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!
This Must Be The Place
Home, is where I want to be
But I guess I’m already there…
(Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place)
There was a summer where all I listened to was, The Talking Heads, and their off shoot, The Tom-Tom club. Talking Heads always remind me of that carefree summer during college. Not a worry, not a care, just summer jobs with a big dose of fun. We all went to concerts, we hung out at local parks, were getting ready to enter our junior years in college bringing big changes, big plans. Half of that summer had me living in my hometown, half down in my college town. Summers had a magical feel down in that town. A bunch of us lived in a house, worked, and since I was the VP of my sorority, at that time, I was in charge of getting things ready for fall rush, getting the sorority floor all spruced up for the sisters who would be moving back, for rush parties, for the beginning of our year.
I remember, one day, as a bunch of us were decorating the floor, we had a stereo blaring Talking Heads, we had a cooler of illegal beer, we were all laughing and talking. This song came on and I remember stopping, looking at the sun coming through the windows, listening to the lyrics and looking at my beloved sorority sisters. I had never known such a feeling of home. Of peace. Of sisterhood and love. I am still so close to so many of those girls even after so many years.
Home…it’s where your heart pulls you. It’s where the people welcome you, love you, laugh with you. It can be anywhere, at any time, with any people. There have been a few places, a few times, that have totally engulfed me and it felt like home.
This market feels like a little piece of home to me. The little local family that we have built. The goodness that we all are centering around. The visions, the goals, the respect. When I think of this market, it warms my heart and my soul. Just like a welcome home. This must be the place…our little local place called home.
We are open until 10pm, tonight! It is shaping up to be another great market!! I would love to see it climb to beat even our best record to date!
Take a bit of time, look at the market offerings, look at the seasonal items that are about to leave us, get to know our new producers, get your orders in so we can get it all ready for you when we see you on Thursday!
It’s always our pleasure to welcome you back…
Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam