10/20/2022
Dear Neighbor,
I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to avoid news of the disquieting events out there that seem to threaten our American way of life. First, there was the pandemic. It isolated us from each other for over two years. With it came supply chain interruptions, a disturbing hike in inflation, and the loss of our country’s energy independence. Now the President is telling us to get ready for food shortages.
Has there ever been a better time for our community to come together in the interest of creating stability for our families and businesses?
Maybe just getting to know each other better could be a start. What if we could find a way to connect local suppliers of food, products, services, and education resources with local consumers? We are blessed in this area with all of the above, but how do we create efficient local markets to maximize that advantage?
As a producer, how can you make it worth your while to sell locally? As a consumer, how do you connect with neighbors who sell eggs, honey, vegetables, beef, pork, and poultry, or services such as building, repairing, accounting, technology, mechanics, or even education such as gardening, canning, etc?
I don’t think this has to be complicated - or expensive. Something as simple as a directory, whether printed or online, of everyone in the community who produces products and services, and how to contact them.
Let’s call it Wild Bill’s Guild. If I were to organize this effort, would you join? I’m not looking to make a profit from this idea, by the way. But more and more, I hear from neighbors and customers that they have produce or other food items to sell. And more and more, I’m being asked by consumers how they can put local food on their families' tables.
Would it be cool if we could get this kind of local networking started? I’m game if you are!
If you think we are stronger together and would like to get involved, check out wildbillsguild.com. And, if you’d like to throw in a few bucks in the tip jar to help cover the costs of printing and distributions, well, that’d be great too!
I believe in us. And when times are tough, we can be not only tough but creative.
Hope you’ll join me in this effort!
Much Love!
Bill and Kathleen Spurlock