According to the American Independent Business Alliance, a phenomenon dubbed “The Local Multiplier” occurs when you spend your dollars at a locally owned and independent business instead of a chain store or online giant. Your dollars recirculate through your local economy 2-4 times more than money spent at a non-local company. As your dollars move through your community, the money generates more local wealth, charitable contributions, and jobs. There’s a perfect opportunity coming up to buy locally: the 2023 Iron Range Earth Fest. From 9am to 3pm in the Toyota Arena at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center, area exhibitors and vendors will share what they have available with curious shoppers. From goats milk soap to felted wool slippers, you’ll be able to find originals crafted from local supplies.
Here's a sampling of what will be available. Tamarack Farm of Hibbing will be selling the soap, made from organic oils and fresh goats milk from their herd as well as buckwheat hull pillows and products from reusable and recycled materials. Three Mares and an Old Woman of Embarrass will offer hats, shawls, and slippers made from sustainable natural fibers. Emma’s Roots of Britt will offer handmade bags, aprons, table runners and more. And Stitches by Lois of Virginia will have handmade purses, wallets, coin purses and kitchen items for sale. Birch Botanicals, also of Virginia, will sell their popular skincare products and herbal remedies made from locally foraged wild plants. TR’s Earrings of Hibbing will offer handcrafted jewelry with wood inlay, leather, and birch bark as well as beaded earrings and bracelets. The Spice & Tea Exchange from Duluth will offer loose-leaf teas, custom spice blends, honey, and soy candles. My Kind Creations of Chisholm will sell upcycled home décor and functional items. Augustyn Artworks of Bovey will offer handmade pottery—mugs, stoneware bowls, and pendants as well as unique horsehair pots. Linda’s Luminaries of Brimson recycles glass into beach glass used in solar lights, votives, wind chimes, and suncatchers. Crystal Connection of Mt. Iron will be selling healing crystals. And Pomifera Shaklee will be selling wellness products. Prairie Restorations, a Minnesota company offering native landscaping using plants native to Minnesota for home landscaping, prairies, shoreline, and woodland restorations as well as raingardens will provide information on all of their goods and services. If you want to plant native this year, this is your go-to resource!
If you’re looking for good local food, there will be lots of choices. Heather’s Home Goods of Embarrass will offer canned goods from Heather’s garden, baked goods and organic chicken eggs as well as sewn items including grocery totes from repurposed feed sacks. Chelsea Morning Farm and Never Summer Sugarbush of Two Harbors will be selling maple syrup and canned goods and will take orders for heirloom plants. Best Friends Bites will offer handmade dog treats with no preservatives for your furry friends. Northern Minnesota Meats will be providing information on their new USDA meat processing plant in Mt. Iron. Kelly’s Kitchen of Grand Rapids will sell baked goods, cupcakes, sugar cookies and gluten free items. Fat Chicken Farm of Embarrass will be selling CSA shares for this summer! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture where a customer buys a share of the farm and receives weekly deliveries of fresh produce. And Karl’s Bread of Tower will offer cardamom bread, bagels, and biscotti as well as their popular sourdough breads. For lunch, in the ballroom just past the exhibition area, Go Figur’s will be selling a buffet of good tastes, including a Smoked salmon bowl (wild rice blend, broccoli slaw, pickled veggies, nori, avocado, smoked salmon, spicy mayo), Hummus wrap (hummus, lettuce, cucumbers, onion, tomato, bell peppers, tortilla), Turkey wild rice chili, Fluffnutter sandwich (bread, peanut butter, marshmallow fluff), Pulled pork (pretzel bun, coleslaw, BBQ pulled pork butt), Gluten free brownies, Chocolate chip cookies, Coffee, Ugly potato chips, Chocolate milk, sparkling water and soda. Be sure to arrive hungry!
Mark your calendar and come on out to Earth Fest to browse the exhibit hall located in the Toyota Arena. Speakers, discussions, a repair café, children’s activities, a silent auction, local musicians, and free e-waste recycling will round out the day. It all happens on Saturday, April 22, 9am-3pm at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center at 919 – 6th Street South in Virginia. And it’s FREE.