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!
Closing Time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end (Semi-Sonic-Closing Time)
Such an odd song to open up the market for the week, I know…But, this song has meaning to me, and sums up what I would like to say, as I open things up, welcome all of you to another week of the little local market of love, and to say a few kind words…
First, this song ended one of my favorite shows of the early 90s. Melrose Place, and the main character is how my own daughter got her name. She both loves AND cringes that she was named after a television character. This song was the last song of the series end, fading out…
I was reminded of this song, after a heart to heart with my daughter who is now grown, and paving her own paths. Her question, in a text tonight, was…At what age do you figure life out?
My reply? I am still trying…lol. So, she is questioning, learning, full of that early twenty angst that plagued us all, just out of college, as we pondered these great life questions. For me, at that age, the answer was hitting the road, motoring across the USA, landing me in California. We all seek different answers. We all grow in different ways, at different times, hopefully all arriving at a point in life that brings us to where we were meant to be heading.
Just like her new life journey, I reflected on the journey of this market. We are fast approaching our five year anniversary. We have grown in so many ways, we have nurtured, worried, smiled, frowned, applauded, cursed, welcomed, and said farewell, all at different times in this crazy market time span.
This market is near and dear to my heart. I am so proud to be your market manager, and I have been so very lucky to have been trusted with this volunteer position from Heather, our founder. I was then so lucky to have two assistant managers in Charlene and Mark. The market trio worked hard to get this market to the levels it has reached. I am so proud and thankful.
But, tonight, we had to say goodbye to one of our assistant managers who has decided that it would be her closing night. Her closing time. Charlene has been with us since the very beginning, but she is now ready to take on a new chapter, or I should say she is revisiting a program that she helped start, The Market Street Gardens. She is also trying to get The Champaign County Farmers Market ready to open, and she is concentrating on Swisher Hill Herbs. We wish Charlene so much happiness, and say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts…You will still get all of the amazing SHH products, you just won’t see Charlene, on Thursday evenings…
So many crossroads for people I care so much about…every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end…
Tonight, I open the market, with Charlene in my thoughts, my daughter in my thoughts, and all of us who are poised to begin new and exciting adventures!!
You now have two market managers, as we wave goodbye to our third…much love, Charlene…
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam