tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post8326905952739473244..comments2024-03-17T23:39:47.479-06:00Comments on Montana Wildlife Gardener: Buy nothing from China update: a little Saturday shoppingDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-76626736976173936572012-12-18T12:56:57.997-07:002012-12-18T12:56:57.997-07:00It has been a really fun and educational exercise....It has been a really fun and educational exercise. Like I mentioned, not buying from China seems doable, but only buying from the USA will prove to be much more of a challenge and I may take that up next year! I'll keep you posted! Thanks for your comments!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-23454334841145123532012-12-18T12:55:44.849-07:002012-12-18T12:55:44.849-07:00Hi Andrea,
Yes, I did get a cooler, one from a gre...Hi Andrea,<br />Yes, I did get a cooler, one from a great American company Bags Elite http://www.bagselite.com/. It is super well made, and very durable. Likely the last lunch box I buy! Thanks for the suggestion, and I like the idea of buying a natural and wool product.<br />Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-35602726630265431772012-12-18T12:53:42.805-07:002012-12-18T12:53:42.805-07:00I agree about online shopping. As far as the new ...I agree about online shopping. As far as the new family member- take a look at the new poll and the Cat of the Year, 2012!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-39256364372737006652012-12-18T12:52:29.453-07:002012-12-18T12:52:29.453-07:00I know! It is amazing how much stuff comes from c...I know! It is amazing how much stuff comes from china- even a lot of things I have always assumed were produced locally. Now I am just in the habit of checking EVERYTHING I am thinking about buying. It is really disappointing sometimes.<br />Thanks for your comments!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-23044044930174889842012-12-18T12:47:59.713-07:002012-12-18T12:47:59.713-07:00I agree- online shopping is a great way to go and ...I agree- online shopping is a great way to go and often faster and less resource intensive! I try to find stuff locally first, even if I do all the investigating online ahead of time. Thanks!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-1710452596289256312012-12-18T12:46:45.315-07:002012-12-18T12:46:45.315-07:00Thanks for the ocmments, i hope you do try this ou...Thanks for the ocmments, i hope you do try this out- it has been really educational if nothing else. I am starting to realize that buying nothing from China is not too difficult, it just takes some patience, creativity and a little more money (sometimes). But if I were trying to buy only from the USA, that would be really hard. Next year.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-39655086000995120662012-12-12T13:30:53.088-07:002012-12-12T13:30:53.088-07:00You've got your work cut out for you, it's...You've got your work cut out for you, it's getting really hard not to buy things if made in China. I try to buy locally and by that I mean North America. Restricting myself just to Canada is almost impossible.sensiblegardeninghttp://sensiblegardening.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-31656552900206503562012-12-09T15:40:38.913-07:002012-12-09T15:40:38.913-07:00Dave, Have you found a cooler yet? Here is an opt...Dave, Have you found a cooler yet? Here is an option, not made in the US though... http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/wool-insulated-natural-lunch-bag-green-trim-new-p-666.html<br /><br />Andrea SAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-63826212840004884262012-11-13T06:05:08.731-07:002012-11-13T06:05:08.731-07:00Thanks for the info, pointing that out. I didn...Thanks for the info, pointing that out. I didn't know about the sites you had linked. I suggested that as an alternate choice since I know people who sell on Etsy. Also I read/follow some artists’ blogs (who sell on Etsy, Artfire, their own website) in which case you get a better sense of who they are, what they do, what's involved in their work. But yeah, unfortunately the shysters are out there, so I agree on investigation of the maker if at all possible.charlie b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02458917197033510732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-55915010098950229252012-11-12T09:37:14.281-07:002012-11-12T09:37:14.281-07:00@charlie b.:
For the record, the items on Etsy at...@charlie b.:<br /><br />For the record, the items on Etsy at least (don't know about Artfire) are frequently mass-produced merch being resold by people who are only pretending to have made it. The merchandise, resellers, or both are often Chinese as well. <br /><br />You might think that Etsy would care about this and attempt to stop it, but all available evidence suggests that they have no interest in either, and in fact scold people who try to point out people who are reselling instead of handcrafting. (Ostensibly, the reason is something about trying to keep things positive in the forums; what it <i>actually</i> is is that Etsy makes their money as a percentage of what gets sold, and consequently has a financial interest in seeing as much crap sell via the site as possible, whatever its origin.) <a href="http://www.regretsy.com/" rel="nofollow">Regretsy</a> has been <a href="http://www.regretsy.com/category/not-remotely-handmade/" rel="nofollow">all over this</a> for some time; see also <a href="http://etsycallout.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Callin' Out On Etsy</a>.<br /><br />Which is not to say there aren't deserving Etsy stores to be found, just that it's a good idea to do some investigation before placing a sale. Often, the same item can be found at a large retailer like Target for significantly less money.mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-57793350502052480662012-11-12T09:28:55.668-07:002012-11-12T09:28:55.668-07:00I have reverted to online shopping myself, and alt...I have reverted to online shopping myself, and although the shipping requires resources, it is less than my gallivanting around town searching for my purchases!!!<br />And who is your new addition to the family?? I have two small dogs...would love to see yours!!! How are the cats managing??? :)mobiusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-83414149417632294752012-11-12T06:56:34.983-07:002012-11-12T06:56:34.983-07:00It's pretty frustrating. I look for origin on...It's pretty frustrating. I look for origin on labels all the time, even on food. For some items I've turned to Goodwill or other thrift stores, so that at least I’m reusing or repurposing. Other things I stop to wonder if I can make it myself instead (I'd think a dog leash would be doable); then search online or go to the library if I need how-to help.<br /><br />Also I wanted to mention sites like Etsy or Artfire where you can find handmade by American small businesses or even used or vintage (like gloves).charlie b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02458917197033510732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-60814199224151428862012-11-11T17:09:05.470-07:002012-11-11T17:09:05.470-07:00Please understand, that sometimes when you refuse ... Please understand, that sometimes when you refuse to purchase anything made overseas, you may actually be hurting a small business in America. Case in point, I am an author, illustrator and independent publisher of storybooks. My editing, layout and design work all takes place in the USA, but my books are manufactured in Hong Kong. Why is that? I would love to print my books here, but there in there are only 2 book manufacturers in U.S. that do the kind of stitching my books require and they will only stitch textbooks. Also, to manufacture my books in this country would cost at least 5 times what I pay in Hong Kong, which means I would have to raise my prices to such a degree that I would not be able to sell them. And here's the rub, where do I spend my money that I get from selling my books? I spend it in the good old USA. Go into a book store and see how many books are published in America, not many. There is a reason. Please don't hurt small businesses that depend on out of country manufacture to produce their goods. We are Patriots too.jerilandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07418564262425621746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-9140230475652093802012-11-11T15:01:09.646-07:002012-11-11T15:01:09.646-07:00Dog harness - the best I've found for fit and ...Dog harness - the best I've found for fit and quality are made by Premier and made in the USA. Here is a link to one of the places online I get them from...but you can google more.<br />http://www.sitstay.com/dog/supplies/servlet/category_Sure-Fit%20Harnesses_10001_10001_26904_-1_13273_13272<br /><br />I think buying domestic is harder too here in smaller town Montana, that is why I resort often to online.<br />MTWagginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17823827748782425907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-27448310730194504822012-11-11T14:09:40.898-07:002012-11-11T14:09:40.898-07:00Thanks for the update on your buying local project...Thanks for the update on your buying local project. We tried something similar when looking for a couple of new big ticket items (a new appliance and bicycles for myself and the missus) over the last few years. We ended up buying bikes from a company called Worksman (made in New York). And while their customer service was sorely lacking, we were happy to buy a "Made in the USA" product. <br /><br />I can't even begin to contemplate the complexity of your endeavor, to buy nothing from China at all. If nothing else it really does make you stop and investigate the country of origin of all the little things you buy without much thought. Thanks for the inspiration, we might give this a try ourselves. El Gauchohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16123486882754116176noreply@blogger.com