by Terri Reifsteck, Visit Champaign County The 5th Annual Champaign County Area Restaurant Week: Takeout Edition is back to make an impact on the local food industry during this nine-day celebration, from January 29–February 6, though it will look a little different. Beginning in 2017, the Champaign County Area Restaurant Week became a notable […]
News
COVID and Our Connection to Food
by Elliot Brinkman, Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network I remember the feeling well–it sat in the pit of my stomach, somewhere between dread and panic. I’m sure many of you felt it, too, when, in early spring, you arrived at the grocery store to find aisles packed with people, and once fully-stocked shelves decimated. […]
The Role of Farmers Markets in These Uncertain Times
by Lisa Bralts, Vice-President of The Land Connection’s Board of Directors Central Illinois’ 2020 growing and market seasons, like those everywhere else, found themselves perched unsteadily on top of a global pandemic. Farmers and eaters here rose, unsurprisingly, to the occasion – attendance at C-U’s weekly markets (TLC’s own Champaign Farmers Market on Tuesdays and […]
Can I roast My Own Coffee Too?
by Joseph Wetzel, Board President As an amateur coffee roaster, this is the question that I most often receive after delivering a small bag of “Wetz’s Coffee.” The answer is yes. When moving to Champaign in 2014, I wanted to start a new hobby. In my close group of friends, each one of them is […]
Kid’s Kits Week 6 – Happy Halloween with Pumpkin Carrot Bread!
The holiday season is all about family, no matter what you observe or believe in, and no matter the size, shape, or composition of your tribe. From October through the middle of January, there is something in the autumn air that brings people together, it seems. Or, maybe it’s just the threat of a chill […]
Your Tree-Torial on the Upcoming Champaign County Forest Preserve District Referendum
by Sarah Livesay, Vice President, Champaign County Forest Preserve District Since opening its doors in 1948, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD) has not received a voter-approved increase in its property tax rate, attesting to its outstanding stewardship of taxpayers’ money. In the mid-1990s, the Forest Preserve’s budget for construction and maintenance projects was […]
