Great thread! I try to avoid Amazon, Walmart and the other big businesses. We're in a rural area too but here are some things that work for us.
* We have a membership to Costco, which is an hour and a half for us but worth it for stocking up on organic staples for our big family.
* If I see something I like on Amazon, I search for the item on eBay to find an independent seller. They tend to sell the same things for the same prices and the shipping is generally just as fast if you click to only search US sellers. Since feedback is so crucial on eBay, sellers also tend to work hard to please you as opposed to Amazon where these days the sellers just rack up fake reviews and then create a new account once enough real (bad) reviews come in.
* We also buy from Misfits Market. We've been buying from them for about a year and for the most part I'm happy though the prices are higher lately and there are sometimes issues (for instance, in really cold weeks we've had damaged produce here in MN if it sat in a truck overnight and got frozen). They are quick to refund bad produce though, especially if you comment on their Facebook page in the comments (do that if you don't get a good resolution from just clicking on their site and they will move fast to make it right). I do not like their prices much lately on things like fruit but they have a lot of organic options and some seasonal things are very good prices for things like cabbage, zucchinis, daikon radishes, etc. and lots of things that you'd never find organic in the local stores here. They are also building their offerings into more than produce, with meat and seafood now (with a cold pack) and pantry items. Some of these are junk though and not organic, so check the individual listings. If you want to join and get $10 off your first order, here's my affiliate link: COOKWME-IG1HMU. It used to be that you had to build a box out of just lists of options, but now they let you just buy whatever you want and it's a flat $5.50 shipping fee as long as you meet the minimum order of $30.
* We have a membership to Thrive co-op, which is an online store for organic and natural foods. They sell shelf stable stuff and not produce, other than now you can also order frozen stuff if you meet a minimum of something like $100. I haven't bought frozen but I often shop there for other stuff like healthy mayo, natural toothpaste and cleaning supplies, supplements, organic snacks, mushroom powders, keto and organic baking supplies, organic cereal, etc. They cater to special diets like vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, keto, paleo, etc. too and you can even set the page to only show you things that meet your dietary requirements. They run fairly regular sales and offer things like this free expensive thing if you spend $49 today and stuff like that. All of their products are non-GMO and most are organic. Their prices tend to be fair, though not as cheap as buying in bulk. If you are low income, they'll waive the yearly fee (I think it's $50?). Here's my referral code if you want to join:
http://thrv.me/pjfqyH. I order from them fairly regularly, but I do tend to shop their sales.
* I used to do Azure Standard but lately their prices have been increased and they're becoming a big business that's still trying to sell themselves as a small family business (they are still a family business, just a big one now). Until a couple of years ago we'd buy cases of organic apples from there for around $22 for 20 pounds every fall and they were great quality, plus things like bulk grains, organic cereal, etc. Now their apples are almost double the price and I can get almost everything cheaper elsewhere and still shop from ethical places. They deliver by truck once a month to most locations in the US but you have to go to the drop off point to pick up, which is a couple of hours away from us and often at a really inconvenient time. It can still be a good option, especially if you want to buy in bulk for things like baking supplies, natural cheese, vegan and vegetarian items, produce, etc. Here's my affiliate link for them:
https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=18c34Y8HiN
* We buy from local farms and farmers. We get our beef from a regenerative farm a couple of hours away, and got it when they did a "clear the freezer" sale. We get produce from a local farm. It's not organic but it's local and they don't spray much. We also shop the farmers' markets and such for the few organic vendors.
* We grow our own and forage. We forage a ton of wild mushrooms, apples and pears, wild asparagus, nettles, lambsquarters and other greens, elderberries, etc. It's a large part of our food source and my kids always gasp at the idea of buying asparagus at the store. :)
* If you have a buy nothing group in your area, they're awesome. Same with Freecycle.
* Put the word out when you need/want things. If you have any kind of social network like church newsletters or bulletin boards, friend groups, town FB group, etc. those are great for sharing want needs. I have friends who probably haven't bought hobby supplies in years for instance, because they'll post something like "anybody have perler beads they don't need? my daughter is looking for some" or "anyone know where I can find a bird cage?" and at least one friend is usually quick to post that they'll give them one they have sitting around.
* Craig's List is good for used, larger item things. We've found lots of great furniture through them.
Great thread! Thanks for starting it.
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