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!
The Load Out/Stay
Now the seats are all empty
Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
They’re the first to come and last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
They’ll set it up in another townTonight the people were so fine
They waited there in line…
(Jackson Browne)
I am a huge Jackson Browne fan…probably from the mid 70’s on. This has always been one of my favorites of his, and many times, I think of this song, on Thursdays, as we get the market all set up in the greenhouse, the vendors all bring their products, the customer names are all organized, we take our positions, and the cars begin to roll in.
As I greet you, chat with you, and yell your names to the greenhouse, Mark and my father start packing your orders, I recheck your orders, and lovingly pack them in your cars, sending you on your way. I like to think of each of you, and where you are headed, what you will make for dinner, etc.
Then, as the last car leaves, and we shut down the greenhouse, and corral the boxes, and clean things up, there is a sense that the show is over for the week, we go from being the main attraction with the products, to being the roadies who pack it all up, storing things until the next market…
This little market of melodies, the customers, the vendors, the product…each goes into making this a well oiled machine…a local road show…and when we turn off the lights, I look forward to the next Thursday…
It’s Monday, these are the rambling thoughts of your market manager, and also serves as your reminder that the market will be closing, tomorrow night, at 8pm, for the week…
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam