Blog

Hello Cooperators!

I hope that you all had a safe and happy holiday season! Welcome to the '20's!

Welcome to December Cooperators!

The gift giving season is upon us and Common Ground is getting into the spirit of the season! We are starting off the month of December with our last Owner Appreciation Days of the year from the 5th through the 8th! Please don't miss it! 

Board Member Evelyne Tardy talks about holistic Co-op remedies to boost your immune system during the winter months

Brrr…the cold season is upon us!  During this time of year it’s so important to take care of our immune systems in order to stay healthy and strong while colds and flus are among us.  The Coop is a sound resource for staples to keep us healthy year round, but especially during this time of year. Some of what I’d like to recommend include some local highlights as well as well-regarded brands.

Claudia and Guy Coil are the supportive farmers of several hundred laying chickens on their wooded farm in Mansfield, IL about 20 miles from Common Ground. Their freshly laid chicken eggs have graced the Co-op shelves for almost seven years and we are proud to have been their very first outlet to sell their dozens. Some of our staff stopped over at their farm the other day for a visit, some coffee, and were lucky to hold some chickens and tour the various wooded pastures where the chickens dwell during the day.

As told by Café Manager Kelsey Koch

Celia and Elton Koehn, the dedicated local farming duo of Greens For You in Arthur, IL, have been growing fresh local romaine, butterhead lettuce, and other salad greens for Common Ground Food Co-op for more than seven years straight without missing one weekly delivery! They are so hardworking and we are proud to boast that we received their first ever delivery when they were just beginning their venture and they’ve been a staple local farm in our produce section ever since.

Glow is such a truly fitting word to describe the work and wellness of Lola Pittenger. You may know Glow By Lola for the carefully crafted and aromatic skincare line and wellness products found at Common Ground. Did you know that out of 90+ local producers within 100 miles, Glow By Lola is the closest local producer to the Co-op, just blocks away!

One of the most popular local bakeries in CU is Central Illinois Bakehouse located off of First Street and University Avenue. This bakery is a powerhouse dropping off fresh baked breads and desserts to Common Ground each morning before we open and make the rounds to all other CU local businesses and coffee shops. These bakers are invested, baking in the middle of the night to deliver super fresh goods made with love.

Queen Anne’s Lace is renowned for their local farm to face skin care products made by hand with ingredients grown by Linda Oberg and family in Camargo, 25 miles south from the Co-op. The farm and homestead is home to honey bees, horses, goats, cows, and rows of perennial herbs and flowers.

About three hours south of Common Ground in Anna, Illinois, sits Dayempur Farm: Center for Sustainable Living. This magical place thrives with a supportive Sufi community in the thickly wooded wildlife refuge adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest. The word “Dayempur” stands for ancient or eternal place, signifying the history of the land and how it has been passed through various committed stewards who’ve promised to protect this special land and its waterways.