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From The Ground Up
Common Ground's Monthly E-Newsletter
HAPPY NEW YEAR
January, 1 2015
Resolution Renew Compost
Lara Orr, Owner Services Coordinator

A new year is upon us, and the opportunity to renew our in- store compost program reigns supreme, with the help of you, our dedicated customers and owners.


We first launched our compost program in June of 2014, quickly realizing more was needed to make composting successful and sustainable for Common Ground. With an established relationship with long time owner and farmer MJ Walker who has been taking our produce and deli waste for some time, we assumed our store waste would be an easy add on. What we did not consider was the sheer number of people that would now be using this program, and not everyone coming from the same understanding of what compost is or can be.


On a positive note, more people using the program means less landfill waste. However, without the proper information of what can be composted on MJ's farm, we ended up making the processes extremely tedious and time consuming for MJ, leading to the compost program hold.


So, we went back to the drawing board to make some basic changes to better insure success for the program. You will now see labeled lids on your compost bins, we hope this gives pause to make sure what goes in the compost is compostable, and lids will be locked in the evening once compost has been collected, keeping it cleaner with seasonal shifts. What can go in our compost bins has not changed, but we are making bigger efforts to let you know what that is by adding display boxes by our exit waste station and sharing our list here with you.


We are also going to rely on you, our owners. Many of you are very familiar with composting and have done it for years, but there is an equal number of our owners and customers who are new to compost. Together, we can share our knowledge and help those who may look unsure of the compost bins. See someone thinking about throwing in a wax lined to-go salad box container? Help them negotiate the options, those containers go in the garbage bin because they do not break down in MJ's compost heap.


I look forward to doing my part as an employee, owner, and home composter, and helping others navigate our waste system, and who knows one day we might even see compost pick up next to our city recycling! I would love to see us, Common Ground owners, help pave the way.


Growing our Food For All Discount
Jacqueline Hannah, General Manager

CGFC's Food for All program was created in January of 2009 in response to a clear message from our owners that they felt addressing access needed to be front and center in their Co-op's work; to address the economic barriers that exist between so many people in our community and access to healthy food.  A key part of the Food for All program's design is a 5% discount on all groceries - based on economic need. This has been well-received, but we began to question how we distribute discounts at CGFC shortly after Food For All started when one owner receiving the senior discount stood up at a CGFC annual meeting and said, "shouldn't all of our discounts be based on need, not age or student status?" The question received a strong round of applause from his fellow owners.

 

Since that time, we've reached out to all CGFC owners for their thoughts on this issue. Our fall 2013 Owner Survey showed that 82% of CGFC owners were pro putting all CGFC's discount resources into one fiscal-need-based discount program and growing that discount to 10%.

 

We celebrated the five year anniversary of the Food For All program by engaging owners for the first six months of 2014 through roundtables and online surveys on the topic of the future of our Food For All program and what they want it to accomplish. The top response we got back was "make the food even more economically accessible for those with need, grow the Food For All discount to 10%." Through these two processes, the owner survey and the Food For All input process, it became clear that CGFC's owners were in agreement.


From Your Board: Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Magdalena Casper-Shipp, Board Member

As January, the New Year, and (most likely) a blanket of snow descends upon us, we're looking forward to the longer days, the challenges and excitement of all the positive changes we CAN make in our lives, and the life of the Co-op community. One of the goals that Jacqueline told the Board about at the December meeting was to increase the number of Owners in anticipation of the expansion to a second, Champaign, store.


So, building energy in our WHOLE community around local food and knowing where what is on your plate came from is huge, it's not just us Co-op regulars who care. Just like our Board meetings are open to all Owners, our store is open to all shoppers. More conscientious consumers equals more Owners and more Owners equals more Co-op energy.


The energy of walking out of work and having the blue sky be streaked with pink and orange, and the blank slate of fresh snow keeping the earth clean every few days, makes it much easier to make beneficial changes to your life and your community. So, go out and play in the snow. Encourage a friend to take a trip to the Urbana store with you. Take advantage of that energy that comes with a new year, the positive reinforcement of "everyone" else doing it, and the dark trees against the bluish white snow out your window. What will you do with the energy of 2015?


 

Local Producer Profile: Jaq ~ Jim Natural Skin Care

What does your business name mean to you? How did you choose this name?

Jaq-Jim is a combination of our abbreviated names, Jacqui and James. We chose Jaq-Jim because our skin care products are deeply personal and reflective of the sustainable and natural path we think skin care should take. There are a lot of natural skin care companies out there with names that convey a natural or holistic massage, most of them selling products hardly better for your skin and health than the synthetic brands. We are daily users of our products, and we wanted to convey a message that is sustainable and natural, but that is also distinctly our experience, distinctly Jaq-Jim. As people learn more about how our skin care is different and why we make our products the way we do, we believe customers will associate the Jaq-Jim name with quality natural products that are developed for skin health first.

 

Where is your business located? How many miles do you travel to reach Common Ground?

We do business out of two locations: one in Urbana, where James lives, and one near Chicago, where Jacqui lives. Our location in Urbana is on Main Street, 1.5 miles from Common Ground. James walks to shop at Common Ground weekly and he has been an owner for over 3 years.


For how long have you been making your products?

We have been making our moisturizer for over 3 years. We started making it to help with James's Rosacea and Psoriasis, which he was struggling to control. One of the challenges was the prescribed daily routine of antihistamines and anti-fungals that were not working consistently. We were also concerned about the long-term implications of these products and were seeking a natural alternative. In 2011 we created a mixture of natural ingredients and vitamins that helped restore James's skin within 24 hours. We spent about 1.5 years perfecting the formula before we started selling the Infinity Moisturizer. From this original formula we developed two other products in the last year. The body serum is a stronger and more moisturizing oil that is great for dry patches of skin or areas of very sensitive skin, like on babies. The lip care is our most recent product and is made to be a daily lip moisturizer to keep lips full and smooth before they have a chance to get dried out.


 
keep reading here

 

Brand New Stone Soup
Maya Bauer, Education Coordinator

In January of 2013 (a year ago!) we brought Stone Soup back to the Co-op. We gathered monthly in the Flatlander Classroom to cook a meal for the TIMES Center. We had a great time with this program.


This January it's time to announce some exciting changes to this program. Since many organizations rely on donations to run operations we decided to shift the focus of Stone Soup to address this need. Stone Soup will now support sharing food in community, offer folks the opportunity to give input on key Co-op topics, and support local organizations with our dollars via donations. We'll be moving back to our roots and eating together instead of cooking together!


How it'll work:

  • Arrive and be lured into the classroom by delicious scents of food cooking.
  • Donate what you can ($5 suggested) to benefit our great community garden efforts (Randolph St. Community Garden, Prosperity Gardens, Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden
  • Eat food with your fellow community members
  • Get some good conversation going about topics chosen by our GM and  lend your voice to our Co-op! (Our first topic will be access/welcome at the Co-op.)

Dates for this Spring are February 20th and April 17th.


Got questions?! Email me HERE or call me (217 239 8108) and I'll answer them if I can. Looking forward to seeing you all at Stone Soup!


Governor-elect Bruce Rauner & Local Food?
Wes King, Illinois Stewardship Alliance

What does Governor-elect Bruce Rauner's victory mean for local food and sustainable farming in Illinois? That's a good question and the same one a lot of different organizations and individuals are asking in general about the incoming Governor and what he will do once he takes the helm as Governor of Illinois.


Governor-elect Rauner managed to win election to Illinois' highest office without saying much of anything in the way of specifics about what he would do in terms of the state's budget and tax policies, let alone what he would do in regards to agriculture. Governor-elect Rauner is inheriting a mess when it comes to the state's budget, job creation trends and tax policies - a mess for which there really are no good solutions or magic bullets.


Despite his many flaws Governor Pat Quinn and his administration were supportive of local food and sustainable agriculture and while we know very little about what Governor-elect Rauner is going to do to dig Illinois out of the financial hole we are in or what agriculture related policies he will pursue, some of the statements he made during the campaign trail are encouraging. As reported by AgriNews in September, at a candidate forum organized by the Illinois Farm Bureau during the campaign, then candidate Rauner expressed his desire to support increased agricultural diversification, agri-tourism efforts, farm-to-market, and fresh farm produce opportunities.


keep reading here

January Classes
Click here for more information!

Thursday, January 8th, 6-7:30pm

Tuesday, January 6th, 7-8pm

Saturday, January 10th, 1-2:30pm

Saturday, January 10th, 3-3:45pm

Sunday, January 11th, 1-2pm

Monday, January 12th, 6-7:30pm

Sunday, January 18th, 4-6pm

Tuesday, January 20th, 10:30-11am

Wednesday, January 21st, 6-7pm

Saturday, January 24th, 2-3:30pm

Saturday, Jan 24th, 2-3:30pm

Saturday, Jan 31st, 2-3pm

In This Issue
January
Sales!
Know Your
Board
January Meeting

Join the Board of Directors on January 12th from 6:15pm- 8:15pm in the Lincoln Square Conference Center.
I ♥ Local
Show the love

February 13, 4-6 pm
We love our local farmers and producers, and can't say it enough! So, this February 13th from 
4-6 pm join us in celebrating local at Lincoln Square Mall. Meet over 10 of your local farmers and producers and enjoy conversation over farm-to-table samples, local music by Tara Terra, and kid centered activities. You don't to miss this special event! 
January Round Up For Good
Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is one of the nation's leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people.
Last Month Round Up For Good Total
Giving Back
During December we cooperatively raised over $1700.00
for Crisis Nursery!
Thanks to everyone who donated.
Deli Delight
Eating Healthy 2015

Begin 2015 with healthy eating! The Common Ground Deli has a variety of delicious and nutritious options including Kickin' Kale Salad, Lentil Soup and our wonderful Salad Bar. Stop by and see how tasty eating right can be!
CSA Fair 2015
January 21, 3-6pm

Join many of the Farmers you know and love from the Market at The Square to learn about CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) options throughout the year. This event will be held at the Urbana Civic Center located at 108 E. Water. Learn more here.
Produce Super Heros
Superfoods

New year's resolutions are in and the abundance of colds seems endless, which makes now the perfect time to focus on eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet. Superfoods are one of the easiest ways to ensure you'll have the energy for those extra workouts and the power to fight off any illnesses that come your way!

Superfoods are raw foods that provide ample nutrients and minerals for a relatively low calorie intake, meaning they are VERY nutrient-dense. The most nutrient-dense produce items are kale, mustard greens, collards and watercress so definitely keep these friends in your kitchen this time of year!

Other great foods to have around are tomatoes, blueberries, radishes, red peppers, oranges, artichokes, spinach, kiwi, broccoli, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, chard, garlic, full-sized carrots, beets and sharp onions. Be sure to stock up on these super-healthy foods the next time you're at CGFC!

Grocery Notes
Super Soup &
Sensational Salad

What's fast, healthy, delicious and always in season? The soup & salad combo! 
This classic duo is grounds for endless variation. Make hearty soups and savory grain salads ahead, then just heat and eat on busy days. Spice up fresh greens with the addition of dried fruit, seasonal citrus, nuts, local cheese, or slices of our Asian Baked Tofu. Stock up on January Co-op deals, including Imagine and Dr.McDougall ready-to-eat soups, and Annie's salad dressings. 
For hassle-free home-made goodness, come in for a soup and salad bar lunch at our Deli!
Savory Sides
Castelvetrano Olives

Olive connoisseurs love Castelvetrano olives (pronounced kah-stell-veh-TRAH-no). And more than a few people decide that they like olives after tasting the delicious, bright green fruit, named for a town in the center of their growing region, the province of Trapani on the western side of Sicily.
The olives are so good that in a land of many olives, they're Italy's number one snack olive-selling three to one over any other type of olive. These bright green gems are often referred to as "dolce" olives, the word for "sweet" in Italian.
The olives are harvested young (early in the season) and are cured in lightly salted brine, which accounts for their bright green color, firm, meaty texture and mellow, buttery flavor. Those who don't like olives because they've only had stronger, brinier varieties may have found their olive.
If Castelvetrano olives are pricier than other olives, it's because the trees have only a fair yield. But you get what you pay for: Mild and seductive, they're olive bliss.
New Year
Self Care
Cleanses

Cleanses are a good way to renew and recharge for the new year. If you've decided to support your body's natural detoxification processes with a cleanse, just remember these tips. Drink lots of liquids including fresh juices, non-caffeinated teas, water and clear broths, and eat simply prepared fresh veggies, whole grains and beans. Boost the cleanse with a high-quality herbal detox kit or other reputable program. Avoiding sugar, alcohol, processed foods and white flour during the cleanse will help ensure that you feel lighter and more energized.
Celebrating 40 years of Community
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