You know you love your college campus when you find yourself there even in the summer. Maryville College is truly located in the heart of Maryville, making it an epicenter and a great focal point for adventuring. I recently took advantage of this convenience on a summer morning too fair to be spent driving from errand to errand. After parking behind the Clayton Center for the Arts, I traversed my way across the Maryville pedestrian bridge– a path which took me directly to Vienna Coffeehouse.
A Maryville staple, Vienna’s coffee beans are not only locally roasted, but also equitably sourced. After acquiring some caffeine, I continued walking down the street to Amburn’s Market. Teeming with local produce, dairy, meat, and baked goods, Amburn’s is a great place to visit if you are looking for a way to source more of your groceries sustainably. You can also find vegetable and other plants for sale if you want to try sourcing your food even closer to home!
After purchasing some cherries and a loaf of sourdough, I made the mile-ish walk back to my parked car. From there, my next destination was somewhere I could enjoy my spoils. Jarvis park was the perfect answer, as it’s only a 5-minute drive from campus.
Arriving at the parking lot, I wasn’t surprised to see it empty. Despite being surrounded by residential neighborhoods and within walking distance of the Historic District, Jarvis park is neglected as a recreational spot. I didn’t mind enjoying my cherries in peace though, before embarking on the next, and final, leg of my trip: the thrift store.
Thrifting is one of my personal favorite pastimes. It is a great answer to the challenge posed for shopaholics like myself by the Fit.Green.Happy. goal of only purchasing 5 new items of clothing a year. Thrifted clothes, while not new, are still new to you. A few of my most reliable thrift spots in Maryville are Planet Xchange, Amvets, and Karm. Despite stereotypes that thrifted clothes are all out of style or dingy, I have found the majority of my wardrobe and all of my most treasured staple items from secondhand shops.
The next time you have the urge to do some retail therapy or have a self care day, remember that it doesn’t have to consist of excessive consumption. We can shop and source responsibly, and this will undoubtedly result in more satisfaction with the performance and lives of our products, helping to begin a chain of regenerative consumption. But remember: the most sustainable purchase is the one you don’t make.
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