Winter Farmer's Market Feb 13th!

Featuring your favorite local vendors, who’ll be on hand with their incredible variety of food and artisan crafts, offering samples and the chance for some quality face-to-face time! A fun opportunity to meet the producers of your favorite items, hear their stories, and maybe try something new!

Most important? The Winter Farmer’s Market will be an opportunity for us to give back to the First Place community – we’ll be holding a FUNDRAISER that night for the FIRST PLACE FOOD PANTRY!!

Customers may purchase a coupon for a market product that we’ll give to the Food Pantry – so we can support local while supplying them with the very freshest products available! Vendors will even have the opportunity to match customer donations, and we’ll make as big an impact as possible!

Need a last minute idea for Valentine’s Day? From gifts to delectable desserts, delicious dinner possibilities and sumptuous snacks, you’re sure to find plenty to please at our Winter Farmer’s Market – we hope you’ll mark your calendars and join us! :-)

Final Call for Orders!

Can we warm you up with custom-roasted coffee? Herbal teas? Pumpkin latte mix?

How about warm sourdough bread with fruit butter? A toasted English muffin for a sausage, cheese, and egg sandwich?

The Market is Open!

Tonight we welcome back Tin Roof Mobile Food, with their famous Charolais beef!

Also back this week is Simple Living Farm, with their sweet carrots and spinach!

Weblog Entry

The Market is open for orders!

We welcome back Lavender Lemon Scones from 6635 StudeBaker!

And don’t worry – Simple Living Farm and Live Simply Live Richly may both be on vacation this week, but they’ll be back soon, with their sweet carrots and tasty microgreens!

Happy Shopping, and thank you for your continued support :-)

Happy New Year!!

The market is now OPEN for orders!!

Weblog Entry

I was told on Wednesday the Food Council decided not to renew my contract as market manager. To say I was disappointed would be a gross understatement.

For 20 months I have donated a massive amount of time from my family and business to help this market and it’s vendors succeed. As my husband and I chose to leave other careers and dedicate our livelihood to growing clean food, there is no one who believes more strongly in the necessity of a vibrant Local Food community, and the potential impact Local Food could make on our hometown economies with this market structure, unsurpassed in convenience for both customer and vendor alike.

Yet the most discouraging thing over the past 20 months was being told at the last Food Council meeting it was not possible for this to be a “team effort”, as I intended, because that’s simply not how society is these days. It’s too much for me to expect 30 adults to come together in sharing the workload and equally promoting a market of which they’re all a part? Running through my head was my favorite Christmas song… “And in despair I bowed my head – there is no peace on earth, I said. For hate is strong, and mocks the song of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men”. I honestly thought, that with their attitude, I should never have taken this job, promoting so many others when I “should” have been home doing what was in our own best interest.

But as I reflect upon my time as manager, and particularly the enthusiasm and encouragement from so many customers and vendors, I choose to believe those naysayers cannot be correct. There have been too many good people who’ve helped us get our start, who truly had every reason to turn us away…

The Market Managers at the Virtual Market in Champaign County could not have been more encouraging. Insightful and honest, they wanted to see us succeed, and were willing to do whatever they could to assist us in getting off the ground. Their advice and example are so dear to me, as they proved it need not be a competition, but rather a healthy, friendly relationship for the good of all.

The FUMC and First Place community are a shining example of Christian fellowship. They had no reason to be so generous or so kind to us, yet I couldn’t have asked to meet or work with a more wonderful group of folks. From the office manager to the building manager, the First Place Board to the Food Pantry directors, I don’t know how to adequately express my gratitude.

Nurturing a positive relationship with Miami County Public Health was vastly important to me, and I am indebted to Shane Snapp for his willingness to work with our uniquely difficult market structure. Following the rules and staying above board is not easy, but Shane was always patient and helpful. I can’t thank him enough.

And to the customers who have become such a happy part of my life, you can’t know how much I look forward to your Tuesday visits. Your energy and support is inspiring – you’ve been a joy to work for, and you’ve made it all worthwhile.

I loved this market… the customers and vendors, the structure and this community we were building. I wish everyone a most Blessed Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy 2018.

LAST WEEK TO ORDER FOR 2017!!!

What started as a lesson in responsibility for their 9 year old son, Landon, has become a beloved family project that even his two little sisters can help with!

Everything from Maple Bourbon Caramels and Mild Italian Ground Beef to SALES on Organic Pasta and Pasture-raised eggs!

Even Frankincense Fir Soap, and Fairy Dust Bath Salts – how fun!

Kids Begging for Green Eggs?!

Her 2 and 6 year olds LOVE them, and no wonder – not only are they delicious, but they’re GORGEOUS! Check out our Facebook page for pictures of her beautiful omelets! The color is incredible :-)

Your feedback is so important to us – we couldn’t make our living this way without you, and you help us improve when you share your ideas, thoughts, and experiences. We greatly appreciate your time and support :-)

LAST WEEK FOR POTATOES!!

There are still Yukon Gold, Red, and Purple Potatoes with your name on them!! And don’t forget everyone’s favorite – his Marble Mix!

And if you’ve never tried canning whole potatoes… trust me, folks, Dane’s are the PERFECT size for canning, and it’ll be the easiest thing you’ve EVER canned in your life!

Three Important Announcements!!

Baby and Mom are both doing well! Congratulations, Bensman Family :-) (And check out our market Facebook page for Willow’s adorable picture!)

Keep those referrals coming, and you may be the winner of December’s $10 Gift Certificate! Tell your friends about the market, and have them drop your name when they come to pick-up… then you’re entered in our drawing! It’s that easy!

We’ll reopen for orders on January 2nd, with the first pick-up on the 9th!! So Happy Shopping :-)