Would you...

kimbertangleknot 1/13/2011, 8:34 pm

Spend more money to buy "local" plants rather than a nationally known place that could have the same plant for cheaper?

I'm interested to know what you would do.

**camprn** 1/13/2011, 9:08 pm

Yes, I would; I prefer to support my local farmers.
Now, that being said, if I see signs of disease or pests, all bets are off.

Odd Duck 1/13/2011, 10:03 pm

I do that all the time. I would FAR rather spend locally and even go out of my way to do so.

BackyardBirdGardner 1/13/2011, 10:34 pm

Sorry, but no.

I just feel that if another business can offer the same thing for a better price, the better price wins....as long as price is the ONLY difference. And, the higher priced guy should work on a solution. Competition at it's finest.....however, I realize this will spur a monopoly debate, too.

Only way I choose local when it's more expensive is if I personally know, like, or am related to the guy.

**Furbalsmom** 1/13/2011, 10:40 pm

I try to support local businesses, but to me local may just be in state, not my immediate area. Where I live there is a limited number of LOCAL merchants that carry specific items. Often, there are few merchants that carry what I need locally.

I have found vermiculite locally that is less expensive (recently located a merchant) but so often a local retailer may not take as good care of plants, so I might go to a store 80 miles away, but still in state because I feel more comfortable as to the condition of the stock.

Chopper 1/13/2011, 11:22 pm

When money is tight I am all about price - and that is the way things are now. When money is more plentiful, I am more willing to make decisions based on things other than price. That is the reality of surviving and a lot of people are just surviving now.

But, if it something you are thinking of developing, start now and as money becomes more plentiful you will already be situated and ready to take advantage.

duhh 1/14/2011, 12:11 am

I'm all up for supporting local, if it is within reason. If It's a huge difference, I would go with the cheaper. If it's under a dollar or 2 I would try to buy more local if possible.

Lavender Debs 1/14/2011, 1:11 am

This is about Plants?

Local.

It is hard to forget all the sick tomato plants shipped up and down the east coast, sold in big box stores and the disease the nearly wiped out tomato production in the east. That wasn't so cheap.

Odd Duck 1/14/2011, 11:23 am

I've been burned a few too many times buying plants on-line. I will buy seeds on-line if I can't find them locally, but I'm very lucky and very happy with a great, local nursery (well, it's about 40 miles away, but that's local for DFW).

middlemamma 1/14/2011, 6:32 pm

I really like to buy local for many of the same reasons mentioned already.

This year I am trying to start as much as I can from seed...so I won't be buying but a few starts...and those I am going to buy from a local guy who I met at the downtown Coeur d'Alene Farmers Market. I like him, he is reasonable, I am not paying THAT much more and I feel good about supporting him.

Doing SFG has opened up a whole new world to me and I have learned much about farming and seeds I never knew before...now that I have learned more I don't think I could in good conscious NOT support the local guys. BUT with that said if I was on the tightest budget imaginable...that would be what I had to do and I wouldn’t feel bad about it. I would just do different when I could.

CarolynPhillips 1/14/2011, 11:32 pm

I weigh the pros and cons. I could never stick to " just local". I buy far and near.
What matters to me is = are they healthy? buying cheap doesnt always mean healthy and buying healthy doesn't always mean expensive. vice versa

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