Regroup, Recharge, Plan

Well, your market manager is bouncing back from a crazy, fast paced, bake-a-rama, kind of summer season!!

I spent the past two days out in my yard dealing with some much needed TLC to my plants, herbs, weeds…I sort of just closed my eyes to the whole ordeal, all summer, as I would speed out of my drive to venues, markets, festivals, and my shop.

Sunday morning, I put myself out of contact with most people. I let myself soak up the sun, listen to Grateful Dead tunes, pull weeds, pick up sticks, become one with myself and my tasks.

I am such a social person, such a high energy person, such an ON person, that when I begin craving the quiet, the peace, the sun, my inner thoughts, I know I have hit that Cosmic wall.

I think it is important for our souls to drop out, tune out, at times. I was very selective on who’s phone call or texts I took. I answered no emails. I had no friends over. I made no attempt to contact my friends. The recharge had taken over in order for me to regroup, and then yes, start the plan for this next part of Cosmic Charlie.

I have a year anniversary coming up in my Cosmic shop, I just celebrated 5 years at The Depot Coffeehouse, 3 years out at Mad River Market, 3 years at this little lovely market. I love looking back at old notes, old baking lists, old market lists. It lets me smile, it lets me laugh, it lets me see just how far you can go with never ending determination. But, you also need the little pockets of time to recharge, regroup, plan, so that you CAN continue to move forward.

Why not make that your goal, this week. Let us worry about getting all of our local needs out of the way. Go ahead. The market closes at 10pm, tonight. Order today, close the book on that, begin your recharge, regroup, plan. We will see you on Thursday, with orders ready to roll, when you are ready to come back to reality!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Dandelion

Dandelion don’t tell no lies…
Dandelion will make you wise…
Tell me if she laughs or cries…
Blow away dandelion, blow away.. dandelion
(Rolling Stones – Dandelion Lyrics)

It’s no secret…in my growing up, I lived for music from The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, The Beatles…for one, they were amazing bands!! Second, they all sported the girls, the muses, the band aids, the groupies. Marianne, Anita, Pattie, Pamela, Donna…each band had the iconic girls! Free spirited, fun, well dressed, all part of the rock tapestry that made up the backdrop of those times.

I was/am a huge Stones fan. I have every single album ever put out by The Stones, down in my album collection. The music, the clothes, the girls, the life.

You may ask yourself, what is Cosmic Pam talking about? Where is she taking us, now? Dare we ask?

Love. Fabrics. Rich tapestry. Bands sticking together. Free. Talented. Going where no band had gone before.

And, yes…the same can be said of this little market of love. We share the love, our rich local fabric makes us strong, makes us proud, as we showcase the talents and hard work of our local producers and growers, each and every week. We go where no other local farmer’s market has gone. We are open all year, we offer the best of the best, we offer one stop shopping, we offer prices way below mass produced stores, we offer healthy, we offer nutrition, we are eclectic, we all offer a colorful story…and the market is headed up by yours truly…your brightly dressed, hippie clad, full of love girl that fronts the goodness.

Tonight is Monday…dust off some old tunes, give them a spin, let your mind drift, and sit and read through the colorful tapestry of our market. Order, relax, disengage, make the scene…we are here to take your orders, make it all happen, and greet you on Thursday, with a full bag of tricks for you to take home.

Let us sing to you…let us help you groove the week…

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Join Together!

Everybody join together, I want you to join together…
Come on and join together with the band.
We need you to join together, come on and join together…
Come on and join together with the band..
(Who – Join Together)

Good morning, little local market of love!!

Yesterday was a big day in downtown Urbana as we celebrated another amazing Chili Cook Off!! There are two huge, Monument Square District sponsored events, downtown. Art Affair is one (My baby along with my co-chair, and committee), and then Chili Cook Off! These events are huge. Not only do they bring in lots of people, lots of revenue, and lots of PR for the downtown, but they also do what this market is always talking about…they bring together community spirit and local pride!

I was a vendor, yesterday, as I usually am. I was set up in conjunction with Oakview Farm Meats, as I usually am. My other neighbors were new chili contestants who went on to win Third place, and as I was nestled in between my neighbors, and surrounded by so many friends who continued to come up to my canopy, give me a hug, give me a high five, talk, dance, wave…I had to just stop and take it all in.

Community spirit and pride make us strong. They makes us proud. They make us believe that we can conquer all as a united local front.

I felt very proud and very loved, yesterday. I love the networking and the building of a stronger and stronger local fabric. It reassured me that through this building of fabric, we can stand strong, we can face anything, and with the help of all of us, we can make a whole happen on the local front.

I am thankful for so much in my Cosmic life but I am most thankful that you put your faith in me, each week, with this market. I am only one person, though, in this local market of love. I also have my ever true, ever wise, Charlene Stapleton. She and Joe of Swisher Hill Herbs are such icons in this community. I love seeing her smiling face, each and every Thursday, as we prepare the market for each of you.

I am thankful for Mark Runyan and the entire Runyan family behind Oakview Farm Meats. He is my other assistant at this market who helps me get your orders out to you, each and every week. They are a power house of a family in this local community, and we are lucky that they are a part of this little local market of love.

Paul Wadsmith and the YMCA…I cannot say ENOUGH about this team!!! We would be very, very sad without the YMCA and their hard work that keeps our financials, houses our market home, and supports us out in the community.

Heather T…we are a market because of her vision, her hard work, and her endless hours in getting this market up and running in the early days and years…

To the vendors…without you, the market would be nothing!

To the customers…THANK YOU!!!! We appreciate all of you, each and every week!!! We welcome you, we applaud you, we love you!!

I feel like sometimes you just have to stop, look around, know who to thank for the goodness, and make sure that everyone knows how much they are appreciated!

We join together in many, many ways…and I thank you for this local front.

The market is open! It’s Sunday…the best day to organize the upcoming week, to see what you may need or want, and get your orders in!

A reminder…we are in the last month of late summer produce…take advantage!

Champaign Berry just let me know that they have added a very limited supply of Golden Raspberries!!!!

Volk Fruit Farm has added a few new varieties of apples!!!

And, as always, we bring you the best of the best of the best from the rest of your local vendors!!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

The Sorghum Festival!

As you know, The End Of The Road Farms is having their annual Sorghum Festival, this coming weekend, on September 27th!!

YAY…we LOVE our local farmers!!!

Have you ever wondered how sorghum molasses is grown, harvested, squeezed, and processed using draft horse power?

If so, please join us at

End of the Road Farm

Saturday, Saturday 27th
2pm – 4pm

Sorghum samples, recipes, CSA information, pastured eggs,
and other organic, seasonal produce will be available!

We ask that you please remember this is a working farm, as well as our home, and we are happy to have you over as guests, BUT
To ensure this is a fun, SAFE afternoon for all, please understand:
Children must be well supervised
No public restrooms are available
Buildings are off-limits

Thank you, and hope to see you Saturday
455 W. First St. Fletcher 45326
Take St. Rt. 36 West out of Urbana – you’ll go
thru St. Paris and Lena, then pass Poor Farmer’s
Campground just before entering Fletcher
Turn left at the 1st stoplight in Fletcher
Take the first Right at the large white church –
you’re now on First Street which becomes our driveway! Follow it pass the Dead End sign,
thru the gate, and we’ll show you where to park!
Please RSVP to Jennifer at (937)903-5249 or endoftheroadfarmoh@gmail.com if you plan on attending to help us prepare! Thanks!!

Short and Sweet

Tonight, I bring you the opening of another week’s market!! No song lyric, no long tale to tie into the market…

Just a simple thank you to the customers of this past week and the dynamite market! A simple welcome to the new week, the new market, and an urging that you see all that we have to offer.

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Last Call!!

This will serve as your last call of the evening!! Don’t mess up and forget to order or you will be very, very sad.

You have 15 minutes…make it work!!

Our House

Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated…
By the evening sunshine through them…
Fiery gems for you, only for you…
(Crosby, Still, Nash & Young – Our House)(Written by Graham Nash in an ode to his then love, Joni Mitchell, Lady of the Canyon)

Perfect song for the chill of an early fall evening…

Get cozy, grab a cup of tea, a glass of wine, whatever makes you happy, and just, order!

We have an amazing market unfolding…come be a part of it all!!

You have an hour…see you at 10pm:)

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

End Of The Road Farms

As you know, The End Of The Road Farms is having their annual Sorghum Festival, this coming weekend, on September 27th!!

I kick it all off, Lee and Jennifer will be joining us, Thursday, at market pickup, over at the tasting area, giving everyone samples and letting them know what to expect at the festival!!

YAY…we LOVE our local farmers!!!

Our vendors are a busy and active bunch!! We continue with the invitations and hope to see customers, vendors, and friends, taking advantage of all these fun events!!

This is from Lee and Jennifer Ruff:

Have you ever wondered how sorghum molasses is grown, harvested, squeezed, and processed using draft horse power?

If so, please join us at

End of the Road Farm

Saturday, Saturday 27th
2pm – 4pm

Sorghum samples, recipes, CSA information, pastured eggs,
and other organic, seasonal produce will be available!

We ask that you please remember this is a working farm, as well as our home, and we are happy to have you over as guests, BUT
To ensure this is a fun, SAFE afternoon for all, please understand:
Children must be well supervised
No public restrooms are available
Buildings are off-limits

Thank you, and hope to see you Saturday
455 W. First St. Fletcher 45326
Take St. Rt. 36 West out of Urbana – you’ll go
thru St. Paris and Lena, then pass Poor Farmer’s
Campground just before entering Fletcher
Turn left at the 1st stoplight in Fletcher
Take the first Right at the large white church –
you’re now on First Street which becomes our driveway! Follow it pass the Dead End sign,
thru the gate, and we’ll show you where to park!
Please RSVP to Jennifer at (937)903-5249 or endoftheroadfarmoh@gmail.com if you plan on attending to help us prepare! Thanks!!

Reserve The Date For State Of The Plate!

Hello, my lovely local market customers and vendors!!

This afternoon I come to you not as your market manager but as your representative of the Local Foods Council. As your representative, I come to you with an exciting news story, and the ability to make reservations to attend the event that is making this a very news worthy story!

Last year, we introduced, State Of The Plate. A look at our local food system, your local growers and producers, and our goals and visions that we, as your local front, would like to see happen.

As your local market manager, you know that I support local, I believe in seasonal eating, I believe in always buying as much from my hard working, local growers and producers as I can, and in turn, giving them the huge shout outs and praises that they deserve!! I love this community, I want our local front to continue to grow and be strong, and I want to see our hard working local front succeed on so many levels!!

I think that I can speak for so many when I tell you that being a local provider is not an easy lifestyle. It is hard work. It is endless work. It is work that brings tears and then it is work that brings the highest of highs. It is passion, it is drive, it is compassion, and it is love.

I run two markets and a shop front. I allow only local producers. It is not enough to talk the talk of local. Local, to me, is not about just sort of, kind of, or occasionally. I demand that you walk the walk.

I am honored to surrounded by so many people who support this local way of life. All levels of support.

I now bring to you the news article, written by our own local hero of the local media and HUGE supporter in all of our local endeavors. The article is written by Gary Schenkel. You will notice familiar names as speakers, and then I am so proud to say that so many of our vendors, right here, your tireless vendors, will be offering their products as part of this event.

This announces our second State Of The Plate. I will be taking reservations, at each Thursday market order pick up!! I will be turning names and money into the Chamber, each Friday, up until the deadline of Oct.2!! Please plan to be a part of this amazing day…

*Local food dinner to be served in historic barn

Submitted Story

A professionally catered dinner of locally grown and produced food, served in a restored barn that is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and an opportunity to talk with the people who grew the meal’s ingredients.

That’s the unique experience in store for guests at the 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, State of the Plate local food dinner. A social time with snacks and cider will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Reservations are being taken for the limited-seating event, which will be held at the Pretty Prairie Farm of Todd and Jill Michael, 4440 Prairie Road, Urbana.

To make reservations, stop by or call the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, 107 N. Main St. (937-653-5764), by Oct. 3. Reservations may also be made during the Champaign Locally Grown online farmers’ market order pickup, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Oct. 2 at the Champaign Family YMCA, 191 Community Drive.

Cost of the dinner, catered by Amy Forrest and Lori Forrest Garrison of In Good Taste Catering, is $15. The event is being planned by the Champaign County Local Food Council, a cooperative effort of the Community Improvement Corporation and the Champaign County Chamber to help expand markets for local food producers.

During the dinner six local farmers and entrepreneurs will talk and answer questions about the beginnings, growth and success of their food production businesses. They include:

•Ethan Deselem of Springfield, who founded Deselem’s Royal Quality Gardens of Ohio in 2013, after studying environmental science at The College of Wooster. He specializes in chemical-free produce sold at area farmers’ markets.

•Pam Bowshier of Urbana, who founded Cosmic Charlie Bread five years ago, specializing in artisan vegan breads. She continues to sell at farmers’ markets, where she started out, and has expanded to supplying retail stores and restaurants, and opened her own shop. She also serves as manager of the Mechanicsburg Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market and the Champaign Locally Grown online farmers’ market.

•Mark Runyan of Urbana, who operates Oakview Farm with his father and son, raising grain for feed and pigs for meat and breeding stock. They sell pork, beef and chicken at their retail shop, Oakview Farm Fresh Meats, and at local markets and the online Champaign Locally Grown market. Runyan and Bowshier will also talk about their cooperative marketing efforts.

•Brett Tossey and Paden Green-Tossey of Marysville, who launched small-scale hops production in 2011, supplying local craft breweries.

•Dave Smith of Urbana, whose family in 1983 began transforming a former chicken farm into what has become Freshwater Farms of Ohio, the state’s largest indoor fish hatchery and only Ohio producer of fresh trout products. The farm, which has become a tourist destination and home of the annual Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival, features a year-round market. The farm also offers consulting, supplies and stocking fish for recreational ponds and water gardens.

•Todd Michael, the dinner host, long-time co-owner of Michael Farms and now owner of Michael Family Farms with his son, Kyle. Michael will talk about his current operations in food production and marketing as well as the history of Michael Farms, started more than 50 years ago by his father, Doug Michael, and which has grown to supply fresh vegetables to major grocery retailers and foodservice distributors throughout Ohio and neighboring states.

About the Pretty Prairie Barn

The rectangular, Pennsylvania Dutch section of the barn was built in 1840, and in 1896, a 12-sided, 42-foot diameter barn was added. The dodecagonal addition remains the largest of its kind on the National Register of Historic Places. The barn was used for steam threshers, storing hay and housing work horses. A third addition, built in the 1950s, housed beef cattle.

Todd and Jill Michael bought the farm in 1996, restoring the barn and house, which also was built in 1896. Most recently the barn hosted their daughter Kathy’s wedding reception. They now rent it for weddings and special events.

Submitted on behalf of event organizers.

Don’t forget…you can get your reservations to me, each Thursday, or you can call or stop in the Chamber office to place your reservations.

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Turn, Turn, Turn..

To everything, turn, turn, turn…
There is a season, turn, turn, turn…
(The Byrds, Lyrics by Pete Seeger-Turn! Turn! Turn! To Everything There Is A Season)

Yes, this is always my official turn of the seasons song that plays in the Technicolor soundtrack of my brain:)

I have been living in denial, happily still in the sunshine mode of the summer months. Still wearing my cutoffs, walking around like the long days would last forever.

Well, my little fantasy world had to come to it’s reality, this morning. First, it IS the first day of autumn! Second, I was out, early this morning, to investigate a big mischief making party of my cat and her edgier field cat buddies. It was just daylight, I had a ton of bread in the ovens making my kitchen a cozy haven of warmth, coffee, and fresh bread.

When I looked out one of the windows, I noticed the trio of mischief makers and grabbed a flannel shirt and my cup of coffee to go investigate. WOW! Hello, fall morning chill!! I walked to the top of the driveway, saw that they were all excited over a ton of nuts that had fallen to the ground, and I turned to walk back inside. But, as I turned, on the very top of my drive, I took in the view. It was definitely the look of autumn. A bit of fog was coming off of the ponds in the field, the fields were giving off a golden haze, the leaves had a tint of color on the trees, and in this time of the year, I can see the hills and fields that go on and on behind my house. A beautiful view, a beautifully chilly morning, a definite turn of the season. One of those mornings that you were glad to be a part of.

Anyway, yes…here we are at yet the cusp of another season. But, as each of the seasons changes, our little market of love continues to work it’s magic, each and every week, all year long.

You will want to make sure to take advantage of all the produce, berries, and apples before they leave us for the season. You can begin your fall menu planning with all that we offer. Your market is here for you, with each turn and each season!

Today is Tuesday…the market will be open until 10pm, this evening! Take advantage of fall goodness, new vendors, old favorites…turn to us, we are always here for you!

In the course of today, you will be getting a couple of emails concerning market/vendor announcements and happenings. These are important and you will not want to miss the upcoming events!! We seem to be more than just your market, these days…we seem more of a family, more of a friendship bond, and more of a locally, love filled, united local front:) You all make me proud, customers and vendors, alike! Thank you for giving me so much to report on. It shows what an active, involved group we all are!!

Get your orders in!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam