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!
Market Open!
It was an outstanding market week, and we thank you for your continued market support!
Thank you for making the market pick up an easy one in my absence!
I reopen the market, for the week!
It’s time to be local!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Tuesday Reminder!
It’s that time, again, lovelies!
Time to get your orders in by 8am, this morning!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Oakview Farm Meats Note!
Just a note to say that bison is in stock, once again, and, available here on the market!!
Tomorrow morning is the cut off for weekly orders, at 8am!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Valley View Woodlands! Much Excitement!
Valley View Woodlands is releasing our 2023 maple syrup production to the market. It was a challenging season because of the early warmup at the beginning of February and an early end to our season the first week in March. We tapped our trees on February 2, a new record early date for us. Our number of gallons produced was slightly below our average over previous years.
We were able to make some golden syrup with our first sap run, followed by amber. In the later part of the season we made syrup that was very dark with robust and smooth flavor. Choose your favorite—golden, amber, or dark—it’s all delicious and a fantastic accompaniment for yogurt, smoothies, pancakes, waffles, cocktails, pies, BBQ sauce (see recipe below).
We accept what Mother Nature gives us each year. And while the amount of syrup we produced this year is not all we hoped for, we are releasing it exclusively to our market members for a week before wider distribution. We are grateful to the support the members have shown us over the years.
Thank you,
Shary and Marc Stadler
Valley View Woodlands
Valley View Woodlands No Cook BBQ Sauce
½ cup Valley View Woodlands maple syrup (we like to use dark)
½ cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons A-1 sauce
Salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste
Simply stir and serve!
(Think ribs, sloppy Joes, chicken, chops, pulled pork, brisket)
Happy Sunday!
Just a reminder that even though I am away, you can still get those orders in!
Jump in on all of the ordering fun!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Tuesday Reminder!
Good morning, lovelies…
It’s that time, again!! It’s time to get those orders in, this morning, by 8am!!!
Plenty of time to grab ALL of the local goods!!!
Make your week a happy one, with orders ready for Thursday pick up!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Shiny Happy People!
Shiny happy people laughing
Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground
Where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Everyone around, love them, love them
Put it in your hands, take it, take it
There’s no time to cry, happy, happy
Put it in your heart
Where tomorrow shines
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Hey, here we go
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing…
(REM)
What a fun, happy, sing-a-long song this is to usher in the first day of spring, as well as the beginning of the week, AND, to get you all revved up to get those market orders in by 8am, tomorrow morning!!!!
Also, it’s another big day for the market because we are featured on the online publication, The Hub Springfield!!! Look it up, and read all about it!!
And, for a market vendor shout out…Hippie and the Farmer catered an event, this past weekend, and ordered a whole lot of Davidson Family Growers lettuce…AND IT WAS AMAZING!! The color, the taste, the fluffiness, the freshness!! If you have not yet tried their lettuce…“Lettuce” be the first to tell you, it’s a taste treat!!
Also, I am in vacation mode, this week, and next week, as I am headed to Florida, to babysit my little grand babe, Lennon!!! But, I will be managing the market, from there, so make me happy with all of those shiny, happy orders!!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Good Vibes Thursday!!
Once again, a market that knocked it out of the park! Happiness, grooviness, gratefulness, all around!!
I loved seeing all of your smiling faces, handing you all of the local goodness, for the coming week!
The market is now reopening, and I look forward to watching your orders start to flood in!!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Tuesday Reminder!
It’s that time!!
You have one hour to get your orders in for the week!!
Don’t miss out on all of the local goods!!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam
Monday Reminder!
I know it’s hard to get motivated, if you are looking out the window, or out in the day, with this gloomy weather filled day….BUT…it’s time to get groovy because today is the last full day to get your market orders in!!
Just think…you can order from the comfort of anywhere!! You can get so much goodness, each week, and it’s so easy for you to swing by the farm, Thursday afternoons/early evenings, to grab your orders!!
So, don’t let this weather get you down…let the market give you that groovy pick up that you need!!
Also…don’t forget the amazing lettuce that we have, again!!
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam