I was absently eating my bowl of crunchy granola one morning when the box on the table in front of me caught my attention. Might sound strange to have a box on my table as a matter of course, but I seem to live among an array of goods and supplies for the various projects underway in and out of my condo. Everything is at the ready to grab and go, lined along one side of the table, the small hutch at the entry and on top of the piano (when did that become a supply cupboard?)
At any rate, this particular box had the most sublime office address posted across the side: Threadneedle Street, London UK. We bought a folding aluminum thatch rake from the UK? Don’t remember that happening, but I do love the street it came from. It got me strolling through my living space to take a gander at the country of origin of all the other project paraphernalia.
Turf Builder Grass Seed from Ontario. Thus the rake – I’m sensing a pattern here. Outside window cleaner that attaches to the hose – apparently lots of this spring’s projects are out-of-doors. Oh, also Ontario for that one. Medicated wipes for my dog’s sensitive skin, Quebec. Red wine, B.C. Human allergy medication, nighttime syrup for a dry cough, and a COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test kit are all from Ontario. Yes, we are still being safe to those around us and to ourselves – and neither person in my home has had Covid as a result. Anti Grinding Dental Guard, China – well it was bound to happen sooner or later with this unusual supply cupboard that is my living room. The little red-handled knife that is used to slit open each box is also from China, but just the same I feel oddly satisfied that everything I picked up was made either in Canada or everywhere else but the U.S.
We are still prioritizing Canadian products at the grocery store and are looking to buy local whenever possible – at farmers markets that are a short drive away, if possible. What I was surprised to find, though, is that without intending to, the vast majority of all my household goods are Canadian products. As a matter of course we are not needing to look too far afield to satisfy our purchasing quests, and that makes me unexpectedly proud. Made in Canada has such a wonderful ring to it!
