New Project, New Year!

Hi there and welcome to 2018. The year where I enter my thirties with a year under my belt (yes I'm turning thirty-one in a matter of weeks). The year where I'm trying to figure out where the last decade went. The year where my daughter asked the other day to show her how to read...WHAT, but most excitingly, the year for a new project!

Photo by Greeting Tree Farm

A new year always start with ambition, excitement, mystery, anticipation.... all the makings of a hit movie at the box office, but as the year wanes on and on, we find ourselves dragging. Barely crossing the finish line of yet another year and then the cycle begins all over again. For us here at Greeting Tree, 2018 is going to be a very different year! Why? I'm glad you asked... We are starting an experiment called....

Photo by Greeting Tree Farm

Before I get into what PROJECT UNBOXED is I want to make note that all "Project Unboxed" posts will be located under "Project Unboxed" tab on the left-hand side of my home page. 

What is Project Unboxed? 

Project Unboxed is an experiment where for an entire year my family does not purchase products or services from big-box stores. Before I get into the rules let me define what a big-box store is....

Photo by Pexels ; CCO Creative Commons

A big-box store is a large retail store that resembles a large box and is characterized by large floor space, discounted products, and is often located in a suburban area. Find full definition here.

Photo by Pixabay ; CCO Creative Commons

RULES 

1    1.  Project is to be followed for one year from January 1^st, 2018 to December 31^st, 2018.

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    2.   Not allowed to buy from big-box stores (Wal-Mart, Kroger, Aldi’s, Meijer, Home Depot, Lowes, Ikea, etc.) 

                        a. This does not include franchises that are locally owned. 

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       3. For the first 6 months of the project we can only purchase within a 50-mile radius from our home and the last 6 months only a 25-mile radius from home. 

                                         a. If we happen to travel then the radius will follow us as we travel and will be projected  

                             at the place where we are staying.      

   

   4.   If there is an emergency situation and a big-box store is our only option, then we will allow it. 

   5.   If there is a product that needs to be purchased and we cannot find it locally, then the item/items/service needs to be put through “the process” listed below. 

Photo by Pixabay ; CCO Creative Commons

    

        THE PROCESS

     1. Is the item/service a want or a need? 

     2. Can we buy it second-hand/used?

     3. Can we borrow it?

     4. Rent it?

     5. Can we make it?

     6. Is there an alternative?

     7. Can we do without it? 

    If the item/service has gone through "the process" and we still have not come up with a solution then we have two options:

      

    1. Expand the radius to see if we can purchase locally

    2. Buy online from a locally sourced business

    

   If we still have not reached a solution then with the advice from the Council, we will purchase from a big-box store. 

      * The Council is a close family we've asked to hold us accountable during the experiment. 

   So now that we've gone through the details of Project Unboxed you are probably wondering......

  Why are you doing this?

  The main reason is to be more intentional about our actions. We have a strong conviction to support local community and we want to take our conviction more seriously. 

   

   We are also looking to connect with our community more and challenge ourselves in a new way. 

   We can't wait to discover all the businesses, restaurants, and people right here in our backyard we never knew about! 

   We look forward to sharing our progress, challenges, as well as interview with businesses and people along the way. 

   To watch our trailer for Project Unboxed click video below...

   

   Thanks for stopping by! 

   CREDITS: 

   https://pixabay.com/en/retail-grocery-supermarket-store-1424041/

   Photo by Clem Onojeghuo from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-near-grocer-store-inside-building-175694/

   http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/big-box-store.html