“Buying local” is a trend that’s gained a lot of momentum in the past few years. It’s led to an increase of businesses that focus on local products, particularly when it comes to food or local services. The idea behind buying local is finding better quality, fresher, more local goods and services, which tends to result in better quality and supports the local community. And buying local tends to be a little easier on the wallet.

Here at Wofford though, we tend to live in “the Bubble,” which makes it kind of hard to get out into the community and take advantage of some of the opportunities to go local. There are a few local businesses that have decided to burst the Bubble and work on Wofford’s campus to give students the option to buy local. These include Little River Roasting Company, Cakehead Bakeshop and Compost Matters.

Littler River and Cakehead Bakeshop both make their permanent home at 188 West Main Street, right in the heart of downtown Spartanburg. Now, both can also be found at Acorn Café, in the heart of the Roger Milliken Science Center. Instead of having to go all the way downtown, Wofford students can buy local right on campus.

Wofford Alumnus Gervais Hollowell started Little River Roasting in 2001 in Flat Rock, N.C., and Little River moved to Spartanburg in 2002. They work with small farmers all over the world to bring a variety of coffees to Spartanburg, and in doing so promote environmental awareness and aid non-profit conservation groups to give back to those local communities where they source their coffee, places like Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala and Ethiopia. Acorn Café features several of the different roasts and blends Little River has to offer, with the added bonus of Mrs. Rita.

Cakehead Bakeshop, located in the back of the Coffee Bar (the name of Little River’s coffee shop), is a tiny, cheery little slice of heaven, with a menu to satisfy any and all sweet cravings (and even a few savory ones too). Liz Blanchard, who stared the bakery four years, uses family recipes tweaked with her own tastes and experiences to make cupcakes, cookies, pies, biscuits, scones, quiche and more.

Some of her more popular treats, like muffins and scones, are within arm’s reach on the counter in Acorn Café. Blanchard expresses the hope that reaching out to Wofford’s campus will encourage students to make the trip downtown and enjoy the space at the Coffee Bar, which features a cozy café area and often hosts events, like live music.

Buying local doesn’t just mean coffee and sweet treats; there are also other services available on campus from local businesses.

Current Wofford student Jacob Strehl started Compost Matters in March, a compost and recycling company that allows Wofford students to participate in composting and recycling. Customers have one of two options: composting or zero-waste, which includes compost and recycling. The compost produced from the process can either be returned to the customer for personal use for things like gardening, or donated to the Hub City Farmer’s Market. Most Wofford students don’t have much need for compost, so Wofford participants get the added bonus of supporting the Spartanburg Farmer’s market with their compost donations.

“We wanted to give students the chance to start thinking more about their waste and where they are throwing things away. Composting is pretty simple once people realize what can go into the compost bin,” says Strehl.

Just a few students have signed up so far, but Strehl is looking for more. Compost Matters is an easy way for students to get involved, not only “buying local” but also supporting the Spartanburg community in the process.

— Leah Hunter