Blog

Notes from Diane Moore

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

2015 is not quite half-full, as it were, and yet it has already been an eventful year for Common Ground. This month, I have three brief updates from your Board.

What's your story? Where are you from? How do you find yourself in the C-U area? How long have you lived here?
I grew up on a farm in Vermilion County. We raised hogs on pasture and grew corn, soybeans, and produce for farmers markets and some C-U restaurants. The closest town was Hope, but it was too small to have a post office. People would spray paint "less" on the sign, which was pretty accurate. No one from my high school was going to get to farm back then. 

We take pride in open lines of communication with our owners and customers. Here is what you had to say for the month of April!

We take pride in open lines of communication with our owners and customers. Here is what you had to say for the month of March!

Common Ground Food Co-op is imperfect, and I know it.

I know it’s imperfect because it is a great co-op, and a truly great co-op is an organic, growing living thing that reflects the imperfect, messy, human community it exists to serve. Common Ground has evolved in so many ways since it was founded in 1974. Over 40 years, CGFC has been a constant dialogue of values, approaches, needs and wants of thousands of owners, staff and board members. Another change in the constant evolution that is Common Ground is upon us now.

Spring is here and before you know it summer will be too. And while most school districts in Illinois will be off for the summer, just as classes wrap-up, Congress will be ramping up debate around school feeding programs.

Living Water Farms itself was established in April of 2008.  It was an off-shoot of the many years of gardening/truck patch growing that the Kilgus & Schneider families had done. The decision of what we’d name our farm was made by our entire family. We, along with all of our children and the two sons-in-law came up with suggestions for it, and it was then put to a vote!

Right now is the perfect time to enjoy a crisp, cool, refreshing salad. We love making salads with the fresh, organic produce from our local vendors. Whether it's a salad from our grab'n'go, salad bar, or a salad made at home, we've highlighted some of our favorites! 

Take a look at this helpful Produce Storage Guide all about how to keep your produce fresh. Some produce needs refrigeration, while other fruits and veggies would rather not!