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!
Dancin' In The Moonlight
We get it almost every night…
and when that moon gets big and bright…
it’s supernatural delight…
everybody was dancin’ in the moonlight…
(Dancin’ In The Moonlight- King Harvest)
An early morning post to the little local market of love! If you are awake, I urge you to go to a window, or venture outside, and look at the beauty of the moon…it was so amazing when I got up, way so early, and was having coffee before I started to bake.
The moon…I love the dark, clear skies, the twinkling stars, and the different phases of the moon. So comforting, so assuring, so mesmerizing.
Growing up in the West End, there used to be lots of backyard campouts, as all of us would put our tents up, and our parents would allow us to sleep outside, telling ghost stories, running the West End, through backyard games of late night tag, Ghost In The Graveyard, and generally running around like a bunch of crazy loons. Flashlight tag would result in all of our parents coming out to yell at us for waking up the neighbors. We would all settle down, tell ghost stories, try to levitate each other with the whole light as a feather thing, and then sneak off on our bicycles for late night biking on the country roads that surrounded the West End.
Good times…the highlight would be the moon and star gazing. I would sit while the others would be running around, and just stare, dream, plan, and scheme, while looking at the vast night sky.
The moon, this morning, reminded me of those carefree days, the coming of the warmer weather, and then my thoughts turned to…OMG…this weekend, with the time change, last weekend, is…EASTER!!
So, while thinking moonbeam thoughts, I also want you to think Easter thoughts!! Get your lists ready, get your orders in!! Will you be baking, grilling, entertaining, coloring eggs, making the whole dinner?? Will you need to serve breads, rolls, sweet rolls? Will you need a variety of meats for Easter breakfast, lunch, dinner? Eggs for coloring, eating, making breakfast casseroles? Maple Syrup and honey for Easter sweetness? Dried herbs and seasonings for all of the yummy Easter dishes to go along with the dinner? Eggs, flour, gluten free flours and mixes, for baking? Pies, cookies, candies, confections? Granulated garlic in all varieties? Jams, jellies, mustards, a bit of candied jalapeno…all to add to dishes or to serve alone? Milk for more baking, and drinking…my grandmother used to make us Easter Milkshakes! Don’t forget to give your home and yourself some love, too! Scented candles, soaps…all groovy for making it a lovely day…
So, go look at the moon, get your Easter list started, and don’t forget to order by 10pm, tomorrow evening!
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam