People to Support Who Do Not Participate in Social Media

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Below is my short list (remember quality, not quantity) of people I highly recommend supporting. These are people doing important work with excellence and integrity. Work whose depth is even more profound due to the lack of distraction caused by diluting ones energies and  efforts with the game of content creation.

There is so much that could be said as to why these are important people to support. There is a regenerative, sustainability woven into the whole tapestry of life when we support people that are not optimizing for visibility but rather quality and integrity of purpose. When extraction of any kind is not a part of the scenario that leads you to benefitting from their work and them benefitting from your support, what is left is pure, unadulterated and life-giving reciprocity. To even write this seems to simplify the incredible power that this kind of relationship creates. And not to mention how much someone who has opted out of participating in these life-oppressing systems truly appreciates being supported. They are creating meaningful offerings on the margins and it's not easy watching others succeed just because they are louder, flashier, and more visible.

And I'll leave this here because it deserves to be said. There are cultures that value reputation and craftsmanship much more than our American society does. I've been talking about this with some tea friends. Matcha is not advertised in Japan like it is here. Because no one in Japan would buy Matcha without knowing the reputation and true craftsmanship of the product. There would be research involved. Here, there are so many Matcha companies vying for a piece of the profit, they have decided the louder and more flashier they can be, the more successful they will be. And luckily the vast majority of American consumers will never do the research. It's likely most of the Matcha we are drinking isn't even from Japan. But we choose the product with the prettiest package and the loudest marketing ads. A different way of consuming needs to be cultivated.

So let this list be based on reputation and true craftsmanship. I have done the leg work of research and it is my gift to you.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. As you can imagine it's hard to find people who do not participate in social media. The list will continue to be updated as I find new people to uplift. If you have someone you'd like to recommend, please e-mail me at jdetreglode@gmail.com to send your suggestion.

Local Rockstars (SLO County Based)

Margot Schaal - Feldenkrais practitioner and Qigong Teacher

Cynthia Russek - Craniosacral Therapist and Bodyworker

Casey of Echo-Phoenix Wellness - Body & Energy Worker

Domingo Farms - found at many Farmer's Markets

Valezquez Farms - found at many Farmer's Markets

Worldwide Rockstars

The late Wendell Berry - Novelist, Poet, Farmer, Environmental Writer & Activist (he famously didn't have a computer or phone and wrote primarily by hand)

Amelia Hruby - Tech Podcaster, Feminist Philosopher, Marketing Advisor, and "the small business owner who quit social media"

Alexandra Franzen & Get It Done - Writer, Editor, Writing Coach & Book Coaching Program

Lush Cosmetics - These people rock...check out their IG...there are 9 posts all about the dangers of Instagram and the last one was written in 11/2023. Way to use your platform to promote change. Tons of respect for Lush!!!

Elise Cripe - Designer, Artist, Writer, Craft Influencer (she spent years building a platform for herself on Instagram with 8000 posts and 85k followers and a few years ago she quit. Now she shares her inspirational work, which includes home projects and gardening and natural dyeing, as well as her philosophies around creativity through a subscription newsletter).

I recognize there are many amazing business-owners who are using social media minimally and with utmost consciousness around their participation. At sometime I may make another list but for now I really wanted to uplift those in our community and beyond who are doing amazing work behind the scenes.