MNN - Mother Nature Network

For the past few years, the day after Black Friday has become known as Small Business Saturday. Shoppers are encouraged to shop in their own towns at independent businesses and eat at independent restaurants to spend their hard earned cash in a way that will benefit the community.

• There’s a detailed infographic on Sustainablog that explains Why Buy Local? It covers the benefits of buying both food and material goods from local producers and stores.
• Recirculating money back into the community is the focus of a study discussed on Co.EXIST. The numbers are a great argument for buying locally.
• You can read my early thoughts on buying locally on my first, but now dormant, blog A Little Greener Every Day. They range from keeping money in the community to thanking the local ice cream parlor that sponsors my kids’ Little League teams.
• Don’t forget that you can buy Christmas Trees from local producers, too. Gardens.com can help you locate a Christmas Tree Farm in your local area.