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!
I'm Travelin' On
Been to California, been to Washington, too…
packed away my whole life, when I was lookin’ for you…
You’re not here, now, I’m travelin’ on…
(I’m Travelin’ On-The Coteries)
So, yeah…this is one of my new fav bands to listen to. They performed, locally, here, for us, in our very own local park. Courtesy of our very own local Arts Council. Travelled from North Carolina to perform, and they were an AWESOME show!! Such amazing talent, right here, like so much of our own local talent, performing, needing support, in our own little local community.
I have a HUGE soft spot for musicians, bands, music muses…all of it. And, big surprise, I have a HUGE thing for local. And, food. And, community. And, eating locally/seasonally. I have a HUGE soft spot for our local growers, producers, artisans. I have a HUGE soft spot for our downtown, our surrounding areas, and for all of the people who make this all happen. This scene we like to call local.
One of my favorite local guys is Brad Gregg of Gregg Family Farms. He comes to us from both Rosewood, and Mechanicsburg. He is a seasonal, familiar face up in the ’burg. One of the first vendors at that market, many years ago.
I manage that particular market, and it was such a welcome sight to see him all set up with his sweet corn, this past Tuesday. Up in Mechanicsburg, we run a growers only kind of market. That means our produce, this season, was a little late to get started, but when we hit our stride, it was a beautiful sight.
Brad helped with that sight, along with other local growers. And, now, he is here with us, at our little local market of love. His sweet corn, his exotic peppers…
And, how fitting that a local face comes back to us, the same time as another local fixture…tomorrow, we welcome in the Champaign County Fair!! A summer favorite, a local favorite, a local tradition steeped in local history.
So, here we are…no need to go travelin’ on…we’ve got it all, right here…
I open the market, tonight, to welcome you to our world of local…
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam