February 2012         

Love Your Food? Love Your Farmers! 

Sarah Hoyle-Katz, Education Coordinator 

 

Sarah

Valentine's Day... By now, most retailers have out for sale their roses, heart-shaped candies, and red and pink cards. But here at your co-op, February 14th is more than an opportunity to buy chocolate (which, by the way, we have in stock right now - and fair trade at that!): it's Owner Appreciation Day!

If you've been an owner for over a year, you might notice a pattern - our first Owner Appreciation Day of the year is always on Valentine's Day. This isn't an accident. Valentine's Day is all about love and appreciation, and if there are two things we love and appreciate here at Common Ground, it's our owners and local producers - we really couldn't do it without you all. So, we thought, what better day to show our love than Valentine's Day?

We'll have some tasty treats and awesome sales around the store, fair trade roses for the very first time, and some of our local producers will be around to share their products and stories. If you see one of our producers, say hi and thank you - because without these folks' year-round hard work, we wouldn't have half the tasty produce, milk, cheeses, and treats we do.

Thank you all for the things you do to make this co-op great. We look forward to seeing you on February 14th!

 

Expansion Update  

Jacqueline Hannah, General Manager    

 

food nanny

It's time for this week's big expansion update and I am ready, drum roll please, to announce . . .
 
. . . well, not much.  
 
I know how much you were hoping that I was finally about to announce that we're ready to start the physical building of the store and our estimated completion date. The air is fairly crackling around me with the dynamic tension and excitement of Common Ground's owners, customers, and staff wanting the building of our new store space to begin. And believe me, no one wants more than me to announce the exact date build out will begin.

Read more here!
From Your Board of Directors: Board Visioning Research
Sam Vandegrift, Board Member
 
sam vandegrift
Greetings fellow owners,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Common Ground, I again thank those of you who participated in the visioning workshop last November. The process generated many ideas of truly visionary scope. We now begin the next chapter of this process by studying major ideas from the event. For the next year, your Board will meet with experts, conduct panels, air films, visit programs and examine cases from around the globe where groups provide services akin to those recommended at the visioning; these meetings and activities will help your Board better understand the possibilities for such services right here in our own community. Please remember that this process did not begin in a vacuum, nor can it continue without your input and participation. Therefore, we encourage you to join us at upcoming events, so be on the lookout for publicity in the near future.

Follow this link for an overview of our study topics for this coming year.

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

 

Local Producers Quiz    

CGFC LogoHere are six quick questions to test your knowledge of Common Ground's local and regional vendors. Check your answers at the bottom of the newsletter!

1. How many employees does the Moore Family Farm have?
a. Three
b. Four
c. Zero

2. What organic farmer most recently joined the ranks of Common Ground's vendors?
a. Blue Moon Farm
b. PrairiErth Farm
c. Living Waters Farm

3. What vendor currently creates and/or grows their products closest to Common Ground?
a. Senior Honey
b. Blue Moon Farm
c. Prairie Fruits Farm

4. How many apiaries (bee yards) does Common Ground work with?
a. Three
b. Two
c. Four

5. What kind of cows does Kilgus use for their dairy? 
a. Jersey
b. Kerry
c. Holstein

6. Which of the following producers supply Common Ground with local/regional lip balm?
a. Prairie Apiaries
b. Sasse's Apiary
c. Queen Anne's Lace



Healthy Recipe: Skeeter's Burritos
Skeeter Riddle, Produce Manager

 

Many who know me know that I want to eat anything either in sandwich form or burrito form. I have been trying to find ways to make them better for me rather than simply a big ol' calorie bomb. Here is an attempt that I made recently. You can do without the tortilla and throw it in a bowl if you would like and it is still good.
 
1 cup quinoa 
1 cup black beans, BBQ seitan, or meat - whichever you prefer 
2 cups steamed kale or another hearty and delicious green 
1 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped 
1 avocado, sliced 
Salsa 
1 lime 
Whole wheat tortillas 
 
Heat the tortillas. Fill with the quinoa, beans/seitan/meat, kale, peppers, avocado and salsa. Before folding, spray with a bit of the lime. Fold. Sit down and eat. 

 


click here for more details

 

Eating Healthy on a Budget 

Led by General Manager Jacqueline Hannah

Wednesday, February 8, 6-7:30 pm 

Free, but pre-registration is required.
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op

 

Owner Appreciation Day 

Tuesday, February 14, ALL DAY 

FREE! No registration required.

Location: Common Ground Food Co-op

 

Common Ground Story Time 

Led by Staffer and Lover of Tales Ellen
Wednesday, February 15, 10:30-11 am
FREE! No registration required.
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op

Ethical Eating Workshop 

Led by Education Coordinator Sarah
Tuesday, February 21st, 6-7 pm
FREE! No registration required.
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op

Practical Home Gardening Series: When and Where to Plant 

Led by Laura Wetzel
Saturday, February 25, 1-2:30 pm
$2 for owners / $4 for non-owners
Maximum 12 / Minimum 5 participants
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op

Beginners Holistic Living Series: Healthy Eating 

Led by Health Coach Trinity
Tuesday, February 28, 6-7 pm
$5 for owners / $10 for non-owners
Minimum 5 / Maximum 25 participants
Class Location: Common Ground Food Co-op

 

Local Producers Quiz Answers!



1. C -  Zero. The Moore Family Farm technically has no employees because only the family works on the farm.

2. B - PrairiErth Farm.

3. A - Senior Honey. They currently process their honey in a kitchen a few blocks away.

4. C - Four. Sasse's Apiary, Prairie Apiaries, Senior Honey, and Prairie Fruits Farm.

5. A - Jersey. Jersey cows' milk has a higher protein and calcium content than Holstein cows' milk.

6. B - Sassie's Apiary AND C - Queen Anne's Lace!
In This Issue
From Your Board of Directors
Local Producers Quiz!
Healthy Recipe: Skeeter's Burritos
February Sales! 
Check out our current sales here!
FEBRUARY ROUND UP FOR GOOD

 
This month we are
rounding up for Prairieland CSA's sponsored share program (info about the program is near the bottom of the linked website). Prairieland CSA's sponsored share program enables the Moore Family Farm to provide organically grown produce free of charge to families and individuals who otherwise wouldn't have access to a CSA share. You can learn more about and donate to Prairieland CSA's sponsored share program 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 $540

FOR HEARTLAND PATHWAYS!



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

MEET YOUR FRUIT

Blood Orange
Such an eerie name for such a delightful fruit! Blood oranges are crimson on the inside due to the presence of anthocyanins; these little guys are responsible for giving them more vitamin C and antioxidants than regular oranges and are not typically found in fruit. Perhaps more importantly... blood oranges are delicious! They are often a bit tangy or tart yet still sweet - almost like an orange kicked up a notch with a raspberry. Try one in a salad with fennel and walnuts or even replace the lemon juice in your salad dressing.
GROCERY SPOTLIGHT

Buffalo and Elk  
Come check out our new local meats! Golden Meadows Buffalo and Potters Elk are both small family farms in Rossville, Illinois that raise their livestock in open pastures. Buffalo and elk are both very lean red meats that substitute well for ground beef. They have a slightly stronger flavor than beef, but have less fat than turkey breast. How about some buffalo burgers, or elk chili!?
OWNER APPRECIATION DAY SAMPLINGS

February 14th

Come meet your local farmers and vendors and sample their products from 12-1 pm and 5-6 pm! Try...
Local honey
Toffee
Grain free treats
and more!
Triple S Farms will be sampling two hot dishes and demonstrating money saving techniques for cooking meat, and Pekara and Blue Moon will also be in the store sampling their amazing products. Be sure to take advantage of the all day long 10% owner discount and great sales too!
Store info