A Swisher Hill Special!

I have activated fresh peppermint leaves on the Market!

I have also put The SHH Spiced Apple Vinegar Kit in The Weekly Specials section!

And, a free bunch of Peppermint with all orders of the kit!

Joe and Charlene Stapleton

Ripple

It’s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken…
Perhaps they’re better left unsung…
I don’t know, don’t really care…
Let there be songs to fill the air..
(Ripple-Grateful Dead)

There are some weeks that just need a soothing hand, kind words, a thoughtful approach, and a smile of kindness. This was one of those weeks for your market manager.

This past week just put me in line with a lot of people and situations that are not about the love, or the like, or the peace, or the good vibes. I have felt rattled trying to deal with this type of person or this type of mindset.

I like happiness, and smiles, and love…I do very well with everyone being kind, everyone being compassionate.

I don’t do well with mean actions, or mean comments, or general bashing of others who are out there, trying to work their love, trying to bring their joy, trying to make it all happen.

So, when these types of week happen, and, thankfully, they don’t happen often, I find refuge in music, in good hearts, and in good people. And, I find solace in this little local market of love.

Tonight found me with the lovely vendors, the amazing customers, and the always cheerful staff of the YMCA. I immediately feel like I have entered my happiness when I am setting up the market, chatting with each vendor, and then greeting customers. This little market feels that way because we nurture it to be that way.

I needed to be with my people, tonight…my ever positive, ever loyal, ever lovers of local!! Together, we bring the smiles, the joy, and the kindness…

Ease into the weekend, think about all that our market has to offer, and think how much better your upcoming week will be when you place your orders with us, and we fill you with love…local love.

The market is now open for the week…take advantage of the seasonal items before they are gone!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

That Lovin' Feeling

So don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t let it slip away…
(You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
The Righteous Brothers)

Don’t let the time or the love slip away, tonight! You have until 10pm to get those orders in!! Get the seasonal goods while you can!!

Let us bring back that lovin’ feeling in your weekly shopping for good food, local food, from right here in your community, supporting local growers, and producers, and feeling good about supporting your local economy.

It’s what the lovin’ feeling is all about…spreading the local love.

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Today Is THE Day!!

Swisher Hill Herbs invite you to enjoy our display and production Gardens Sunday July 19, 2015 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Located at 4083 Swisher Rd.
Swisher Hill Herbs display gardens have established in the 1980’s for visitors to learn about growing herbs, using herbs, and how herbs can be planted in gardens along with annuals, perennials, and shrubs in the landscape.
Demos: how to make: worm box, Herb vinegars
Relax with cup of herb tea, sample herbal butter, dips and cookies.
We are looking forward to your visit!!!

Gimmer Some Lovin'

And I’m so glad you made it, so glad you made it…
You got to gimme some lovin’, gimme, gimme some lovin’…
Gimme some lovin’, gimme, gimme some lovin’…
Gimme some lovin’ everyday…
(Spencer Davis Group)

The market is now open for the week!

Thanks, so much, for showing Charlene some good love, tonight, as she operated the market all alone!

Thanks, so much, for always showing our market the love, staying loyal, staying local…

Have a GREAT weekend!! Don’t forget, Art Affair On The Square, Saturday, AND, the Swisher Hill Farm Tour on Sunday…

More things to make you LOVE local!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Last Call!

See you at check out!

Get your groove on!

The One Hour Countdown!

It’s that time, little local market of love customers! It’s Tuesday evening, there is one hour left in our market, AND, we want you all to get your shopping in!!

Make a list, remember how nice it is to order, pick it up, see our smiling faces, and go off on your way…

It can only make you happy if you order!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

A Happy Tuesday!! And, A Big Swisher Hill Farm Day!

Just a reminder that after you attend the local event of Art Affair On The Square, on Saturday, you then need to plan to attend the lovely day that Swisher Hill Herbs has planned for our market, on Sunday!!

It’s a big, fun weekend!! Make sure to join us out at Swisher Hill Herbs!!

Swisher Hill Herbs invite you to enjoy our display and production Gardens Sunday July 19, 2015 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Located at 4083 Swisher Rd.
Swisher Hill Herbs display gardens have established in the 1980’s for visitors to learn about growing herbs, using herbs, and how herbs can be planted in gardens along with annuals, perennials, and shrubs in the landscape.
Demos: how to make: worm box, Herb vinegars
Relax with cup of herb tea, sample herbal butter, dips and cookies.
We are looking forward to your visit!!!

A Day In The Life

Today will be a different sort of A Day In The Life…

Today will be just ONE day in my Cosmic life but this entry will not be about me or my baking or how I came to be the hippie bakestress or your market manager. That can come another time…

As you all know, I am a busy girl about town. Today, I bring you my Day, my months that begin each December, and my week that is this week…a well known event takes place, this coming Saturday…it’s a local, FREE, community based event. It brings artists in from our area, and surrounding areas. It brings local food vendors. It brings us local bands. It sheds light on the local literary artists, children’s art, up and coming artists, and it is all featured among the beauty of our historical downtown. This year we even have the pleasure of having the LOVELY Gloria Theatre as part of us.

We are pleased to also bring you a local artist who is near and dear to all of our hearts.

Yes, little local market of love…this week marks The 11th Annual Art Affair On The Square! I am one of the two chair persons. I am honored to a part of his event. I am filled with love and pride over our downtown and all that it offers. I am so proud to be involved in so many paths of local…

So, today, I share the write up from the Urbana Citizen as just one of the Days In My Life…plan to come out and support this amazing event!!

Art Affair on the Square, a multi-arts festival featuring a variety of visual and performing mediums, is set to return to downtown Urbana on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sponsored by Monument Square District, the Art Affair on the Square is a juried, invitational event that showcases the original work of over 60 artists from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The event is a primary fundraiser for the non-profit organization, whose efforts work to maintain the usefulness, profitability and beauty of Urbana’s central business and historic district. As always, the event is free to the public.

As in past years, the 2015 Art Affair on the Square will feature the white-canopied artist’s market, a children’s art area, a literary tent, an up-and-coming artists’ tent, architectural tours, horse-drawn carriage tours and live music and entertainment. Multiple food vendors will also be on site throughout the day, including Oakview Farm Meats, The Buckeye Pig Rig, Stevens and Sons Catering, The Depot Coffee House, ML Concessions, Tonya’s Concessions, The Tea Leaf Express and Jerry Singleton’s Kettle Corn.

The event is chaired by Pamela Bowshier and Sarah Thornton, both local businesswomen who manage stores in the Monument District. Bowshier, who owns Cosmic Charlie’s Bread and Threads, is an artisan bread baker for both Champaign and Clark counties. She manages two area farmers markets and is active in the Champaign County Local Foods Council. Thornton is the business manager and primary graphic designer at Main Graphics. A native of Champaign County and graduate of Graham High School, Sarah supports and volunteers for many local programs, including the Champaign County Arts Council and the Urbana Community ParkFest!

The Art Affair committee also includes Betsy Bohl, Bev Evans and Robin Henry.

This year’s event is set under the theme of, “Inspiration Move Me, Brightly!” A reference to a song by the Grateful Dead, the theme is meant to “encompasses the spirit of inspiring from the earliest of ages and encouraging the arts in children by giving them the outlet to develop a passion for the fine arts,” according to Bowshier.

Spotlight artist

The 2015 spotlight artist, Todd Buschur, embodies the theme well. As the art teacher at Graham High School for the last 26 years, Buschur has creatively encouraged many youth, including Bowshier’s daughter and Thornton, both of whom he instructed as students.

A Kansas native, Buschur received his bachelor of fine arts from Bluffton University in 1989 and a master’s of art from Antioch Midwest in 1998. Buschur also studied at The International School of Art in Italy before being hired at Graham. Buschur is currently represented by the Hayley Gallery in New Albany, Ohio, where he will have his fourth solo show this December.

“I make art because it is something I have to do, I need to share my experiences while in this world and I do this best through painting. As a young child, I was diagnosed with dyslexia, which made primary school especially difficult for me. For the most part, I dreaded school during that time and it is for this reason, I would often escape the frustration I felt for school by drawing and coloring. I believe it was through these early formative years much of my appreciation for making art developed,” Buschur said.

In an effort to emphasize children, several improvements have been made to the children’s activities, including relocation of the children’s area to the square’s southwest quadrant. Led by Bev Evans, the activities will “encourage children to create, express, and embrace their inner young artist,” Bowshier explained. Marianne Kessler, a songstress, will also perform in the children’s area at 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. In addition, a theatrical performance of “Blackbeard The Pirate,” sponsored by The Gloria Theatre and featuring area children, will take place at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 10 and seniors, and will be sold beginning at 2:30 p.m. at The Gloria Theatre.

One last special touch for this year’s Art Affair on the Square is a reception being held by the Champaign County Arts Council in honor of the late artist, Paul Reif. The reception, open to the public, will be held on the eve of the Art Affair, Friday, July 17, from 6-8 p.m. at the Arts Council Gallery, 119 Miami St. (see separate article in this newspaper)

Other notable displays and performances at the 2015 Art Affair on the Square:

-Landscape art created by Matt Turner, owner of Turner Landscaping

-Interactive artwork demonstrations by Mike Major, Urbana artist and owner of Main Graphics

-Entertainment on the Champaign County Courthouse steps, including the Champaign County Dulcimers, the Champaign County Youth Choir, The Florals, Michael Fritto, Larry Lyons, The Great Wide Open, and the Champaign County Arts Council’s showcase performer, Daniel Dye and The Miller Road Band

For more information on the Art Affair on the Square, call Thornton at 937-653-3334. The event also has a published Facebook page.

The Happiness of Herbs!

It’s that time, again!! Time for us to open up the market to Farm Tours!! The first one of the season will take place at Swisher Hill Herbs!!

Here is an invitation from Joe and Charlene Stapleton!!

Swisher Hill Herbs invite you to enjoy our display and production Gardens Sunday July 19, 2015 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Located at 4083 Swisher Rd.
Swisher Hill Herbs display gardens have established in the 1980’s for visitors to learn about growing herbs, using herbs, and how herbs can be planted in gardens along with annuals, perennials, and shrubs in the landscape.
Demos: how to make: worm box, Herb vinegars
Relax with cup of herb tea, sample herbal butter, dips and cookies.
We are looking forward to your visit!!!