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All-natural farmers’ market fosters local food supply Tim Manus THE GAMECOCK This weekend, you can give local farmers a fighting chance, as the All-Local Farmers’ Market is coming to Gervais and Vine, a restaurant in the Vista, Saturday morning. The All-Local Farmers’ Market - where local farmers and vendors of all-natural products come together to sell their goods - takes place the second Saturday of every month. Emile DeFelice is the director and the creator of All-Local Farmers’ Market. “After years of being in agriculture, I know we needed to get more money into the farmer’s pocket,” he said. “The easiest way to do this is to connect with nothing intervening, from farmer to the consumer.’’ DeFelice said in other markets, such as grocery stores, competition isn’t exactly fair. “I would essentially be competing against people from South America who earn a dollar a day; that’s not a fair playing field,” he said. DeFelice also said the market is good for consumers, “because the consumers get to know their farmer.” He pointed to the “disconnectivity” in our nation’s food supply, and said, “A lot of people really enjoy getting to know their farmer.” DeFelice also said there is a large variety of products at his market. “We have starches, rice and grits, proteins, eggs, beets, meat, organic vegetables,” he said. A local grower called Jersey Thyme Farm even makes soap. The market will also have a local woman who knits sweaters, blankets and other items using alpaca wool. DeFelice said he thinks the market has appeal to college students. He said that one morning, a student “barged right in and demanded to know where was that great soap he got last week.” DeFelice also mentioned how good the market’s products are for the environment. The average piece of food travels 1,500 miles, he said, while most of the market’s food only comes from 20 to 30 miles from the city. “None of us in this market use any chem'icals in our production, working with nature instead of against nature,” he said. “We don’t put anything synthetic in the ground, in the air or in your body.” The market also offers a $4 breakfast of all-natural « grits, eggs and sausage made from entirely local products. DeFelice called it “South Carolina’s only plate where everything in it is from our state.” Amanda McClain, volunteer market manager for the All-Local Farmers’ Market, said breakfast is a big draw. “We have people who come there and they have coffee and breakfast with their friends, and meet new friends,” she said. McClain said the market is both a “social experience” and “what a true market should IDARKCT • 1 Solutions hTi h o n'|^|o|i|nMi|n|3|h~| 1 V 3 H mBo~ I 1 oMV I S V d 3 N M OBBT d I TB|3 X n Q V d gpjg 3 N 3 Z I Mils IAI 3 3 i v d g i o a n v o ■•V- IT n TpBi i n o o op|% N I V 1 d 3 ± N TpBT N I M ± S 1 ' 'Ml S 11 9 N Q V S 3 _d 0_ Wj(|^ V J_ 0__0 OHO 13 13 3 1 Sjo 9 TB £y Q_3_J-_ d I TBMBT I d T|n 3 1 3 n TliT 3 a i o a "viio a i s o d n|N 3 x oM? 3 a i s oi vhIbsvTWT v 3 g i _a v_ _o TB^lT|TjjJjJn]TlV|7j I HUGHE »COUNTHYI WHERE THE PRESDENTI KIQI IE«S TK NEWSMIERI WHERE THE GnEHWBn I MES TB WM FOR ALL THE WRONG REASOHS Mi WHERE MORE FEVLE WE FIR A Nf DM. THAN THEIR NEXT1 Hugh Grant Dennis Quaid Mandj Moore Karcia Gay Harden Chris Klein Jennifer CeoHdge and WiNem Dafoe AmericanD ■msiiMiKi tiHiBDio mm mmmm aarniisfi W’ ’>»' W '.U1- /V*H> npruo ippji 91 Itlirtllo NriilL £i A new comedy from the director ef ABOUT A BOY, Music school to showcase talent Tyler Cook THE GAMECOCK If you need something to do this Saturday morning, search no more. Surrender the warm, enfolding comforts of your sarcophagus-like bedchamber to the soothing sounds of the variegated ensembles of the School of Music. USC will hold its 19th annual Showcase on Saturday, giving prospective students, the public and Carolina alumni a chance to learn about the state’s flagship university. Showcase, USC’s annual open house, will be held on the Horseshoe from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and is free. As a part of the larger Showcase events, several of the School of Music’s ensembles will be playing Saturday from 10 ^.m. until 12:30 p.m. These groups will include Carolina Alive, the Left Bank Big Band, the University Band, the Cocktails and the USC Chorus. The Left Bank Big Band, the USC’s official jazz band under the direction of professor Bert Ligon, will be performing at 10:30 a.m., followed by the University Band at 11:15 a.m. Both groups are expected to deliver performances filled with over-the-top solos and plenty of bombast. First-year music education major and tenor saxophonist Sean Hackett will be performing with the Left Bank Big Band. Hackett will be playing improvised solos on the Count Basie chart “Queen Bee” and the jazz standard “Summertime.” Hackett cited Charlie Parker and Tyler Cook as his two biggest jazz influences, although Cook is widely regarded more or less as a rock god for his work with the short-lived rock duo Blasphemy’s Belt. Hackett also said that he prefers the atmosphere of jazz band to the stuffier, more structured environment of concert bands. “It’s different and, in my opinion, a lot more fun than concert band,” Hackett said. “The rehearsals are more relaxed and the music is more fun.” Hackett is also looking forward to his fellow bandmates’ solos. “We’re all gonna rock the house,” he said, although the event will be held outdoors. That’s not to say that Hackett does not appreciate the rigid discipline of the University Band, widely recognized^ for its Spartan order. Or the University Band’s eclectic program, he enjoys playing “Three London Miniatures,” a three movement piece dedicated to the glory of London, most of all. “Its catchy melodies, hypnotic rhythms and memorable hooks get me every time,” Hackett said. The fact that the song’s final movement sounds like it was taken from Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick” or the mandolin solo in Spina® Tap’s “Stonehenge” doesn’t hurt things, either. For fans of the film “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003), the University Band will also be performing a medley of music from the movie’s score. Listen for the killer alto sax line about halfway through that actually sounds like water. This will be the University Band’s final concert of the semester. The Left Bank Big Ban<^ will hold its Spring Concert Thursday, April 20. When you’re done rockin’ out, taking up your air guitar in the middle of some crunchy groove, be SHOWCASE • 1 ICE AGE' • conunuED PROm 5 an animated mammoth, she excels in delivering vivacious responses to her surrounding male cast. Denis Leary as the voice of the outwardly ferocious saber-toothed tiger Diego elicits laughter with his fear of water. Diego was actually better in the original because he had less lines in the sequel and wasn’t as involved in the plot. John Leguizamo as the voice of Sid is the endearing dork everyone loves to ridicule. The interaction between the rest of the herd and Sid creates many droll scenes. See “Ice Age: The Meltdown” in the middle of the afternoon when the theater is full of children. Their laughter and amusing responses to the film make it even funnier. Grossing $70.5 million on opening weekend, th^ movie proves it’s worth th^ gander and the green. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gum.sc.edu ■ l Gamecocks Connection! ■ Your source for Gamecocks news alerts right on your i wireless pnone! Get up-to-the-minute news about the Gamecocks, from the Gamecocks, ■ on your wireless phone. Log on to www.vtext.com I and select "Coaches Corner!" I Subject to Customer Agreement and Calling Plan. $35 activation fee may apply. $175 early termination fee applies. Requires credit approval. Subject to taxes, charges and other restrictions. See verizonwireless.com/bestnetwork for network claim details. Digital phone required. 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