Fair Trade Blog

I can’t remember a time when people did not complain about the stress and commercialism of the holidays.  For certain people, I suppose that the last minute rush is part of the fun.  You know the kind — with a twinkle in their eye, they share the adventures of their last minute rush– including all their gift shopping.  

American consumer culture has wrapped itself in the 30 odd days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Any honest retail owner will tell you that the holidays make or break them every year. 

We are no different here at Driftless Fair Traders, but we do make a difference with our e-store.  Most of our shoppers know that they are not simply buying a present, they are choosing a gift with something special.  That’s why more and more people are doing nearly all their holiday shopping with us.  

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of helping one of our customers pick out gifts for everyone on her list.  It wasn’t a simple thing and she spent a good deal of time making her choices.  But when we were finished, she was beaming, not only because she had accomplished her goal, but because she loved the experience of shopping for gifts she felt good about giving.  “You have such beautiful things,” she said more than once.  

We want you to feel as good about where your gifts came from as you do about where they are going.  That’s why we shop as carefully as you do this time of year.  Everyone wants the act of giving to be special and we work hard to make it a more satisfying experience. 

We hope you will visit our e-store and keep shopping your good values!

It’s really simple.  Jeff wanted to follow his Bliss.  Jeff Strand says he started Natural Communities Magazine out of the blue, but we think there was a bit of destiny involved as well.  Jeff’s publication is published and distributed right here in Wisconsin and we regularly advertise in its pages.

Take a look at any issue of Natural Communities and the first thing that strikes you is the stunning photography that Jeff weaves through his publication.  He says he had to quickly learn how to use a camera to produce the magazine.  Since Natural Communities focuses on holistic lifestyle issues and information, Jeff has spent lots of time wandering the ridges, coulees, and lakes looking for inspiring scenes.

Whether it’s the intricate symmetry of a single dandelion head or the long view of a lake, Jeff captures the quietest parts of nature.  The centeredness of his photographs draw you inside each scene he’s captured.

Jeff has been working with us on advertising since he started his magazine.  We’re glad we convinced him to show his photography in our shop.

Born in Duluth, Minn., Jeff spent five years working as an engineer before changing careers.  His girlfriend turned him onto organic foods, creating a sustainable earth, and getting in touch with nature and spirit. In the summer of 2006, he got the idea to start a locally produced magazine dedicated to holistic living.

With nothing but his courage and money borrowed from a relative, Jeff quit his job and started his publishing business.  He admits that he had zero experience in anything to do with publishing a magazine, including photography.  But after two years of building a successful magazine, Jeff is still wandering the woods taking photographs so he can give nature back to people through the pages he publishes.

You can visit Jeff’s magazine at naturalcommunitiesmag.com.