Seminole County - Farmers Markets, Consignment shops, etc. ??

I just moved here last summer and am interested in places where I can help the local economy and/or buy used. I'm looking to start "unplugging" from sending my money to global conglomerates as much as possible.

So, looking for any suggestions on where to find good places to shop for locally-produced/grown food, clothes (and consignment shops). And what's a good small, very local bank? I'd like to never use a bank again but it's almost impossible to do that. Esp. with trying to cash a simple check nowadays. Ugh.

http://apmarket.wordpress.com/

but, it's at a weird time and if your work isn't close to it, it's not very convenient.

There's also the Homegrown Co-op -- they have a Winter Garden pick-up location:
Winter Garden
Florida Fitness Center
1319 Green Forest Ct.
Winter Garden, FL 34787
407.592.0582 ~ask for Kristin

http://homegrowncoop.org/

Here's their list of food, etc:
http://homegrown.locallygrown.net/

This is next to Dandilion Communitea on Thornton in Midtown Orlando (behind Little Saigon restaurant, kinda).

In terms of banking, I used the Move Your Money site to find a couple of options -- TrustCo and Urban Trust are recommended according to this:
http://moveyourmoney.info/find-a-bank


I'd love some suggestions for Thrift Stores. the Ivanhoe area near downtown Orlando has lots of cool second-hand store, but I haven't found my "it" place yet. there's actually a mid-century modern used furniture place there, but they're waaaaay overpriced. Or, I wish I'd sold my old stuff for as much as they're asking!!

The AP Market is in Winter Park, that's just north of downtown which is where I work so stopping there on the way home would be no problem.


Thanks for the info on the banks, too.

The Farmers Market in downtown Winter Park is very good. There is also a Farmers Market at Waterford Lakes but not every weekend. Pricey but nice.

I only shop at secondhand and consignment shops. Check out Dechoes -- there are several -- the largest is on Aloma Avenue -- near where I live. The Junior League Thrift Shop near the WP Police Station is very good -- sometimes they have dollar a bag day. There are 2 huge Salvation Army stores in the Orlando Area. One is on 436 (Semoran Blvd.) and the other is on Highway 50. On Wednesdays everything is 50%. I recently bought a Chanel Jacket at the one on 436 for $12.99 -- it is about $500 regularly.

The Amvets run 2 massive thrift stores - one is on the corner of Edgewater Drive and Lee Road and the other is on South Orange Avenue on the outskifts of Orlando. They do not take checks or debit cards -- only cash or credit cards. They have ATM machines in both stores. They are absolutely fantastic places for bricabrac, books, movies, and furniture. I don't buy bestsellers right a way but I can always find them there. I recently purchased Team or Rivals for $1.99 -- sorry Doris Kearns Goodwin -- at the one on South Orange Avenue.

Happy hunting!