Why I Market
When my husband and I moved to Champaign-Urbana a couple of years ago, I was less than enthusiastic about the idea. It was nearly five hundred miles away from my hometown. In fact, before I moved here, I had lived within forty miles of the city I was born in for all but two years when I was in graduate school. But, situations change, and as you age, you find yourself doing things you never thought you'd do.
Take my husband (please!). I'm sure when he registered to vote as a Republican back in high school, he never dreamed he would end up married to a woman who wishes she could walk more than she drives, who tries to compost under the sink in an apartment, and who honestly believes the food we eat is going to be the difference between living a long, happy life or living as a sickly drone full of sugary, processed comestibles.
Which is why, upon moving here, I was thrilled to learn that summer Saturdays I can walk over to Urbana's Market on the Square, buy locally grown fresh foods and actually speak to the people who work to bring that provender to the public.
I am not a devout "localtarian." Nor do I buy all organic, fairly traded foods. I wish I could, but it's not in the budget for us at this time. I do, however, try to learn as much as I can about what we eat, how our bodies use that food, and what the effect is on ourselves and our planet. Being able to speak to growers and producers of the food we buy is, I think, one of the most responsible things we can do as consumers. At the Market, I have the chance to do just that: if it's a baked good, I can ask what the ingredients are. I can find out when and where fruits and vegetables were planted, picked, and brought for purchase. I can ask what kind of diet the animals were fed before their meat is available for me to buy. I know where the food comes from, who the people were that did the labor, and who is getting the money I am paying for that food. I can feel good about the whole transaction, because I was an active participant in it.
Which brings me to the larger reason I love the Market. Moving here was scary for me. It took me away from everything and everyone that I knew. And although I love people, it can be difficult to know where to find those people, especially ones with which I might have something in common. While I'm not saying everyone who goes to the Market has the same outlook as I do, it does give me a chance to be with people who are artistic, expressive, passionate, and social. My husband, who admits to being none of these things, actually likes to go. He likes the atmosphere of fun, the fresh air, and the fact that he can have a cookie if he doesn't complain too much. I think what he is really responding to is the fact that Market at the Square is a community event. As someone who came from a strong community, I welcome the chance to go there, and I'm glad I have the chance to share it with him.
Shopping at the Market is a different experience than shopping at a store. It's an adventure. If you have not taken part in it, I strongly suggest that you give it a try before your life finds you somewhere else. Take a friend. I'll be there, too.
1 comments
Yes yes yes! All the reasons why I love the market as well. I seriously get all sorts of antsy and excited right before the season opens up, and since I’ve moved to Urbana I’ve only missed one market (excepting weekends I was out of town). And can we talk about how amazing Prairie Fruits Farm’s new mint gelato is? Seriously mind-blowing.
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Most Recent Comments
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
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Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
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What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.
Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
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Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…