Tired of fighting the crowds in the stores? Worried about how much shipping will cost from far away warehouses? If you shop the Farmers Market on Historic N 1st Street virtually, you can lighten some of your Holiday stress.
A very popular stop at the Farmers Market was Toohill Beef. They offer their very own locally and naturally raised, source verified from birth, hormone free, Angus cross BEEF, pork and chicken. You can pick up their products at Strawberry Fields or the Fresh Catch, or you can simply order it online.
And to make this offer more tempting, the Toohill's have stated that they will take 10% off any order emailed to orders@toohillbeef.com, but ONLY if you mention that you read it on our blog.
So be sure to get some beefsticks for your uncle, some summer sausage for that office holiday party or a ham for Christmas dinner. Heck, get all three! But don't forget to mention the blog, Farmers Market on Historic N 1st Street, to get your 10% discount!
It seems odd that the market season is all but over, but the cool wind and colorful leaves are certainly obvious indicators that summer is over. While our 1st season was a short one compared to the other markets, we still need to reflect on it.
So with that, keep an eye out for a survey where you, the consumer, can give your input on how you thought the season went. And it is with your input that we hope to make next season even better. Until then stay warm and enjoy the beauty that comes with Autumn.
It is with some sadness, yet with lots of satisfaction, that we mark today as the last Thursday for the 2009 season for the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street. We undertook this huge task in the hopes of promoting the healthy produce and great products that our local businesses have, while working hard to make it accessible to more people.
To help you remember to stay healthy throughout the rest of the year and into the 2010 market season, we will be giving away the other half of the market bags. Just like last time, you can get a free bag with the purchase of $3 or more with vendors at the market. It can be as easy as getting those peppers and onions to make some salsa or some hamburger patties for that Labor Day cookout or other those items you have on your shopping list - you can get a market bag.
Be sure to stop by from 3 to 7 pm today to help us close the season. There will be live entertainment, provided by 2BadActors. The mister will be available for the kids, and the smiling faces of the vendors will be there to thank you for making Champaign-Urbana a healthier place.
The Market is pleased to announce this week's special entertainment - the return of the African dancing and drumming. During the previous performance at the market, patrons were drawn instantly to the earthy and rhythmic performance. Some pulled up lawn chairs, while others took a hands-on approach.
If you missed it, here’s why everyone is so excited. The Master Dancer, Djibril Camara, who hails from Guinea, has been wowing audiences everywhere he goes. He has worked extensively with another local artist, Master Drummer Bolokada Conde, showcasing their talent through dance and drum classes in Chicago. Locally, Djibril provides a local dance class at the Channing-Murray dance studio in Urbana. Champaign-Urbana is certainly fortunate to have to such talented artists residing here.
Here’s a quote from a Twitter update from when he was performing at the Common Grounds Co-op:
"Oh my goodness, the African drumming and dancing on the Co-op's porch is AMAZING! We're having to keep crowds from blocking the street!"
So don’t miss this week’s market. Come see and hear for yourself - Thursday, August 20 from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street.
No unfortunately, we don't have any salsa dancers coming to the market. However, there are plenty of peppers available to spice up your life, or at least your salsa. I've blogged before about the beauty, quality and variety of tomatoes available at the market, but I haven't mentioned the peppers.
Well, last week, the pepper selection was at its best so far. And by the time I took a picture of the all the peppers available, the hottest ones were gone. Apparently, one patron asked for all the habaneros the vendor had. Now that's what you call a hot commodity! (Sorry, but I couldn't help myself; too easy.)
So if you are looking to make some salsa from all those tomatoes you grew, come get your peppers. And while you're there, pick up some orange or purple tomatoes. Your family and friends will say "Ooo" and "Ahh" when they see how pretty your salsa is, and then "Wow" when they bite into those spicy peppers.
The mild summer weather has been nice, but it has delayed the appearance of some summer's most delicious veggies. So whether you've been wanting to make grilled eggplant, zucchini boats, cole slaw, or try out a new green bean recipe, the best of summer's veggies are available at the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street.
Not only is the quantity and variety awesome, but the taste simply can't be beat. You don't have to settle for those hydroponic, bland tomatoes that are in the large grocery stores. The green beans are at their 'snappiest'. And the variety and sizes of both zucchini and cabbages is unrivaled for miles around.
So whatever your favorite summer recipe is, be sure to stop by on Thursday, from 3 to 7 to get summer's finest veggies. And you might even get your kids to eat their veggies without a fuss. (No promises there, but life is full of surprises.)
One of the vendors at the market, who is known for his wide selection of herbs, is having a sale on his selection of Illinois native perennials. These are plants that will grow very well in ideal conditions and will still stand tall when others simply can't stand the extremes of weather often experienced in Illinois summers.
The plants that he will have will include Blue False Indigo, Cream False Indigo, New England Asters, Blue Lobelia, Prairie Liatris, Anise Hyssop and Beardstongue Foxglove. The plants are gallon sized, so you'll have the instant satisfaction.
And here's the best part. They will be on sale for only $4! Come on down and check out the booth for Goodison Gardens, and you'll be the envy of all your neighbors.
If you haven't been to the Farmers Market on Historic North 1st Street this season, then this Thursday is the perfect day for you to give it a try. And if you have been craving that perfect BLT, the Market has all the fixings!
You can start off your shopping at either Pekara Bakery or Kaskaskia Farms booths for the perfect bread. Next stop by the Gray's for their beautiful selection of greens. Check out Cary's for the perfect tomato, whether you preference in tomatoes is juicy or meaty. And last, get your bacon from the Toohill's.
There were reports of outbreaks of smiles for many patrons to the Farmers Market last Thursday. The market manager has admitted that the cause of the outbreak was due to a promotional event - a gift of a free market bag with purchase. One of the patrons who fell victim to this outbreak was the beloved Miss Drish, pictured above clutching a cookie from Pekara Bakery. The market manager stated that there will probably be another outbreak sometime in the near future because "smiles and expressions of praise for the market tend to break out when people visit the Market". The manager doesn't expect the outbreak to be contained until after August 27th, the last day of the market season.
As a thank you to our customers, we will be giving away a gift with purchase - a market bag to the first 50 customers! These handy bags are small enough to fit in your glove compartment (so you don't forget it at home), yet large enough for those veggies, fruit and or meat you pick up at the market.
Customers spending $3 or more for a qualified purchase* will receive a market bag with the Farmers Market Logo on one side and Carle Foundation Hospital on the reverse. We would like to thank Carle Foundation Hospital for funding this promotion. They are a great partner in promoting healthy eating. Get yours this Thursday before they're gone!
*Qualified purchase is any purchase of any non prepared food item(s) totaling $3 or more, including Link and WIC farmers market coupon purchases. Only one per family, please. See market manager on July 30th, for more details.
Last week, one of our vendors brought a surprise - sweet corn! And even though it wasn't publicized, by the time 5:00 rolled around, he only had six ears left. He told me last week that he might be able to bring more this week, but no word one way or the other. No guarantees, but come on down to North First Street, and perhaps you'll be one of the lucky ones!
Market goers were able to enjoy their shopping experience due to the talented voices of the CUperstars. There about 10 students who came down to the market and showed how much local talent there is. Among other popular and religious songs that were sung, there was a great performance of Michael Jackson's song "You Are Not Alone". If you are interested in more information about the CUperstars, you can call the Champaign-Urbana Area Project at (217) 373-2827.
Despite the fact that the weather was feeling a little on the warm side, both patrons and vendors found ways to stay cool. Some vendors found relief from the heat by wearing personal umbrellas. They surely also added something fun to the conversations between the vendors and their patrons.
While listening to the talented voices of the kids of the CUperstars, some younger visitors to the market chose to cool offer via a water mister. Even a few adults indulged themselves in the cooldown that the water mister offered. The mister is being lent to the market for the remainder of the season, courtesy of Illinois American Water.
The Gift of Life Walk is a walk worth having. It's to benefit the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. The walk and family health fair will take place on Saturday, July 18th at the University of Illinois Arboretum.
Here are the details:
2009 Gift of Life Walk & Family Health Fair CHAMPAIGN URBANA Saturday, July 18, 2009 8:30am Registration; 9am Walk Start Univeristy of Illinois Arboretum | Champaign Urbana
Please join the Champaign Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois at the Gift of Life Walk! You don't want to miss this fun and FREE event for the whole family! Participants enjoy a leisurely three-mile walk through the beautiful Arboretum on the campus of the University of Illinois followed by refreshments and entertainment. Register and set up your own fundraising webpage at www.firstgiving.com/nkfi. It's easy! Your family members, friends and co-workers can make secure donations online from anywhere in the world.
For more information, please contact Anne Black at 312.321.1500 x224 (800.9.KIDNEY) or via email to ablack@nkfi.org.
The owners of Lu Lu & Zu Zu Dog Treats were recently featured on WAND-TV news. Kendall & Sophie, the youngest vendors at the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street, described how they started their business and all the steps they had to take in order to sell their dog treats.
This week's entertainment will include two separate groups.
From 3 to 4 PM, Moussa Bolokada Conde will be getting the market thumping with his Malinke rhythms. He is a master drummer, visiting lecturer at the U of I and has performed all over the world, and he has graciously agreed to perform at our market.
If you aren't able to come out in the afternoon, you'll still be able to enjoy some great music. Starting at 5:30, the market will be featuring a local band. The musical duo known as 2 Bad Actors, will delight patrons with their acoustic eclectic-electric guitars.
So if you love the entertainment at the market, don't miss this Thursday. And don't forget to pick up your fruit and veggies. Music and munchies. What a great combo!
No, it's not political pandering. But you do have a chance to make your voice known that the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street is your favorite farmers market. The Farmland Trust and Care2, are holding contests to promote farmers markets, and thereby your local farmers.
If you love it for the convenient location or time, or the yummy veggies, or the live entertainment, let it be known. You can show your support and vote for the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street on www.farmland.org/vote and www.care2.com/farmersmarket/27502. We appreciate your support!
Despite the high temps and humidity, the sights, smells and sounds brought a good number of people in for the 2nd week of the Farmers Market on Historic North First Street.
There was a blues, rock & jazz guitarist (Aaron Sanders) who greeted people when they entered the market. The smell of barbequed rib tips, chicken and polish sausage lured hungry patrons from blocks away. And the beautiful blueberries, peaches and tomatoes delighted the eyes once patrons strolled among the vendor booths. To say the least, all the senses were satisfied.
Thanks to the efforts of many people and the dedication of the vendors, the first day of the market was a hit. There was fresh produce, yummy iced tea, and great entertainment. Even the dogs had a place to get some treats. Here are links to a few online articles and pictures detailing the event:
The recruitment of great produce vendors has continued to progress nicely, but we still have a few spots left. So I thought I'd put it out to our potential customers to let us (and any potential produce vendors) know what veggies they would like to see at the market.
So far we have one large vendor, who will be selling most everything from beets to turnips. But we also have lots of smaller vendors who have a few veggies they specialize such as hot peppers and tomatoes.
Still, there are some veggie varieties that our market is lacking. What would you like to see? Voice your opinion on your favorite veggie!
Word is getting around town about the market. After being featured on the front page of the News-Gazette, the blog for Champaign Taste added to the buzz. Check out the buzz on http://champaign-taste.blogspot.com/
CHAMPAIGN – A new farmers' market is expected to open next month on North First Street.
Starting June 18, the Historic North First Street Market will be held every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the north end of the city parking lot near the police department building.
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The farmers' market will include live entertainment and music, barbecue sandwiches, fresh produce, baked goods and a variety of crafts. It will run for 11 weeks, each Thursday through Aug. 27.
"I really believe this will be a great thing," said William Jones, president of the North First Street Association, a group of about 15 business owners on North First Street and University Avenue that is helping organize the event.
"People who live in Champaign can come over and get fresh produce and enjoy live entertainment," Jones said. "We'll have something for everyone."
At least in its first year, the farmers' market will be relatively small in size, with space for 26 vendors.
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation managing attorney Valerie McWilliams, left; William Jones, president of the North First Street Association; and market manager Wendy Langacker gather at the north end of a parking lot near the Champaign Police Station, which will be the home of a farmers' market to begin June 18 and run for 11 weeks. By Heather Coit
"It's going to have more of a smallish, neighborhood feel," said Valerie McWilliams, managing attorney for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, 302 N. First St., which is also helping organize the event.
McWilliams said a University of Illinois senior, Doris Okafor, a community health intern with Land of Lincoln, has spent many hours helping put the event together.
McWilliams said she hopes the farmers' market can be a way to get lower-income residents, such as families who receive Women, Infants & Children coupons for farmers' markets, to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables. Each participant in WIC receives $16 of farmer's market coupons each year that can be used only to purchase fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets, and about half of those coupons issued in Champaign County go unused, she said.
Women, Infants & Children is a federally funded program run locally through the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District that provides food coupons, nutrition counseling and assessment for pregnant and post-partum women and infants and children up to age 5.
McWilliams said organizers are working to get approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be able to accept food stamp LINK cards as well.
"There's been an upsurge nationally in the use of food stamps, so this a particularly good time to offer something like this," McWilliams said.
Okafor said the event currently has about 16 vendors, including two produce vendors and two meat vendors. Other community members who intend to sell T-shirts, crafts and jewelry have also secured spaces, which will rent for $10 per week. Pekara Bakery, which produces its baked goods out of the former Lone Star Lodge building at 208 N. First St., will also be a vendor.
McWilliams said the farmers' market is still seeking more farmers interested in selling locally grown produce. Those interested can contact organizers via e-mail at farmersmarket.on.northfirst<@>gmail.com.
Champaign city planner T.J. Blakeman said that the farmers' market isn't being sponsored by the city, but that city officials want to see it succeed and are providing some assistance.
"We'd love to see it happen," Blakeman said. "It's a private venture we're supportive of. Because it's being held on our land, we want to make sure it's set up well and has some support."
The farmers market on Historic north first street is moving its website from http://goosepondchurchfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/ to HERE! WELCOME to our new blog . You can still find some cool stuff at our old address but for current info please visit us here
is a newer farmers market in Champaign, IL. It is held on Thursdays from 3-7pm in a city parking lot, North of University on North 1st St. The 2010 Market season is June 10 to Sep 2. For further info, e-mail the market manager at farmersmarket.on.northfirst@gmail.com
Tired of fighting the crowds in the stores? Worried about how much shipping will cost from far away warehouses? If you shop the Farmers Market on Historic N 1st Street virtually, you can lighten some of your Holiday stress.
The farmers Market on Historic North first street is so excited to be working with Champaign public health. This summer together we are marketing wellness and community our famers markets. Our market which will begin June 18 will last up until aUG 27. Then the public health department will continue the market season from AUG till OCT. :)
