In Middle Tennessee, there is a growing consumer desire to patronize environmentally friendly businesses. As a result, local entrepreneurs are establishing eco-friendly businesses, while existing businesses have invested in converting their operations to comply with “green” guidelines.

Today, we’re sharing Middle Tennessee shops, companies, services, a hotel, and one entire shopping center that will enable you to live more sustainably in your daily life. Given the impact our individual shopping dollars have on our local environment (take the Tennessee River as an example), it’s clear that we can improve our beloved region by making conscious choices about which businesses to support.

"The chemicals you find in the river is a mirror of our

Middle Tennessee offers a bounty of independent boutiques for the discerning shopper. Whether you’re shopping for home goods, clothing, items for baby, birthday gifts, jewelry, or just a delicious bar of small-batch chocolate, there’s a boutique near you that has just what you’re looking for. 

Today, the team at Parks is sharing our top picks for Middle Tennessee’s best local boutiques. Each shop mentioned below is locally-owned, independent, and beloved by locals and visitors alike. Grab your bags and your wallet, and let’s go shopping!

Apple & Oak
Nashville, TN
appleandoaknash.com

In addition to their generous philanthropic efforts in Tennessee, Apple & Oak is known for being Nashville’s destination for impeccable, vintage Turkish rugs.

It's that time of the month again! We are excited to announce June's LoLo gifts! There are so many unique, wonderful, local businesses in Middle Tennessee and it's time to celebrate them this month!

LoLo, Locals Supporting Locals, is an amazing program for your Parks REALTOR® to give to you! Each month, a completely free, new gift comes to your cell phone for you to enjoy. The gifts are selected by county and are only for local businesses, no nationwide chains!

LoLo helps remind us to shop local and support our friends and neighbors! Here are June's gifts to you!

Chaatable

Davidson County

When stepping through the doors of Chaatable, you'll feel like you’re experiencing an Indian bazaar at its finest. A complete sensory overload full

During this past year, we’ve all been a bit more aware of how our shopping affects our community. We’ve seen local restaurants and independently-owned businesses close, and still more struggle to remain afloat.

One of the simplest ways to support local business owners, essential workers, and connect with others in your community is making the switch from large chain grocery stores to independent, locally-owned markets. We all have to eat, and most of us frequent grocery stores, which makes this switch one of the best places to start.

Today, we’re sharing our top local grocery alternatives to big box stores. We hope you’ll stop by at least one of the following excellent grocers or the farmers market in the coming weeks! 

Many of these grocery

Tennessee’s intricate waterways are some of the most beautiful in the whole of the United States. If you’re looking for a kayaking adventure this summer or fall, Tennessee offers a wide range of scenery and required skill levels. 

Choose any type of trip, from wide, slow river floats to sheer cliffs hugging narrow ribbons of river, and at least one of our rivers are sure to be perfect for your goals. 

If you’re a seasoned kayaker, any destination listed here is great. If you’re a beginner, we recommend taking safety courses before you head out on the more challenging river routes.

Here are our top picks for the best places to kayak in Middle Tennessee. We have included launch spots and highly-rated kayak rental companies for your convenience.

It's that time of the month again! We are excited to announce May's LoLo gifts! There are so many unique, wonderful, local businesses in Middle Tennessee and it's time to celebrate them this month!

LoLo, Locals Supporting Locals, is an amazing program for your Parks REALTOR® to give to you! Each month, a completely free, new gift comes to your cell phone for you to enjoy. The gifts are selected by county and are only for local businesses, no nationwide chains!

LoLo helps remind us to shop local and support our friends and neighbors! Here are May's gifts to you!

Redheaded Stranger

Davidson County

The Redheaded Stranger is a neighborhood taco shop located in East Nashville! If you like fresh and delicious tacos, brisket, hatch green

In 2020, health and immunity were in the international spotlight like never before. Unfortunately, especially at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, serenity and tranquility weren’t easy for many of us to achieve, and our physical fitness took a proverbial back seat.

Now, with yoga studios across Middle Tennessee open for classes, you can pursue improved personal wellness—both inside and out—in a community of like-minded students. Today, we’re bringing you our list of the best local yoga studios in Middle Tennessee. While things may be a bit different than they were pre-pandemic, classes are in full swing; the only thing missing is you!

Sanctuary for Yoga
Nashville, TN
sanctuaryforyoga.com

Sanctuary Yoga was founded by Daphne and Tom

It's that time of the month again! We are excited to announce April's LoLo gifts! There are so many unique, wonderful, local businesses in Middle Tennessee and it's time to celebrate them this month!

LoLo, Locals Supporting Locals, is an amazing program for your Parks REALTOR® to give to you! Each month, a completely free, new gift comes to your cell phone for you to enjoy. The gifts are selected by county and are only for local businesses, no nationwide chains!

LoLo helps remind us to shop local and support our friends and neighbors! Here are April's gifts to you!

Honest Coffee Roasters

Williamson & Davidson County

Honest Coffee Roasters is a local favorite! They are a specialty coffee roasting company located in Franklin,

As vaccines are being rolled out and the nation begins to reopen, more homeowners are finally preparing to welcome contract workers back into their homes. If you are looking for workers in Middle Tennessee to assist you with home services like landscaping, gutter cleaning, home organization, packing and/or unpacking boxes, assembling flat-pack furniture, painting services, changing recessed lights 15 feet above your head, cleaning your home, running home-related errands, or home decoration, then the following independent contracting apps may have just the leads you need!

1.) TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit matches freelance workers with local homeowners, which means you can download the free app, search for help with cleaning, handy work, moving house,

Spring is here, which means it’s time to delve into gardening once again. Instead of heading to a big box store, may we recommend checking out a local plant nursery near you? We stand behind all of the garden centers that made our list – they each have a reputation for bountiful, robust plants and outstanding customer service to assist master gardeners to nervous novices and everyone in between. 

Additionally, by shopping local, your garden investments will support your own friends and neighbors, and you’ll be able to explore the extensive cultivars that do best in our climate. Why choose the ordinary when an extraordinary garden is within reach?

(Please note that most of the following locations require masks and limit the number of shoppers who