’s not always easy to match your values with the places you shop or the things you buy.  We live in a fast paced and complex world.  It’s hard to keep up with what’s available and the busineses that provide them. 

There are tools that can help.   One great example, (one I use myself) is the Fair Trade Federation.   Not only does their website have current information about fair trade, but you can search for specific fair trade products under their “Find Products” heading on their homepage.

Want someone you can empathize with?  WalletMouth (Aptly named, don’t you think?), maintained by Bronwyn Ximm, documents her personal struggle to put her money where her mouth is.  The conversational way she presents information and tools she has tested herself makes this folksy site fun and valuable.  My favorite is her “Buycotts & Boycotts” section.

For a more interactive experience, check out dotherightthing.com.  Here you can help rate businesses on their social responsibility by submitting news articles about specific companies.  Visitors to the site rank the importance of the news and companies get a rating.   Currently, their top rated company is Seventh Generation, maker of green household products.  

In this political season the big issues are on everyone’s mind — global warming, the environment, social justice, and lately, race relations. We all get reminded more and more that our purchases count — they have an impact.  I want to know how you are making a difference with your pocketbook.  Drop us a comment on this post.

Of course, we are here to help you with new spring arrivals.  We look forward to seeing you in the shop and online. 

Keep shopping your good values!

Kile

So many inquiries about when we will once again have soaps from Arghand Cooperative in Afghanistan!   I believe our collective patience will be rewarded. 

Another delay has reared it’s ugly head.  We received word on March 4th that their most recent shipment had been delayed.  Apparently, the usual channel through the Canadian military had broken down, so the process for shipping out of the country had to be re-established.  On top of that, the Canadian post office apparently had an issue with the size of the shipment. 

Unfortunately, we have no other specifics.  We do know that it normally takes several weeks for the shipment to reach North America and then more time for Arghand to work through their back orders.  But we are hopeful we will have supply on the way in a few weeks. 

I hope you have bookmarked our homepage so you can keep up to date.

In the meantime, we will have some exciting new products to offer you online in April.  Spring brings us new jewelry, clothing, and accessories for you to browse. 

Keep shopping your good values!

Kile

You could say Sandi Funk is a little twisted when it comes to everyday household items.  Take silverware, for example.  Most are content to simply eat with it, but Sandi sees all kinds of characters and scenes in your typical table knife, spoon, or serving utensil. Her handcrafted Funkyware is whimsical, surprising, and, yes, a little off the wall. Each “personality” is a true work of art.  

Sandi’s work is on display in our shop this week as our featured artist for March.

Sandi is a local girl who milked cows and ran a grocery store right here in the Driftless region before she moved with her husband to central Florida.

It is rumored that the artistic bug bit Sandi while she was in college in DeKalb, Ill., at Northern Illinois University.  That was where she owned and ran a coffee house, Juicy John Pink’s, with her husband Mike.  They often had guest artists play or display their work in their java joint. 

Her work extends beyond Funkyware to her love of stain-glass work. Check out her beautiful sun catchers featured in our windows.  

Come in and check out Sandi’s work.

Keep shopping your good values!

Kile

In it’s hey day, the Hotel Fortney was a way stop for tobacco buyers, traveling salesman, bussiness men and any tired soul with the price of a room.  Today, the building houses the working poor, the disabled, the retired, and our store, Driftless Fair Traders.  You can see an historical painting of the old girl here.  

Craig Anderson, Kathi Irwin, and Beatrice Small bought the Viroqua, Wis., building in late 2005, and have been cleaning and renovating the building ever since.  Their mission for the resident space is to provide accomodations for low income people.  

We are pleased that Saint Mary Parish Social Concerns Committee plans to help meet the food needs of the residents. 

One Sunday a month, the committee hopes to arrange for a meal at the Fortney.   In addition, the committee hopes to work with other parish groups to bring excess food to the Fortney, such as from funerals or other parish gatherings.  It’s already happening.  Just this morning four women dropped off food from a parish breakfast.  

There are children and less capable individuals living in the hotel, so I will feel better knowing they are getting wholesome food on a regular basis.   

Keep shopping your good values.

Kile