Let’s face it… Mother’s Day… flowers… this month is quite literally gift-wrapped for participation. You can absolutely head over to your favorite neighborhood nursery or greenhouse and pick up a plant or some flowers for mom. Maybe though… you’ve got some work going on in the garden. A few vegetable plants or a couple of herbs might be nice. Perhaps… some work to do on a walkway or the lawn.

I can still recall as a kid heading to the hardware store on different occasions with my father, uncle and grandfather. It seems to me there were always one or two in particular that were first stops for them. This month, we turn our attention to the place you can use as a quick stop -- because spring is here, and it’s time to think about some outdoor projects and maybe working on the house… and maybe the lawn… the garden… and on and on.

We all have a favorite place to get some delicious pizza. And, in many cases these places fit the definition of small, local, community businesses. If you head to your favorite neighborhood pizza place this month... fantastic. How about a bit of a twist though? Why not use this challenge as a reason to try that place you’ve always wanted to stop at, or, or to visit the place you haven’t been to in some time? Here’s another idea... you might order a pizza or a sandwich all the time... but if this place serves calamari, or calzones, or fish and chips... why not try something different from the menu?

It could be a small general store… perhaps it specializes in meats or seafood… it may be the place where you know the name of the butcher (and he’s already correctly assembled half of your order before you get from the door to the counter)… occasionally it’s where you settle in for a cup of coffee or to buy your lottery tickets.

We’re starting things off with one of the most amazing possibilities, the local bakery. Why so amazing? Because the quality bakery is disappearing. Markets have begun offering products such as breads, cakes and other "fresh" items, which they often claim to prepare right there on property. Generally it’s convenience and not much more, since the greatest of local bakeries will usually offer better quality at a better price. (Usually.)