Economic Stimulus = Insurance

Yeah, we got our check (direct deposit, actually) and yes, the temptation is certainly there to blow it on something extravagant. I mean, that's the idea, right? Heh. Maybe for them. Not for me. I'm putting Misters Franklin to work.

Trying very hard to keep my dollars close to home, I tried to shop local, and where possible, from small, independent local businesses. I bought lumber from the local non-big box building supply, and corners from Gardener's Supply to build two 6' by 12' raised garden beds. I bought three yards of garden soil from my friend Laura who works at a small local garden center. And this week, the two big kids and I assembled the beds and filled them with locally produced soil. (Three yards of soil is REALLY heavy!)

Yesterday Tori and I went to 1st Season Greenhouses (Survivor - picture a few days back) and bought starts for the garden - tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, peppers. Some herbs, some flowers, some "it's so pretty!" Prices are ridiculously low because he's the grower - he sells to the garden centers and big box stores that sell to everyone else. The big score of the day, though, was the trees. $21 apiece for 8 foot tall fruit trees - two apples and a hardy peach.

Today after my haircut I found a Montmorency Cherry for $25. Be still my heart, I've been hoping I'd find one of these and would have (shh) paid twice that. I'm still on the lookout for another apple (Gala or Fuji) and a sweet cherry, maybe NorthStar.

Now, to be honest, this is money we'd have spent anyway, Stimulus Payment or not. So maybe that check isn't spent yet. Either way, I consider spending a little now to provide "free" food later is insurance of a sort. Eating food that doesn't require any further outlay of gas or money is a great thing. And spending money close to home keeps the money here a little longer. A dollar spent locally circulates within (and benefits) a community multiple times. I'm keeping my neighbours employed, which keeps the economy moving, keeping property values up, tax rates low, schools strong, and communities healthy.

Beats shoving it right into Rex Tillerson's pocket, huh?