So, I made the pledge to go Supermarket Free next month.

I talked about it last week on the blog and some of you decided to take the pledge and join me. Take a read to find out why, how and when.

The question that arose was….. where do I get my stuff from ?

Good question! I have had a bit of a hunt around and found some awesome alternatives to the big two and come up with…… ta da…. How To Go Supermarket Free!

10 places you get can get your stuff from that doesn’t involve the supermarket.

1. Grow your own. Okay, maybe we have left it a little late to start the orchard and vege garden and getting the chook pen sorted, but maybe your neighbour or friend has a garden you could purchase from or barter with? The website directory, Ripe Near Me, helps you connect with people in your local area who have homegrown food to sell. Also check out My Home Harvest, who provide information and inspiration to get growing in your own backyard.

2. Community Gardens. Join a community garden in your area. The Australian Community Garden Network has a directory of community gardens across Australia. The idea is that you contribute some man hours and you get rewarded with produce!

3. Farmers Markets. The Australian Farmers’ Markets Association has a directory of farmers markets around Australia, making it easy to find the nearest to you. You can also check out Markets Central.

4. Direct from the farmer. Check what is around in your area. Sometimes producers give you the option of buying directly from them. They may have a delivery service or a farm gate.

5. Local shops. Before supermarkets came about, people would go to the butcher, the bakery, the florist, the health food store, the fish monger and the fruit and vege shop. Meet your local shop owner and check out their wares. You might be surprised.

6. Food box schemes. A food box scheme involves a supplier delivering a box of local, seasonal produce either to your door or a central drop off point. Find out more at The Australian Organic Food Directory. We are lucky enough to have a local organic supplier who delivers fresh produce, dairy and meat and some non-perishables too.

7. Shop online. This is a great way to shop if you are time-poor. I order every couple of months from some of my favourite online stores that are Aussie owned, small businesses. I love getting my groceries delivered to the door. Check out Organics on a Budget, The Raw Food Store and Shop Naturally.

8. Co-ops. As we like to eat organic, joining a local co-op has saved me a fortune! A group of us decided to start one up ourselves. It’s not really that hard and it’s fun to meet up every few weeks for the divvy up. Some of the benefits are getting it delivered straight to your door, the ability to buy in bulk and access reduced prices and the eco-friendliness of reduced packaging. Check out Quirky Cooking for information about how to start up a co-op or find an existing co-op near you.

9. Freeganism and Foraging. Okay so dumpster diving and finding wild weeds and mushrooms may be a little alternate, but they are still options! Just be careful to make sure you are staying within the law and sourcing safe food to eat. Find out more here.

10. Share a cow. It’s illegal to buy unpasteurized milk. The only legal way that you can consume real milk is to drink milk from your own cow. Find out if you can buy shares in a cow in your local area. Find more information about herd-sharing.

Shop for Specifics.

The common questions asked seem to be where do I get my toilet paper, cleaning supplies and dog food from? Okay, well let’s check it out.

1.Toilet Paper.

Buying toilet paper on subscription with free shipping? Recycled toilet paper that supports charities? Genius.

Let me introduce you to Who Gives A Crap.

Simon, Jehan and Danny launched Who Gives a Crap with a crowd funding campaign in July 2012. After learning that 2.5 billion people across the world don’t have access to a toilet, these guys wanted to do something about it.

They donate a huge 50% of their profits to WaterAid to build toilets and improve access to sanitation in the developing world. Every roll sold provides someone in need with access to a toilet for one week. Their toilet paper is also 100% recycled and free from inks, scents and dyes so it’s as good for your bum as it is for the world!

I was talking to the guys this week and they have kindly offered all of you a discount on their toilet paper!! Use the code: NNAM. You will get 15% off your first subscription so that you’ll never run out of toilet paper again! Expires April 30th – only valid on subscriptions (not one-off orders). I made my first order today and I cannot wait to get my toilet paper delivered!! (is that weird?)

Keep up to date with them on Facebook or Twitter as well.

2. Nappies and Baby Care

You can try online stores like Organics on a Budget or Hello Charlie which also sell some eco-friendly options. Your local chemist may also have some good prices.

3. Cosmetics and Personal Care

Online stores like Beautiful Because and Organics on a Budget all have reasonably priced natural products. Getting everything from one store cuts down on your postage and if you buy enough, most will have a free shipping offer. Your local health food store may also have a good range to choose from.

I found some eco-friendly tissues (sorry I just can’t do hankies!) and I always shop in bulk for organic tampons at TOM Organic.

4. Pet Food.

This is one thing we are going to have to start sourcing elsewhere. As well as making your own, you can check out what your local butcher has on offer, also look at pet shops and farm supply stores. Online you can look at Barf Australia or Melrose products.

5. Cleaning Products.

Well, you could make your own! Aside from that, you can source two of my favourite natural cleaning products, the Abode range and the Kin Kin range online.

6. Bottled Water.

A few people asked me about bottled water. Ideally the most eco-friendly option is to use a water filter. Apart from that, you can get water delivered to your door from places like Never Fail which also eliminates a lot of the packaging.

7. Superfreegan Discounts. When you join the pledge at Supermarket Free month, you get access to some discount codes from businesses around Australia, so make sure you take advantage! I know I will be!

Some more reading:

Natural New Age Mums Chat About… Supermarket Free Month

Down to Earth Mother: Why I Broke up with The Supermarket and How to Break up with the Supermarket

Energetic Mama: Are you a locavore?

Frugavore by Arabella Forge is a book that provides a hands-on, practical guide to a new way of living – grow your own, buy local and waste nothing all while eating well.

Support your Local Farmer Organization.

I hope this list of resources helps makes the challenge of Supermarket Free Month a little easier for you! I would love you to add your ideas as well, so please leave a comment. I will be using the hashtag #supermarketfree on social media throughout April, so join in with us and we can all check out what everyone else is up to.

I will leave you with some wise words from my friend, Alexx Stuart……..

“we can shape the world with our shopping baskets”

{parts of this post are sponsored}

Today I am welcoming Lucy Chan to the blog to talk about her amazing project, Supermarket Free Month. I was so excited to join in the cause and pledge to be a Superfreegan in April (and beyond). You might just want to do the same after you read her story!

Tell us about yourself….

I am a stay at home Mum of two beautiful children, a vibrant and bright 6 year old girl and a loving and sweet 4 year old boy. My fantastic, supportive husband and I live in an Ecovillage in South Australia. It is an amazing place to live and we often forget we live in this oasis and not everyone knows all their neighbours or can pick an apple for breakfast from the communal orchard at 6am in the morning!

What is your outlook on life?

I guess, that we all have the responsibility to do something about what we believe in. Nothing is going to change if you just sit around shaking your head, hoping someone does something about it. Be the change you want to see in the world.

What is Supermarket Free Month?

Supermarket Free month encourages people to avoid the supermarket and shop at the farmers market, butcher, fruit and veg shop and wholefood shop. It is about getting into your local community and getting to know the little guy and having a better idea where your food is coming from.

Why did you start Supermarket Free Month?

I have always tried to be aware of what I was eating and where it was coming from. I am constantly learning and it is a journey, so I don’t claim to be perfect. It started as a little personal challenge that I posted on Facebook a couple of years ago and I had a great reaction from friends and relatives. It started lots of conversations and got people thinking. I thought why not spread this, and get others on board, often a lot of people need that little nudge and a bit of support of others around them, to take that step.

What is a Super Freegan?

A Super Freegan is someone that has pledged not to shop at the supermarket for the month of April. It is someone that cares where their dollar goes and where their food comes from, it is someone that cares about the food that they put in their and their family’s mouths. It is someone who isn’t afraid of a challenge.

Why should we ditch the supermarkets?

Supermarkets have played a big part of our lives for a long time, they give us convenience of buying in one place, as life gets busier. In Australia we have two main players in the supermarket game, and they hold a 70% share of the grocery dollar. These companies not only own supermarkets, they have a huge list of subsidiary companies that we use everyday. A scary fact is that of every dollar spent in Australia, 23c of that dollar is spent in the companies owned by the big two supermarkets!

This really doesn’t leave much for the little guy, how can those small local shops survive with these big giants around.

Shopping locally is so much more fun. I love our farmers market, I meet so many friends and neighbours, I’m often so busy talking I miss out on the best stuff because I forget to shop! I’m the “lady that buys lots of chicken” at my local butcher and we always have a good laugh. The local shops are usually more helpful and are able to listen to suggestions on products you’d like to see in the shop.

What are your top tips for avoiding the supermarkets?

♥ Get organised! I know that isn’t always a fun word but it makes life so much easier. Before I go to the farmers market, I sit down over breakfast and plan the meals for the week. I then don’t have to think at 5pm what I’m going to make for dinner.

♥ Make a list of the items that you regularly buy, and visit your local shops and find out where you can buy them from. Some things are a little tricky but jump on to our facebook page and ask for help. We are also getting some great business’ on board to help you source those hard to find items.

♥ Farmers markets are a fantastic way of buying directly from the farmers and producers, finding out exactly where your food comes from.

♥ Start your own backyard food production. I love seeing my kids out in the garden picking tomatoes and eating cucumbers straight off the vine and sending them out for basil to make pesto for their lunch.

♥ Start talking to people in your area to find out where they get their favourite foods and new shops you can try.

How do people get involved?

Visit our Supermarket Free website and sign a pledge to become a Super Freegan. This allows access to our pledge area, where you can find a discount code for our supporters and hints on tips on how to go supermarket free. Jump on to our facebook page for up to date information and to share with other Super Freegans. You can download the poster Supermarket Free Poster A3 and start putting it up around your town!

Where can we find out more about Super Market Free Month ?

Visit our Supermarket Free website and our Facebook page, Supermarket Free.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

“Never doubt that small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Thanks Lucy – you are an inspiring mum who is changing the world! Who is ready to become a Superfreegan with us? I will be having some information on the blog and on my Facebook page during April, but please leave a comment with any ideas or links you might have so I can gather some more information for you.