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  January 2012         

Sustainable Food Scholarship 

Sarah Hoyle-Katz, Education Coordinator 

 

Sarah

On January 30th, Common Ground will release the application forms for our second annual Sustainable Food Scholarship. Each year, we award the scholarship -a monetary contribution towards college tuition- to a high school senior who wants to apply his or her education to food sustainability.

It may at first seem counterintuitive for a food co-op to offer a college scholarship, but upon further reflection, it's in our best interest. As conscious consumers, we need ongoing research on local and organic foods, the impact of GMOs, and other issues of agricultural sustainability. When we help young students who are already passionate about these issues gain college educations, we help the cause of sustainable food everywhere.

But first, we need to find the right student for the job. Any college-bound high school senior who lives and attends high school within 100 miles of Common Ground can apply for the scholarship. We'll be promoting the scholarship through our regular networks, but we need you to reach out to the students you know, too. Students can pick up the scholarship application in the store or online starting January 30th. Applications should be completed as directed and turned in through March 31st at Common Ground Food Co-op, 300 S. Broadway Avenue, Suite #166, Urbana, IL 61801, or online at [email protected].

If you have any questions about the scholarship, or if you would like to contribute to it, please email me. I look forward to receiving the applications and watching this scholarship -and our scholars- grow. Good luck to all our applicants!

 

2012 Expansion Update   

Jacqueline Hannah, General Manager    

 

food nanny

The Board, staff, and I have spent several years now listening to you, the owners of Common Ground Food Co-op, about what you want your co-op's 2012 expansion to provide for you and the community. We put together the business plan, the in-depth financial projections, and presented back to you our work to integrate your desires with the Co-op's abilities and fiscal realities. The results were almost $700,000 in owner loans raised in just two months.

Read more here! 
From Your Board of Directors
Sam Vandegrift, Board Member
 
sam vandegrift
Dear Fellow Owners,

The Common Ground Visioning meeting on November 12th rocked in every way. About 50 owners, like you, delved into imagining how our co-op instigates the change we wish to see in the world. And we imagined big, hairy, superhero things that build fairness and freedom for our immediate and global communities. These dreams, while epic, came from people that believe we can do this. We know our community can do this.

Your work stands as a fitting kick off for 2012, a year designated as International Year of Co-operatives by the United Nations. People around the globe want to focus on making stronger communities through co-ops. For our part, your Board shall dive into full study of all the ideas from the visioning. We now will examine if and how other groups already work towards making these changes, and what it might look like for us to tackle these issues. The basic idea is for us to arm our strategic leadership team with knowledge that facilitates good planning based on your ideas.


Our study plan reads much like an intro course in several fields. We are lining up speakers, films, readings and visits so we can see how other experts and stakeholders put similar ideas into practice. In this we hope to find ways of making seemingly improbable outcomes possible. Your Board also continues networking with other co-ops throughout the country.


Such connections embolden the cooperative movement. Our marketplace of ideas exists as part of a democratic library, rather than a proprietary innovation kept hidden. Other businesses might ask (or pay) you to join a focus group so they can better sell products to people like you. Common Ground invited people like you to share your ideas so you can own what you want.


We look forward to sharing what we learn this year, and sincerely hope you will come join us in this exciting learning.


Happy New Year,

Common Ground Board of Directors

Have any thoughts, questions, or comments about this article or for your Board of Directors? Email the Board at [email protected].

 

Local Producer Profile: Organics at Blue Moon Farm 

Q & A with Jon Cherniss 

Why do you farm organically? It was never a consideration to do it any other way. When I was 28, I needed a summer job. Three months later, I, Michelle (soil scientist and spouse), and my sister and brother-in-law started our own farm. Organic vegetable farming enabled me to eat while I worked, build interesting machines, and do something that I believed would harm no one. Twenty-three years later I still have never considered farming any other way.

What do you have to do to get your products certified organic? Basically, we have to meet the standards developed by the National Organic Program (the NOP was brought into existence by an act of Congress). Each year we provide our certifier, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), documentation designed to show that we are in compliance with NOP standards. This process also includes a yearly visit to inspect our records and farm fields and random testing for pesticide residues. The whole process is designed to ensure organic integrity from seed to market. Everything from controlling soil erosion, compost temperatures, insect management, weed control, harvesting and transportation is addressed for the current season and the previous four years. Although I hate the paperwork, it forces me to keep good records and in the end the process makes me a better farmer.

What are the benefits of organic produce, as opposed to conventional produce? Although the specific dangers of pesticides are often debated by consumers, scientists and farmers, what cannot be argued is that when you purchase organic produce you significantly reduce your exposure to pesticides. In addition, you also reduce pesticide exposure in the communities where the pesticides are manufactured and applied, and you provide the opportunity for farmers and farm workers to work in environments that are free of pesticide drift and residues. Finally, and maybe most importantly, you are securing the genetic diversity of the world's seed stocks and providing an alternative to GMOs and a seed industry that is increasingly controlled by just a few companies. By requiring organic producers to use organic seed when commercially available, the NOP has helped create an organic seed industry that was virtually nonexistent just five years ago.

Is there anything else you'd like CGFC's customers to know about what your farm does to be organic?  I think it's important to remember that the farm is a biological system and every decision we make will have consequences not only for the crops that follow, but also for soil health, the quality of our water here and in the Mississippi River, and even for global warming.   

Healthy Recipe: Black Bean Dip
Skeeter Riddle, Produce Manager

 

So you made some resolutions, but there is the big game, awards show, party, or meeting. Keep yourself true to your word by bringing a healthy alternative to the party. This black bean dip is quick, easy, and delicious!  

 

1 19-ounce or 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed  

1/2 cup prepared salsa, hot or mild

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

 

Combine black beans, salsa, lime juice, cilantro and cumin in a food processor. Process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

click here for more details

 
Beginners Holistic Living Series: Intro to Holistic Living 
Led by Health Coach Trinity 
Tuesday, January 10, 6-7 pm 
$5 for owners / $10 for non-owners 
Minimum 5 / Maximum 25 participants 
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op
 
Eating Healthy on a Budget 
Led by General Manager Jacqueline Hannah 
Saturday, January 14, 1-2:30 pm 
Free, but pre-registration is required. 
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op 
 
Common Ground Story Time 
Led by Staffer and Lover of Tales Ellen 
Wednesday, January 18, 10:30-11 am 
FREE! No registration required. 
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op 
 
Practical Home Gardening Series: Dream Time 
Led by Laura Wetzel 
Saturday, January 28, 1-2:30 pm 
$2 for owners / $4 for non-owners 
Maximum 12 / Minimum 5 participants 
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op 

 

 

In This Issue
From Your Board of Directors
Local Producer Profile: Organics at Blue Moon Farm
Healthy Recipe: Black Bean Dip
January Sales! 
Check out our current sales here!
JANUARY ROUND UP FOR GOOD

 
This month we are
rounding up for Heartland Pathways, a local project to preserve railway segments as paths, wildlife habitat, and prairie remnants for the enjoyment and education of the central Illinois public. You can learn more about and donate to Heartland Pathways at the registers any time this month.

   



Round Up logo
COMMON GROUND GIVES BACK

As part of our mission to BUILD COMMUNITY.....

COLLECTIVELY
WE HAVE
RAISED
OVER $580

FOR THE CENTER FOR WOMEN IN TRANSITION!



 Thanks to everyone who participated in our monthly Round Up for Good! 

MEET YOUR VEGGIE

Rutabagas  
An unsung and underrepresented winter vegetable, rutabagas are often called yellow turnips. They thrive in colder climates and are most closely associated with Scandinavia. However, with their gentle sweetness and a flavor fresh like cabbage and turnip, rutabagas should be a more common food at the American dinner table. Try them mashed like potatoes or roasted as a new way to switch up your winter menu.
GROCERY SPOTLIGHT

Chia Seeds 
Chia (yes, as in "Chia-Pet") is a member of the mint family. Tiny chia seeds are renowned for their nutritional value. They provide an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein and a range of essential fatty acids, including omega-3.  When soaked in water, the outer layer of chia seeds becomes soft and gel-like, creating a unique texture and making it easy to digest. Check out the Grab 'n' Go Cooler for some great chia beverages!
SUSTAINABLE FOOD SCHOLARSHIP

Sustainable Food Scholarship
The Sustainable Food Scholarship is Common Ground's annual college scholarship. Any college-bound high school senior who wants to apply his or her education to food sustainability and who lives and attends school within 100 miles of Common Ground is encouraged to apply. The application forms will be released on January 30th, and applications will be accepted from then through March 31st. If you have any questions or would like to help with the scholarship, please contact Common Ground's Education Coordinator.
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