This is intriguing to me. One American family has volunteered to have everything NOT made in America removed from their home. Through next week, the home will be replenished with goods created in our country.
Don’t mistake me for an isolationist. This is not a political statement. BUT, we all have to do what we can to create more American jobs. It’s my personal mission to help in a small way by promoting craftsmen/women and artists. There are SO MANY talented people in this country willing to live simple lives for the privilege of spending their days doing what they love.
Do I think it will be difficult to furnish this sample house with American made goods? No, I don’t.
Do I think the products will be low in quality? No, way!
For example, look at a cabinet making business in Clairemont, New Hampshire, Crown Point Industries. Crown Point makes quality custom cabinetry in a small New England town, employing local residents. The designs are sophisticated enough for Park Avenue, simple enough for a mid-western craftsman style home. The price is more than you’d find in Home Depot, but less than hiring your own cabinet maker. And these cabinets will last decades.
We have to get away from the old American mind set of purchasing a mass of low quality items (the Walmart syndrome of consumption), and then replacing them every few years (because they never last). Over the long term, one quality item will serve you longer and better than many cheaply made imported items.
Just think about it. Do what you can. I can’t afford to have custom made cabinets made right now. But what I can afford is to purchase a few well-chosen accessories for my home from artists on Etsy.com or local art shows or friends… or make them myself. I can’t afford right now to decorate my livingroom with quality American products. But I can do this over time. I’d rather buy one beautiful chair and wait a couple years for another instead of buying a cheap imported wrap around couch that will need to be trashed in 5 years.
How about your kitchen? King Arthur Flour is sold across the country as the highest quality milled grains (I standardly use the White Whole Wheat), and they employee people in the rural Connecticut River Valley in Vermont. The take care of their employees, and sell only quality products. Honestly, their USA made baking pans are THE BEST. There must be thousands of businesses out there across our great country, making quality products. Take the time to search for them! Share the contact information for these businesses on this or your own blog. Help to employ even one more qualified person out there by supporting a good American business. We can each make a difference in our unemployment rate.
It’s a lifestyle issue. And it makes sense. Buy fewer items from American craftsmen/women instead of shopping carts full of Chinese knock-offs (no disrespect intended to the Chinese people–just chose this as an example). Buy one painting by an American artist. Buy a few accessories by local artisans. And then WAIT (gasp!!) until you can afford to buy another.
And I’m not ruling out beautiful, classic antiques and vintage items, either. A Homer Laughlin tea pot or a piece of Haeger pottery to add to my collection is so much more precious to me than a cheap imported knock-off. I’m waiting patiently to find a 1940′s vintage Waterfall bureau–they just don’t make warehouse furniture like that anymore.
How about rugs. Instead of a chemical-filled carpet warehouse, I long for a hand-braided or hand-hooked rug. Not only do these rugs last longer, but they don’t irritate allergy-prone people. This will take me awhile to save for. Maybe I can make one!
Take a look around your home. How many items are American made? What products are you in the market for? Can you find these items from American producers? America needs to put people to work again! Take up the challenge!
And please share your results!!
#1 by Donna Stacy on April 21, 2011 - 4:01 am
I whole-heartedly agree with you, Holly. Two of my favorite places to buy hand-crafted American products are Berea, KY, an entire town of artistry, and the annual St. James art fair in Louisville every October. It is one of the largest and finest art (not craft) fairs in the country. Over the years we have purchased 1 item at a time for our home.