To me, shopping sustainably means shopping with a conscience. It means asking questions about where a product was made, who made it and with what materials?

It can be overwhelming trying to navigate your way toward the most sustainable choices, and how do we even  know that what we are being told is the whole truth?

Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to ensure that you are taking steps in the right direction.

Here are three ways you can shop more sustainably right now -

BUY LOCAL ~ yep, seems pretty simple doesn’t it? Just choosing to buy from your local makers and producers (farm gate) is a more sustainable way to shop. Why? Because you’re cutting down on carbon emissions released when products are transported from one place to another. This is particularly relevant to our fresh food choices. By supporting local farmers and eating seasonal produce, you are supporting the production of crops that are appropriate for our environment as well.

Supporting locally owned businesses in general, means sustaining your local community. It stimulates the local economy and your money stays in your town.

When Andrea first introduced me to the concept of The Slow Movement I couldn’t believe how strongly it resonated with me! I’ve felt, like so many of us often do, that life was moving too fast. Little ones growing too quickly, a never ending to do list and no time to slow down and enjoy the moment.
I’ve always loved gardening and using my harvest to create yummy things for my family and friends. It’s the same with my tea business, creating tea blends that I can share with others brings me immense joy. And it’s as much about the blend as the experience a cup of tea offers. A moment of peace, a shared laugh and some good conversation, or maybe even a special celebration. For me, tea is moments and memories, intertwined through our lives, sip by sip.

What I never realised was that all these things shared a common element. A search for connection. Tea is, at its heart, about slowing down and realising a moment and making a connection there; whether that be with ourselves and a moment of inner silence, or with the others we choose to share that moment with. I think a lot of us already embrace The Slow Movement without even realising it. And once we understand why these things bring us so much joy, we can more actively pursue them.

​I’ve always loved buying handmade. I like knowing the items are ethically produced, often unique, but most importantly, made with love. And I love getting to meet the people behind the business. Hearing their stories. Discovering that Mel’s jam recipe has been in her family for generations, and the berries came from her own backyard. Or that when Lisa designed my little girls skirt, she knew it would be for twirling. This level of connection is transformative, it turns everyday objects into something so much more.​

And as makers and small business owners, we love the heck out of getting to meet you, our customers! Because, while not the only reason, you’re a major part of why we do what we do. And certainly make our little businesses possible! Sure, there are other factors that influence why we chose this path in life, but most of us are also using something we love as a means of spreading joy to others. And when we get to see that joy, well, it lights up our worlds.

It probably seems counter intuitive then that small business owners would choose a lifestyle that is, in many ways, so isolating. And that’s why people like Andrea, and places like Hattie and the Wolf are so important. They foster connection. They create something. Call it what you want, a community, a tribe . . . a place to belong and a place where joy to comes to life.​

By featuring different makers monthly in her Pop Up Creative Space, Andrea is giving small businesses, not only, the opportunity to have their very own brick and mortar store experience, but the opportunity to connect. As one of the small business stocked by Andrea, I can’t recommend this enough. Andrea’s visual merchandising is amazing and her customer service exceptional. There is no doubt that if join the Hattie and the Wolf Creative Space your product will be treated with love and sold with passion. But you’ll be getting so much more, you’ll be getting a community of people who lift you up, encourage and inspire you, people who help you spread your joy. You’ll be getting a tribe!
 
Be fearless. Join the tribe!​

Hello! And Welcome, I’m so happy you’re here 😊

This year has seen some huge changes for this amazing little business, including the leap from online store to the gorgeous brick and mortar shop at 218a Skipton Street, Ballarat.

If you’ve already visited you’ll know that Andrea’s passion for retail and love of small business are evident from the moment you step through the door. Her warm smile and inviting nature offer a shopping experience that’s getting harder and harder to find these days.

Exploring her beautiful store is like embarking on a treasure hunt. There’s a joy in letting your eyes wander across the shelves, discovering pockets of handmade goodness, lovingly collected and displayed. But there’s more going on here than meets the eye . . . there’s a revolution brewing. The Slow Movement is gaining traction and we’re inviting you to join!

So, “What is this Slow Movement?” I hear you say. I’m so very glad you asked!

The Slow Movement is about searching for, and finding, connections in our lives. Connections to the food we eat, the people we meet and the products we buy. As life continues to move faster and faster many of us have begun searching for a way to slow it down. A way to find a sense of balance and return to a simpler way of living, a way to live a more connected life.

Some of us have found joy in growing and sharing our own food, becoming connected again to the things we eat. Others are searching for community involvement, welcoming amazing initiatives like the Ballarat Food Is Free Laneway and Boomerang Bags, which offer community connectedness through acts of kindness that also promote sustainability.

At Hattie and the Wolf, Andrea offers us an opportunity to reconnect with the people who make the products we buy. Both through her incredible knowledge of the small businesses she stocks and her regular “meet the maker” events. These events also offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with others who share similar interests. She’s also building a community of small businesses, of makers and dreamers, a community of people who put their heart and soul into the products you buy. A community I am incredibly proud, and grateful, to be a part of. Because together, we’re making amazing things happen, and this is just the beginning . . .
 
Be fearless! Join the revolution! And slow down.