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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Our House


I’ll light the fire…
You put the flowers in the vase that you bought today…
Staring at the fire for hours and hours while I listen to you…
Play your love songs all night long for me, only for me…
(Crosby Stills Nash – Our House)

Same song title of last Weblog, very different genre…and one of my favorite songs of all times. It reminds me of the fall season, of comfort, of love, and I love knowing that Graham Nash wrote this for Joni Mitchell back in the day…

But, back to the fall season, and this song. Just imagine the cozy fire, the fall flowers in a vase, music playing, and the fall breakfasts, lunches, dinners being prepared in the kitchen…

Our little market of love can help with the foods, coffees, teas, spices, jams, syrups, meats, breads, eggs, honey, dairy, flour, vegetables, greens, seafood, cheeses to help in all of your fall needs for all of the fall goodness coming out of your kitchen…

Take some time, today, to grab a warm drink, make a list, and instead of heading out to a big box store, give our little local market a try…we have it all, and it’s all done, right here, where you live…

The market will close, tonight, at 10pm…get those orders in…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Our House


Our house it has a crowd…
There’s always something happening…
And it’s usually quite loud…
(Our House-Madness)

Cue the 80s club girl in me!

But, really…I have come to view this market, this weblog, this local family, all part of a happy home. And, while fun, and rowdy, and always promoting the local front, there are always those pesky housekeeping tasks that need to be done.

So, tonight, this message goes out to the lovely customers AND vendors of this little local market of love…

First up…we need updated information!! Address and phone number updates are now needed to keep us all organized, and in the know!!

I have noticed that I am getting outdated addresses and phone numbers no longer in use. And, while are updating those, or at least checking those, take a look at any other information that may need updating.

Vendors…update quantities of product, please! The customers want to order but sometimes we get a tiny bit behind on the updates!

Market Information

End Of The Road is back with their eggs!! They are ready to offer their eggs, again, so make sure to check the market site!

Swisher Hill Herbs is back with another weekly special!!

Special this week at Swisher Hill Herbs
Apple pie Spice in a jar Reg. $3.50, this week $3.00 per jar!
Pumpkin Pie Spice in a jar Reg. $3.50 this week, $3.00 per jar!
Free Recipe Brochure! The Virtues of cinnamon, Apple and Pumpkin recipes for the Holidays with order!

Housekeeping with market announcements…it all rocks in our market, in our house…

The market is now opening…go, order, show your local spirit…we love you for it!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Pop Your Top!


Hey!! I have a blurb from End Of The Road!!! They are back, once again, with their AMAZING popcorn!! I am in love with it…the perfect snack!! Get it while you can!!

The time you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived… we have popcorn to put back on the market!! The same organic, heirloom, tasty variety, Conchita Pueblo, we offered two years ago that grew very well for us again this year. We’ll be shelling this week and are happy to have such a healthy and delicious snack to offer you once more. Thanks for your time, and enjoy!! Lee and Jennifer Ruff

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Showing Some Love


It’s Tuesday!! It’s show us some love day!! AKA…we close the market at 10pm, tonight, and we want to feel the love!!

The week has been a crazy weather week, both cold, dreary, sunny, and warm. It’s confusing to know how to dress, how to plan, and what to eat.

We have the part about what to eat, totally covered!! We have a large market selection to meet all of your needs!!

Everything we offer can lean towards the lighter fare you may want on the warm sunny days, AND, we have more comfort items on the cold dreary days when you need warmth, and fuel for your soul.

Go, take a look, remember that you can do all of your weekly shopping, right here, right now. When you shop with us, you keep it local, you keep it real, you keep it nutritious…

I will see you at 10pm…go on, show us some love…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Star Dancer Creamery


Don’t forget…today is the open farm tour at Star Dancer Creamery!!!

Bundle up and head out for the fun!!

Star Dancer is sending an invitation to all market customers and vendors for their Open Farm Tour, THIS coming Saturday, October 17, from 2pm-5pm!!

You will be able to see their farm, pet the cows, tour the facilities, enjoy some country cooking!

There will be local vendors, on site, offering products!

Make sure to plan your Saturday fun around this fun event!

Located at 629 Old Mill Road
Springfield, Ohio 45506

This Market Site


In the message that was just sent, there were a string of question marks. No idea where they came from. Often, certain word docs that are sent to me, do not translate well into this Weblog format.

Sorry…there should have been no question marks. I have no control once the post has been sent.

Cosmic Pam

Message From Swisher Hill Herbs


Good Morning, market customers!

Charlene sent me this blurb about her products, the cold weather, and how they go together. She also is cross promoting with a fellow vendor in her blurb.

In the coming weeks, look for more blurbs, from the individual vendors, and what products they may be talking about for the week.

Today, we give the spotlight to Charlene of Swisher Hill Herbs…

Cold weather and Holidays are right around the corner! Time to stock up on Swisher Hill Herbs favorites and start warming the kitchen with the sweet aroma of hot mulled cider. How about Bearcat Chili, White bean chicken Chili, Nanas Chili , a large pot of Mediterranean vegie Soup or Meatloaf for dinner. Check your spice cabinet, need jar or refills of apple pie spice, ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla beans (make your own vanilla). The Oberly Bros have Whole wheat flour to stock your pantry. Great for cookie baking. When you make your grocery list this week, shop the market first!

Thanks for the information!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

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Into The Mystic


I wanna rock your gypsy soul…
Just like way back in the days of old…
Then magnificently we will float…
Into the mystic…
(Into The Mystic-Van Morrison)

Hello, little market of love customers…I am here to open the market for the week, to bring to you the best products, the best growers, producers, and market in the county!

I hope that this week finds your ready to order, ready to let us do the work, and ready to keep it all real…keep it all local.

This has been a hard couple of days for your market manager. I lost one of my dearest friends, in a very unexpected way. I am urging you all to go out, show some love, love something or someone like you will never love, again. Look around, take note of the important things, and leave the rest behind.

Be someone’s love light, always…

I leave you as I open the market, I look forward to seeing your smiling faces, next week, at order pickup, and once again, I want to thank you for supporting this market, and for showing us the love, each and every week…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

The Bewitching Hour


Actually, you are down to the last bewitching HALF hour!!

Get your orders in so you don’t miss the ease, the fun, and the satisfaction of keeping it all local!!

See you at 10pm…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

About Last Saturday...


This past Saturday found us, on the road, out to Fletcher, to the farm tour and sorghum making event at, End Of The Road Farms!

It’s always a great time at one of their tours, fun to visit with the family, fun to see just how very, very, very hard that little family really works.

We got see Lee, and Tony, the horse, show us how they make the sorghum that is listed at this market. We got to see their fields, tunnels for growing, barns, pigs, and their chickens. It felt like a mini little get-away, once you begin the drive down their lane.

Jennifer had baked goods, and sorghum friend apples for sampling.

We also got to chat with them about their ongoing help with the soon to be Miami County virtual market!!! Exciting stuff!!! Our market managers have been helping them, and the powers of Miami County, with information, tips, advice, how we run, who we are, our triumphs, and our learning experiences. We wish them well with this new market!!

A huge thank you to the Ruff family for inviting us out to their farm, once again!

And, just a note…our market loves conducting farm tours. We encourage the vendors to open up their farms, their businesses, just so you, the customers, can see where your local food is coming from!! We love you, we love our vendors, and we love being part of this little local fabric.

Remember…it is Tuesday. The market will close, this evening, at 10pm! Get your orders in!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam