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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Anchor Acres


Good morning, lovely little local market of love customers!!

Tomorrow, during pick up, we will have one of our past vendors set up, out by my old VW, the yellow landmark, Sugaree, selling her plant starts!!

I asked Laurie to write a bit about her, and what she will be offering. You do not have to have ordered, this week, to stop by to grab some of her starts!! AND, she does not take cards, so it will be cash and carry on her end of things!!

Hello, my name is Laurie and my mini-farm is Anchor Acres (because my husband was in the Navy for 30 years and we moved and moved and finally have our anchor down here). I am looking forward to bringing some plant starts this week even though the weather is still quite cool. This year I selected a particular variety of tomato called Siletz that is a determinate variety especially developed for this crazy weather because it has early yields, sets its fruit in cool weather, and resists cracking. (Last year, because of the weather, I think I ended up with as many green tomatoes as I had had red all summer. This year I am counting on these Siletz tomatoes to help me have more reds in season, although I enjoy green tomatoes for many things, too!) The other starts I will have this week are African Marigolds, Crackerjack mix. Marigolds will benefit your garden veggies by attracting pollinators and beneficial insects while repelling some pest insects. In two weeks (assuming some warmer weather shows up!) I will have some other veggie starts that really shouldn’t go out yet. Prices will range from $3-$6 depending on size.