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!



 
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Well I’ve been out walking
I don’t do that much talking these days
These days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do…
(Jackson Browne-These Days)

So, still on my Jackson Browne odyssey, today. I’ve just had him on replay since the weekend. His voice, lyrics, music…maybe just what we all need in these days that continue, that linger, and maybe speak to all of us, doing all that we feel we can do…

The thing that blows me away, if you listen to this song, and the lyrics, is that he wrote this song in ’67, at the age of 16. These lyrics of regret and loss just seem so mature, more out of a life that has already been lived, to come from the heart of a 16 year old guy.

I love the versions of him singing it with the late Gregg Allman…another favorite musician of mine. From my early age of concert going, I had the pleasure of seeing Gregg perform many times, solo, as well as with the Allman Brothers. One of my favorite times was an impromptu decision to see them, outdoors, when I lived in Los Angeles, on an evening that I had just taken a call for an early New York flight, the next day, but instead of packing and preparing, I hopped on out to a music filled night.

That has always been me…I am a jumper at chance. A doer. I’ve always lived life on the edge, by the seat of my pants, a semi plan, but not really a plan….and, I know that by instinct, I will always make it happen, somehow.

(And, I might add, on that flight to New York, I was the number 1 flight attendant, first class, and received some of my most glowing letters from happy customers, to my supervisor, and American Airlines)

My businesses, and this market are examples of those leaps of faith, in my life, and making things work, even if things seem to be slipping into the unknown, at a quick pace. March found me a nervous wreck when we were without a home for the first time in the market history. It found me nervous as to if we moved the market, how would we operate around Covid? Your other market manager was more convinced, than I was, at that moment, that it was the perfect setting, the perfect time, to move the market, and make it safely accessible to the customers.

And, so, like always…I jumped at the unknown, and this lovely little market found a new home, with a whole lot of lovely, lovely new customers, loyal customers, returning customers, that now make up this new market family, each and every week…

These days….never look back with regrets, wishes, and unfulfilled dreams. Never be afraid that your chance taking will end up in failure. So many times, and I can attest to this, your failures become your learning tool, that propels you to where you going in the first place…

The last lines of this song, will always speak volumes to me…

Please don’t confront me with my failures…I’m aware of them…

But, then the optimistic person that I am, knows that the chance of failure, makes you want to take the chance, and make it a success, even more!

Tuesday ramblings, from your market manager who took a few days off from life, this past weekend, to spend with music, books, and thoughts…

And, to remind you that the market closes, tonight, at 8pm, for the week…

XOXO,
Cosmic Pam