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!
Watching The Wheels
People say I’m crazy doin’ what I’m doin’…
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin…
When I say that I’m OK, well they look at me kind of strange…
Surely you’re not happy now, you no longer play the game…
(Watching The Wheels- John Lennon)
I have had this song on replay, in my head, all day. Whenever I come off of a stress filled week, month, year, whenever, I find great comfort in music by John Lennon, Jerry Garcia, Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison, Neil Young…any voices that speak to me.
The first line of the above lyric pretty much sums up what so many people say to me. Crazy for all that I am involved in, crazy for the hard work, crazy for never ending plans for business expansion, crazy for still being involved in the markets, crazy for all of my volunteer hours/projects. Crazy for it all.
But you know what? It’s my passion, my love, my need for having my hands in projects that bring me great joy, and in turn, bring the community great joy.
This past month or so was a super crazy time. As a board member of Monument Square District, some of my volunteer jobs, along with Art Affair during the summer, are Holiday Open House promotions, I had a ribbon cutting and grand opening thrown into that mix, and then decorating began down in Santa Land. We opened Santa Land to the public, Friday evening, as we welcomed another Santa’s Homecoming.
Just like running this little local market of love, I find great pleasure in my passion for it all, but at times, there are thoughts of why? how? will it al get done?
And then, a light goes on, and it will be small satisfactions like the excitement of opening the doors to Santa Land, seeing the excited faces of kids of all ages, watching the happiness of shoppers, all over downtown, during our Holiday Open House weekend, watching the local love in action at this market.
All of a sudden, when all of the hard work brings such joy to the community, it all makes sense, once again.
I am not satisfied just watching the wheels go round and round. I have to be a part of that wheel, speeding where the action takes me, on each new project.
This coming week, I carry out my last task of 2015. The Monument Square District Christmas Gala. I am in charge of the cocktail portion of that evening (and, what better job), and also will be teaming up with your assistant manager, Mark, of this market, to bring our local goodness as some of the food vendors who will be providing food for the event.
I am happiest when I am juggling everyone, all at once, and so with that, I remind you that this market is open, we hope that you have had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday, and a beautiful Christmas season to begin.
I would like to announce two new vendors who have joined us, and we are so excited to welcome them!
Women That Farm, and GaGa’s Goodies!! Get to know them!! As soon as I each sends me a bio, I will post for you to get to know them!
Have a happy evening…much love to all of you!
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam