Welcome to Common Ground Food Co-op's weekly e-newsletter! You're getting this missive because you're a member of Common Ground who's also signed up to be on the CGFC mailing list. If you aren't interested in receiving these updates, please email <a href="mailto:lisa@commonground.coop" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">lisa@commonground.coop</a> . Every week, via this transmission, members are provided with store updates/news, links to relevant news items/political actions, and other bits and pieces worthy of mention. If you have anything of a similar bent you think members should know about, please email links to <a href="mailto:lisa@commonground.coop" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">lisa@commonground.coop</a>  . Thanks! STORE/LOCAL NEWS: *****CO-OP DINNER SOCIAL/"THANKS JILL" BASH! <div style="direction: ltr;">Come one, come all! You are invited to our Co-op Social! The Staff and Board of the Common Ground Food Co-op are throwing a Co-op Social... ...to dance away our winter blues in hopes of Spring ....and also to commemorate the hard work, love, and dedication that Jill Baer has shown to the Co-op. Jill's life and family plans are taking her beyond C-U (Pennsylvania even!) and we want to both celebrate the time she has given us and give her an appropriate last hurrah! Sunday, March 12th 6pm 'til we're tired </div> Common Ground Food Co-op   The fun will be held in Wisegarver Lounge, IDF   (down the hall from the coop)     Please help us share this special occasion. There will be much food, music, and good company. Everyone is invited! For more information or to help out with the festivities, contact Molly at <a href="mailto:molly@commonground.coop" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">molly@commonground.coop</a> or 721-7995.        <pre></pre> *****WORKER MEETING! If you're currently a worker at CGFC, there will be meetings this Monday, March 6 at the co-op regarding changes being implemented to the co-op's worker program. All meetings will be held in the PRC room, and snacks will be provided: Cooks and bakers will meet from 5-6 PM. In-store workers (cashiers, stockers, etc) will meet from 6-7 PM. Out-of-store workers (childcare, transport compost, rags, etc) will meet from 7-8 PM Thanks! ****NEW WORKER ORIENTATION The next new worker orientation meeting will happen at the co-op on Saturday, March 4 at 1 PM. If you're interested in volunteering with the co-op, come to this meeting and see what goes into being a CGFC working member! ****SALES, SALES, SALES We got sales! PRODUCE: March 3,4, and 5: Ruby grapefruit (CA) $1.59/pound, yellow onions (UT), $.99/pound, and green cabbage (WA) $1.09/pound March 7 & 8: Navel oranges (CA) $1.25/pound and snow peas for $4.69/pound. All produce is certified organic. GROCERY: This is just a sampling of the grocery items on sale this month at CGFC: Bionaturae Bulk Penne - $1.55/pound Annie's Pastas - 6 oz boxes are $2.05 - family size are $3.49 Bragg's Liquid Aminos - small $3.49 - large $5.75 Celestial Seasonings Teacs - $2.65/box Dagobah Chocolate!!!! - $2.40/bar Spectrum Peanut Oil - $5.39 San Pellegrino Mineral Water - $1.65 Snopac Frozen vegetables - various prices Many more items - come in and check 'em out! BULK TEA: All bulk teas (they live by the bulk herbs at the back of the store) with gold labels are 15% off this month! Here are the teas: bancha chai ceylon darjeeling dragonwell earl grey english breakfast genmaicha kukicha twig oolong rooibus young hyson YUM! *****WINTER 2006 NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ON THE WEB* The brand-spankin'-new issue of CGFC's quarterly newsletter is available for download as a .pdf file (you'll need Adobe Acrobat to read it) - you can find it at <a href="http://www.commonground.coop/docs/nl-winter-06.pdf" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">www.commonground.coop/docs/nl-winter-06.pdf</a>. The paper version of the newsletter is *now available* in the store and around town. *****COREWORKER JOB CURRENTLY AVAILABLE HABA (Non-food) Buyer Do you have an interest in natural health and body care products? Are environmentally sound and sensitive cleaning products important to you? Do you like trying and testing out new stuff? We may have a job for you! Common Ground has an opening for a buyer of non-food products for the store. This position is a 3-hour/week coreworker position. It involves placing a weekly order with our main distributor, stocking and pricing products in the HABA corner, sourcing new and interesting products,  and generally keeping that section of the store neat and looking good. Talk to Molly at the store if you are interested or to learn more. *****FERMENTATION WORKSHOP Come learn how to ferment wine, beer, pickles, yogurt and more - and sample some of these goodies at a workshop given by the Urbana Permaculture Project! It's happening Saturday, March 11 from 6-9- PM at 122 Franklin St. in Urbana. Registration is $30 - registrants will receive a good amount of fermented foods fromt he workshop. Questions? Enail Rob at <a href="mailto:robscott@freeshell.org">robscott@freeshell.org</a>. ****GREEN BUILDING TOUR "This is a unique opportunity to visit and learn from the region's leaders in green building and growth.  We will be touring Prairie Crossing, a planned community with energy-efficient, transit-oriented condos and an organic farm (see <a href="http://www.prairiecrossing.com/">www.prairiecrossing.com</a>).  And we'll tour the Chicago Center for Green Technology with Lead Architect and green building industry leader, Doug Farr." Dowload the flyer for this trip (happening March 16) here: <a href="http://ward4.org/GreenDayTripRegistration.pdf">http://ward4.org/GreenDayTripRegistration.pdf</a> ******U OF I ORGANIC FARM COMING SOON? Maybe you've heard.... There's a movement afoot to start a student-run organic farm at the University of Illinois. U of I Student Rebecca Russell is heading up the effort (called Just Food): "Just. Food. is a cooperative between the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) in the College of ACES and a registered student organization (RSO) that works to address the issues of community sustainability.  NRES will supply a one-acre plot on the Old South Farm for the development of a small produce farm under the condition it works towards USDA organic certification.  The purpose of the farm cooperative is to get as many people involved in local food production as possible.  As more university and community members become involved, Just. Food. will use the opportunity to educate them about the sustainable benefits of local food production. We usually meet Thursday, at 5:30 in Turner Hall (just east of the ACES library) in the room N527. Please email <a href="mailto:uiucorganicfarm@yahoo.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">uiucorganicfarm@yahoo.com</a> for more information." INTERESTING AND/OR INFURIATING: ****HR 4167 WILL AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY... ... if you eat, that is: "Congress will vote next week on a bill that would gut state food safety and labeling laws, endangering the food you eat. H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity for Food Act," lowers the bar on food safety by overturning state food safety laws that are not "identical" to federal law. Hundreds of state laws and regulations are at risk, including those governing the safety of milk and shellfish. Local and state officials are now responsible for 80% of the nation's food safety enforcement. These officials regularly improve training, sanitation and labeling standards to address new food borne diseases and other dangers to our food supply whether natural or man made. H.R. 4167 puts a straitjacket on these front-line workers, who are most familiar with local needs. Industry-sponsored H.R. 4167 is gaining momentum and must be stopped! Act now! Protect yourself and others from unsafe food by writing your Representative and urging them to vote NO on H.R. 4167." Go here to sign the petition: <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/750315891?ltl=1141344045">http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/750315891?ltl=1141344045</a> ****WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? This handy pesticides-in-produce guide is in mine: <a href="http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php">http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php</a> ****FACTORY FARMING Great editorial about factory farming and corporations here: <a href="http://www.celdf.org/editorial/cfarming3.asp">http://www.celdf.org/editorial/cfarming3.asp</a> ****GMOVERLOAD Great clearinghouse of worldwide articles about GMOs here: <a href="http://www.connectotel.com/gmfood/">http://www.connectotel.com/gmfood/</a> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please feel free to forward these links to people you think might benefit from such knowledge. Thanks, and look for issue 2.9 same time (more or less) two weeks from now! ::compiled by Lisa B-K, Outreach/Member Services Worker Bee::