Food For Thought

Now until January 15: It's CSA time! Prairieland Community Supported Agriculture has opened their 2010 registration for farm food shares. The 2010 season will run 20 weeks and costs $400, with installment plans available. Support local farms and eat great produce all growing season! To sign up for a share, or to find out more about CSAs, check out Prairieland's website. They've been doing this 13 years now and do a great job!

Tuesday, November 10, 7 pm: Free screening of the documentary "King Corn" at the Champaign Public Library! See this award-winning film about two friends who move to Iowa to grow and acre of corn in an effort to understand where our food comes from. What they find raises more questions than they started with. An amazingly well-done film you won't want to miss if you are concerned with the future of food in the U.S.

Feeling overwhelmed by what YOU personally can do to reduce your carbon footprint? Michael Pollan gives one great suggestion in this NY Times piece published a few weeks ago.

P.S. Common Ground's annual Plant Sale is coming up on May 10! Check out our amazing selection of heirloom vegetables and herbs from 8 am-12 pm in the parking lot of the Illinois Disciples Foundation.

Despite increased interest in local foods and the explosion of farmers markets throughout the country, small-scale organic farmers still face considerable hurdles in growing and distributing local foods. Minnesotan farmer Jack Hedin tells his story in Saturday's New York Times, My Forbidden Fruits (and Vegetables).

Whenever you can, choose local fruits and vegetables and show the federal government that you value sustainability and diversity!

~Meagan