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!
Spooky
In the cool of the evenin’ when eveythin’ is gettin’ kind of groovy…
(Atlanta Rhythm Section)
As we groove through October, everything is leading up to Halloween, fun, leaves getting all crunchy, spookiness…all the great stuff of the month!!
I was just at my childhood home, last night, for a family dinner, with visiting relatives, my parents, my brother…just driving there, through tree lined roads, and pulling up in the driveway, was a flashback to the 70s and early 80s when Sunday dinner, especially in the autumn months, was required. I got to skip them, when I was away at college, and then when I moved to California, and beyond, but last night, it was just a huge wave of nostalgia hitting me.
Growing up, we lived just down the street from my grandparents, and usually on Wednesday nights, dinner was at their house. All of us, gathered at their table. Sundays, were at our house, and while a lot of our life, back then, was rather chaotic…you could always take comfort that there would be Sunday dinner. While we were the polar opposite of a Norman Rockwell painting, it was our tradition.
As we sat around the table, it was a lot of the same. Like we had never left. I was still getting the eye from my mother for talking too much, too loud, laughing too loud. My brother, as usual, could do not wrong…lol…the meat had been in the oven too long, and was dry, but the people around the table were what was important.
I left as it was turning dusk, driving home while gazing at the beautiful moon, thinking back to those endless Sunday dinners of my youth, and smiling at how comfort comes running back, years later.
I talked about this market to my aunt, who is in from out of town, and she loved hearing about it, how it’s grown, what I do, vendor stories, customer stories…and, it made me so proud, and full of comfort, to talk about how far we have all come in this market.
Much like going home, again…this market gives that same feeling…comfort, when needed, and every Thursday is our tradition. Picking up orders, having a chat, a wave, a laugh…catching up, and sending you off for the week.
Everything’s getting a little groovy, a little crazy leading up to Halloween. This market, is the dependable comfort point.
It’s Monday, and there is plenty of time to get those orders in…
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam