The Weblog

The local foods movement is alive and well in Champaign County! Here are some updates on other projects while we finalize our virtual market:

Local Producers Map:
Our local producers map is ready for publication and you will soon be able to find it on gochampaign.com. Copies will be distributed around the community, in the local telephone book, and other “hangouts”. The guide lists the location and contact information for nearly 50 local producers within our county. The map was a project of the Local Food Council and printed with the help of some local sponsors including the Monument Square District, Champaign Bank, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and others. It is a great start to finding a local source for Champaign County’s finest!



 
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Cool Change


It’s kind of a special feeling
When you’re out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon, like a lover
Time for a cool change…
(Cool Change-Little River Band)

Cue the fall of 1979. Scene, the start of my sophomore year in high school. Homecoming dance. This song. So funny how the change in weather, change in the breeze, change of season, will bring about so many memories.

I thought the song title was appropriate for this time of the season we are now entering. The crisp mornings, the warm days, the amazing moonlight in the evenings with stars that shine like tiny diamonds, all over.

Since this summer, I have revisited my high school memories more than any other time. I have reconnected with my entire group of girls of 1982, and some of the guys that we deemed worthy of our presence…lol. My little impromptu class reunion, this past July, seemed to know that we were all searching for a missing piece, a missing soul, a need to revisit the people who helped to shape our young selves. Next Friday, the Girls of 1982 are planning an epic sleepover! A sleepover for the books!! Bringing nothing but scrapbooks, forgotten clothing from back then, a boat load of wine, and all in a posh hotel…we were the leaders of the pack, and we are so excited to begin this next journey in this new stage of life.

Very fitting for this time of the year. A renewal, a crisp love, a kiss back to a time of nothing but freedom, new ideas, and a dose of awesomeness!

This market is seeing a rebirth for the season. The area markets are closing for the season, some have closed, some are on the cusp of closing, and yet here we are, open all year, beckoning to you to remain full of love for your local vendors, locally produced items.

Another sign that the seasons are changing was this past Sunday. Our annual State of the Plate found us celebrating our county, steeped in agriculture, celebrating our growers, our producers. It was a perfect, cool, crisp, sunny autumn day. The scene was at Wren Farm in Mechanicsburg. The speakers were amazing!! You know them, locally, and through this market. The vendors brought their best game. The food was provided from local sources, prepared, in conjunction with local forces coming together, which would be your own Hippie and the Farmer duo, along with In Good Taste Catering. The vibe was electric. A day to remember, and to be thankful that our local fabric is alive, and vibrant! We revisited this local movement. We discussed the importance of agri-business, agri-tourism, agriculture…the backbone of our local fabric.

But above all the local, just revisit what you love. You have loved us for over five years…you continue to love us. Now, with the change of seasons, the change of weather, fall back, head over heels in love with us. Old friends never fade…they just grow more special with love, over time…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

It's The Time Of The Season!


It’s the time of the season.
When love runs high.
And this time, give it to me easy…
(It’s The Time Of The Season- The Zombies)

Well, my lovely local market of love customers…it really is that time of the season!!

We are now in the month of October! All things fall, all things harvest, all things lovely, shining, golden, and beautiful!

Take the time to look over our market, think about how we can bring a bit of local happiness, local food, local ease, local pride into your life, this week, this month, this year…

It’s the time of the season…let us help you make our market your new way to shop!! Our love runs high…show us some local support!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Last Call!


This is your last reminder to get those orders in!!

You have until 10pm to make it all happen!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Groovy Tuesday!


AND…just a reminder that this is Tuesday, the bewitching hour will be along, tonight, and you will want to get your orders in, before it is too late!

Your market manager is winding down an extremely busy summer, and is so excited to be ending the crazy string of months, this weekend, so that it’s just a normal crazy, and I can get back to Weblogs for this market, and nagging you and annoying you and loving you!!

It is just after 5pm, and you have until 10pm to get your orders in for the week!!

I will be baking, all evening, and will be watching you…don’t let me down!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

State Of The Plate Deadline!


Hello, little local market of love customers!!

Just a quick reminder…if you plan to attend this year’s State of the Plate, time is of the essence!!

I am including a letter from the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce!!

Dear Chamber & Community Members,
 
Please make plans to join us at the 4th Annual State of the Plate Local Foods Dinner on Sunday, October 9 at the historic Wren Farm outside of Mechanicsburg.
 
This is a professionally catered dinner of locally grown food served in the historic Wren Barn; the occasion also provides attendees an opportunity to speak with and learn from the people who grew the meal’s ingredients.
 
We are excited to announce a new location this year! The Smith family will host this year’s event at their barn on Wren Farm (6150 State Route 187 just outside of Mechanicsburg).
 
Activities begin at 12:15 p.m. with registration and Market Time, which will feature samples and items for sale by local growers and producers. Opening remarks will start at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a local foods buffet co-catered by In Good Taste Catering and The Hippie & The Farmer.
 
During the dinner, local producers and pioneers of the local foods movement will talk about the beginnings, growth, and success of their food and beverage production businesses. The speakers will include Mark and Debbie Titus/Mad Sweet Heat, Amy Forrest & Lyndsay Murphy/In Good Taste Catering, Pam Bowshier and Mark Runyan/The Hippie & the Farmer, Paul and Grace Kurtz/Hemisphere Coffee Roasters, Heather and Ryan Hostetler/St. Ives Winery, and Amanda Douridas/The Ohio State University Extension. The event will end at 3 p.m.
 
Seating is limited! To make reservations and payment (cash, check, or credit cards accepted), please call the Champaign County Chamber at 937-653-5764 by TOMORROW on Wednesday, October 5.
 
Your reservation of $20 per person includes a full buffet with dessert and two tickets to select a glass of wine produced by Champaign County’s new St. Ives Winery. The event is being planned by The Champaign County Local Food Council, LLC, a cooperative effort of the Champaign County Chamber and Champaign Economic Partnership. The group’s goal is to help expand market opportunities for local food producers.
 
About Wren Farms
 
In 1845, the Wren brothers settled down on adjacent lots outside of Mechanicsburg. While Isaac Wren’s original house still stands, the barn burned to the ground in the 1950s. It was quickly replaced with the bank barn that stands in the same spot today. After many years of use housing livestock, the barn was renovated by Rick & Rita Anderson for their daughter Eva’s wedding reception in 2005. In 2013, Brian and Elizabeth Smith purchased the farm and currently rent the barn venue for receptions, reunions, and other large gatherings of up to 250 people. The Smiths are excited to welcome you as guests for this year’s State of the Plate Dinner!
 
Thank you for supporting our local producers and the growing local foods movement in our community. We look forward to your reservation!
 
Lydia Hess, Administrative Assistant
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & CVB
107 North Main Street
Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 653-5764

Linger


If you, if you could return
Don’t let it burn
Don’t let it fade
I’m sure I’m not being rude
But it’s just your attitude
Linger
The Cranberries

So, on this very, very crisp autumn night, I came home, I lit every candle in the house, I poured a glass of wine, and I just let music wash away my day.

It has been a long week, a long few days, the kind of long that at once you feel both never ending, and the speed of light coming at you, in all directions.

Crazy week, crazy people, crazy large deliveries…it was all good, basically. So much to do, so many things to accomplish, so many places to be, so many people to hug/linger over wine with great conversation, great friendship, and then a bit of a scare thrown in while I watched my best friend unfold in an auto accident, two cars ahead of me, on the rainy roads, yesterday…She walked away from the crash that should not have happened. I held my breath until I saw her emerge from the wreckage. Not her fault…the driver went way into her lane, head on. So scary to watch it all happen. All I could do was hug her, hold her, make sure she was all good…

Yes…it’s been a day, a week, a month.

Now, as I sit with a glass of wine, I am watching as we are about to see September glaze over into October, and I see the days changing into splintered sunshine, and the night air grow cooler, and well, I linger…and I think, and I regroup, and I find comfort in this little local market of love.

The place that we all call home, by now. The place where we can all shop, at our leisure, as we linger over the days, the evenings. This market that makes shopping a breeze. Easy, affordable, healthy, and local…

So, get to know us, revisit us, or hello, again, to our loyal regulars. Go ahead…just linger…and then order so that you can return to lingering…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

It's A Wonderful Night...


…For a Moondance…
(Moondance-Van Morrison)

Or, it’s a wonderful night for getting your orders in!! Why? Well, it is now Tuesday evening, we close the market for the week, at 10pm, tonight, AND, you don’t want to miss out on the products, the fun, the local fabric…

Go ahead, get organized, and then start shopping!! It’s a wonderful night for it!!

Right now, your market manager has poured a glass of wine, is listening to my Van Morrison playlist, and is…ordering from the market!! Come on…get your own moondance on!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

State Of The Plate


Happy Monday, little local market of love customers!!

Today, I bring you information about this year’s October State Of The Plate!

Make plans to attend this year’s, State of the Plate, at the beautiful farm of Wren Farm in Mechanicsburg! State of the Plate allows us to honor or local growers and producers, and also, it allows us to showcase various farms and barn settings, as we travel the county, with a new venue!

This year, we are keeping the reservations to just 120 people!! Tickets are 25.00/each!! You will get to shop from, and have a tasting of products from our local vendors!! You get an amazing, local lunch that will be co-catered by In Good Taste Catering/Amy Forrest, and by Hippie and the Farmer/Pam Bowshier and Mark Runyan. There will be speakers that have much to share about the local scene explosion, this past year!! You get coffees from our own local coffee roaster, Hemisphere’s Coffee!! You get the chance to see the beautiful Wren Farm, and you get the chance to support your local foods council, local foods movement, and your local growers and producers.

Reservations can be made by calling the Champaign County Chamber!! They do need to have you make your reservations, as soon as you can, so that we do not run out of room!

Thanks so much!
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Hello, Lovely


The market is now open for another week of fun in local adventures!!

Get your orders started…we would love to see your smiling faces!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Last Call!


It’s been a busy night for this market girl!!!

You get a bonus half hour to order!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes….
Cosmic Pam