Green Options

Take a moment to step out of the fast paced modern world and visit a village where time stopped over a hundred years ago.

Listen for the train whistle to signal that you can take a ride on the Huckleberry railroad, or feel the breeze off the lake while riding the Genesee Belle, enjoy old fashioned carnival rides on an old carousel or swing, watch a blacksmith at work or check out the way printers once had to set up their printing presses.

At Crossroads Village you can see what the good old days were really all about.

You know green is popular when that’s what people are buying, even though some green gifts cost a little more and we all know these are tough times. People want to spend their money responsibly and wisely by getting gifts that are safe and are going to last.

I am surprised by how many people are shopping green this year, even in Flint and surrounding areas. Green toys are really a big thing and some stores can’t seem to keep them in stock.

Flint has long been suffering economically. This year we were voted the third most depressing city to live in. Homeless, jobless, and foreclosure rates are at an all time high.

While grocery shopping during a recent trip to Tennessee I realized how much I missed my “local” products. I also realized that shopping local is a very green choice. When you hear shop local you may just think about locally grown and seasonal produce (which is mainly what I associated with buying local) but it’s also about supporting local businesses, companies, and brands which all support the local economy.

There are several brands that mean home to me: Koegel, Vernors, and Faygo. Koegel is a meat company that’s been in Flint since the early 1900’s , and if you’ve never had a Koegel hot dog you don’t know what your missing. My husband wouldn’t touch a hot dog until he moved to Michigan and I convinced him to try a Koegel. Now he’ll gladly eat hot dogs, as long as they are Koegels and only Koegels.