Every May, Common Ground throws an Organic Plant Sale. (Look for it on the Co-op's porch from 7-11 AM on Saturday, May 8.) The plants for the sale are donated by Co-op owners and supporters and, until very recently, the proceeds from the sale were put back into the Co-op's bank account to help keep the store afloat. In May 2009, for the first time in its history, Common Ground was seeing the kind of financial success that made it possible to set aside the plant sale money to further its mission in the community. Every dollar raised at the 2009 plant sale was put into the Co-op's "Food For All" fund, which is used to make Co-op ownership equity grants to those who would not otherwise be able to afford to become owners of Common Ground. The money left from last year's sale is still more than adequate to meet the demand for ownership equity grants for the next year, so your Co-op will be able to fund new efforts with the proceeds from this year's sale. This year we're going to be planting seeds for a food revolution beyond the Co-op's own doors by donating all of the proceeds to the Champaign Community Gardens Project.

The Champaign Community Gardens Project is not just one seed, but an entire garden full of freshly planted seeds for healthier children, community economic self-sufficiency, sustainable land use, and education. Common Ground will not only be donating all of the proceeds from the 2010 Organic Plant Sale to the project, but will be actively working with the team developing the nutrition portion of the food science curriculum for Washington School. We'll be staying involved to keep the project running once EWB has moved on to their next community project. Common Ground's involvement in the Champaign Community Gardens Project is made possible by your support as shoppers and owners of the Co-op. Together, we're planting some pretty amazing seeds for change in 2010.