Franklin's Tower

In another time’s forgotten space…
your eyes looked through your mother’s face…
Wildflower seed on the sand and stone…
may the four winds blow you safely home…
(Franklin’s Tower-Grateful Dead)

Well, we really did make it through that very cruel weather that Mother Nature dealt us on Saturday. We had a mix of all four seasons, we had tornado to hurricane strength winds, we had the rain/sleet/snow combination, at one point, from my house, it looked like a total white out. My house was shaking, I watched shingles fly off of the garage, limbs were flying off the trees, and the wind was so fierce, I had to hold myself against one of our sets of back doors just to keep it from blowing open.

I was talking, later, with one of my oldest and best friends from the West End, and he told me that he was getting ready for the weather to hit him in Connecticut. Then he messaged me our favorite Dead lyric…May The Four Winds Blow You Safely Home.

This is my phrase for most of life’s happenings. When I think that I am at a point of not understanding where I am, how I got to a certain point, are my life choices all adding up to something, or are all signs pointing to disaster looming on the horizon, this is the lyric that I hold to my heart.

I think we all need something to ground us. To get us through. A lyric, a song, a mantra, a prayer, anything that represents a safe journey to where life may be taking you.

As I look back on my life, I have had many, many triumphs. But, with those, I have had many times that became learning lessons, necessary bumps in the road, to put me back on my course, and to direct me to where my path needed to now lead me.

This little local market of love can be our four winds, blowing us safely home, grounding us in this local community, and making the journey just a bit easier because you have friends who want to help take the stress out of anything that may be happening in your week.

When you order from us, you have the ease of online ordering, the trust that we bring you the best of the best of local products, and the love that you can only get from the hands of familiar faces…

Let us be the four winds for you, this week…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Here Comes The Sun!

I know that it feels like we have taken a step back with the chilly winds and temperatures, today, but we do have some solid sunshine, outside!! And, it’s April!!

My favorite time of the year because it means we really have come through another winter, we begin seeing regrowth, sunshine, green, we feel our bodies and souls rejoicing in the warmth.

April is also my birthday month!! Yay!! And, it’s also so fitting that it’s my favorite time of the year because I begin touching base with our growers, gathering estimated times that they will be back on the market, how their growing season is progressing, how they have been since we last saw them, and getting all excited that we are only weeks away from adding them all back, little by little.

Swisher Hill Herbs did that for me with this market!! Charlene took a tour of one of her greenhouses and saw a few plants that were ready, so she is making us all happy by adding them to the market!! They will go fast, they are the first of the live plants, and you need to get your orders in, pronto!

It’s a perfect Saturday morning for market orders…

Have a great day!! Fill it with sunshine and love…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Laughter In The Rain

Oo, I hear laughter in the rain…
Walking hand in hand with the one I love…
Oo, how I love the rainy days and the happy way I feel inside…
(Laughter In The Rain- Neil Sedaka)

Is everyone feeling groovy, swaying side to side, singing a chorus of this song?

This song brings back so many memories, but the main memory is a middle school talent show, so very long ago.

Growing up in the West End, we all attended one school, from K-8TH grade. We had small classes, close knit families, and our circles of friendships were fierce. One of the highlights was when you were old enough to audition, and compete, for the Spring Talent Show!!

This was no slouchy, half baked talent show. No. We took our talent shows very seriously! Almost as serious as our middle school plays.

Anyway…your market manager and girl gang all tried out with our amazing, self choreographed, elaborate costumed, songfest that was to Elton John/Kiki Dee’s Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart. It was fab, AMAZING, we had the moves, we had the satin bell bottom/disco hat/sparkle top ensembles. We combined the moves of The Hustle, some sort of finger snapping, singing, and a lot of hip shaking. We were a crowd favorite! We got a standing ovation! The entire night was ours! We were the shining stars! We were HOT stuff!

Then, one of our West End boys took the stage. We had no idea what he had planned, let alone had any idea he was able to sing. We all sat in our seats, ready to give him a listen, curious, sort of smirking, because well, you know, we HAD this!

He was all outfitted in one of those polyester shirts, bell bottoms, necklace…cool boy attire. We sat thinking we had no idea what to expect.

Then, the spotlight went on him, this song began to play, and the once ho hum guy pal of the West End began singing this. We were in awe. We were in LOVE. He blew the place away. I will never forget that moment of him, his voice, the spotlight, him walking away with OUR trophy!!!

So, in the end, I was driving home, tonight, in the pouring rain, barely able to see, and all of a sudden this song popped into my head. This sweet memory. And, about how the unexpected can happen, knock out the sure bets, and come out the shining star.

It reminds me of this market, how almost five years ago, we were destined to fail, and look at us now. We are the boy of the West End, who took the spotlight, and made it our own. This market took the spotlight, center stage, and there is no stopping us!

I am opening the market, we have AMAZING local products, the seasons have changed, and we would love to welcome you back!

We are here for you, in our spotlight…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

The End of the End

At the end of the end…
It’s the start of a journey…
To a much better place…
And a much better place…
Would have to be special…
No reason to cry…
No need to be sad…
At the end of the end…
(The End of the End- Paul McCartney)

On a somber and sad note, I would like to let our little local market of love community that one of our own has passed away. Today, we mourn the loss of the beloved Katie Hoover of Sunshine Gardens.

Katie left our market, a while ago, as her health was taking a turn downward. Being the little fighter that she was, she outlived the time spans that were given to her. She was a strong spirit, a strong presence, and a strong leader.

Katie was a pioneer in this local food community, local food movement, before it was the trendy thing to do. Back when local food, real food, was just regular food.

Katie was an expert baker, gardener, and led the community with love, and her faith, for many years.

Many bakers learned at the hands of Katie. Many who sought wisdom, comfort, and compassion, would find themselves in Katie’s kitchen.

I grew to know Katie when I first entered the local scene as a new baker. She and her husband Rufus were always in the same spot, at the end, or the beginning of the market midway, at the Champaign County Farmer’s Market. When I entered as a new vendor, though our baking styles were entirely different, she came to me and welcomed me, and always had a cheerful smile, a welcomed greeting, or a knowing way about her as she looked at me, at all of us.

I know that others have many tales, accomplishments, and memories about Katie…I can only write from my heart about a very kind woman, who was small but mighty, friendly but fierce/protective to the ones she loved, talented in her craft, and steady in her faith.

Katie may have now reached the end of her end, but her journey is now just beginning…our hearts are all better for having known her.

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

PLEASE READ

There seems to be something running through out system of a hacking nature.

If you get an email from LocallyGrown asking you to change your password, click on a link, do anything that does NOT come from me, PLEASE DO NOT DO IT.

I have been getting these emails, all morning, and was just alerted by another customer.

We would never ask you to change emails, passwords, or ask for any payment through our system.

If your email is not signed by me, then please, please disregard!!

Thanks so much!
Cosmic Pam

The Time!

Ok…you have just a few minutes before the 10:00 hour to get your orders in!!

We know it’s a holiday week, spring break, a vacation from the norm, so let us help you make your shopping a bit easier!!

Go, order, and be done for the week!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Vacation!?

Vacation…
All I ever wanted…
Vacation…
Had to get away…
Vacation…
Meant to be spent alone…
(Vacation- The Go-Go’s)

Well, it IS spring break time some in our little local market of love customer base. Maybe you left town, maybe you are taking a break, right here, in town, OR maybe it’s just life as normal after the Easter weekend.

If you have remained in town, why not give yourself a vacation from shopping, and place your weekly orders with us!! Let us do the work while you breeze through, grab your local goods, and continue on with your sunshine, soul trippin’ fun?

We are open until 10pm, this evening!! Go ahead…give yourself the break you deserve!! And, what better way to kick off the warmer weather, than with healthy choices in local food??

See you soon…
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

White Rabbit

And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you’re going to fall…
(White Rabbit-Jefferson Airplane)

Just a quick Weblog, this morning, little local market of love customers, to tell you to have a lovely, sunshine filled, daydreaming kind of Easter!

When you are finished with your celebrations, you can settle down with out market, and ease your way into the week, by placing your orders…

Just a quick word…with the early warm weather, several vendors are alerting me that it will be just a few short weeks, and they will be able to bring in a bit of early seasonal produce!! YEAH!!

We have had to say goodbye to Star Dancer Creamery, and we wish them well!!

In the coming couple of months, we should be able to offer you a new dairy source!!

So much to look forward to, so much market excitement!!

Have a lovely day, show some love, and then come back to us, with your weekly orders!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Magic

It’s magic…you know…never believe it’s not so…
(Magic-Pilot)

Such a cool song, such great memories from when I was oh, what? 4th grade? I remember buying the 45 of this song. I lived to spend every penny I had at the local record shops!

Magic…it’s sort of what makes it all happen around us. It gives us spark, and hope, and it gives us the belief that all things will be great, successful, amazing!

This market exists and succeeds on a lot of hard work, planning, and a bit of magic. The magic is the pixie dust that keeps us all groovy!

I couldn’t get this market pulled off, each week, without all of you. When we all work, together, we make the magic happen.

Today, I clearly was going to be in a time crunch. I had baked for this market, set up the market, had a huge baking order for a restaurant, and a small design party that asked me to cater. I knew that it would take a big of magic and a huge magic wand waving over everything to get it all done, all at the exact times it all needed to be done, and everyone taken care of.

With the cooperation of my other manager, the YMCA, my quick thinking, and the vendors, I was able to pull it all off and STILL make it back for customer pick up!

To the YMCA…thank you for taking care of us with our checks for vendors, and customer payments! To the vendors, thank you so much for being able to go with the flow. I was able to put your checks out, you dropped the product, and you grabbed your checks as you were done. To my fellow manager, Mark, for arriving early enough to oversee the first few customers, and to the customers…thank you for coming back, each and every week! That is the kind of magic that never ceases to amaze me!

I am opening the market, tonight, wishing you all the happiest of weekend holidays. A happy Easter to you all!!

Much love, magic, and grooviness…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

I And Love And You

I and love and you…
I and love and you…
I and love and you…
(I And Love And You-The Avett Brothers)

Three simple things…three simple things that are all about this market, except add We for the I…but, I love you, too!

Today has been one of those days that followed one of those days. But, in the end, after decisions, after soul searching, after peacefully trusting all that I am, and after being loved by my circle of closest friends/mentors/everyone who makes up my tribe…I am ending the day knowing that all is fine. I had supportive people, arms that hugged me, words that said they understood me, and love that knows no bounds from this lovely little tribe I call my circle.

I feel that in any given situation, you are given choices to get through it. When faced with a decision, I knew in my heart what I needed to do, but it took that one ingredient…that all encompassing ingredient of love from all who matter, to make me know that I am ending the day on a peaceful note with a peaceful mind.

In any situation you need all of the ingredients to make it all work. Finish the equation. Make all parts whole. This is what this market is all about. All of the parts work together. We unite in love. We bring that love to this market. Our customers feel that love, and show it right back to us…

It’s a groovy thing, my loves, when this equation all works. It’s like when you are deciding on your orders, you make your decisions, you put your trust and love in our market, and we are eager to give it right back. The perfect equation.

I and love and you…

The market closes at 10pm, tonight! Think about Easter, think about any upcoming Spring Break needs, think about all of the love that you need from us…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam