Check out all the latest classes and events happening at the co-op in May 2019!

Register online via the links below, or sign up in person with our staff at the registers. Unless indicated otherwise, all classes and events are located in the Flatlander Classroom at Common Ground, 300 S. Broadway in the Lincoln Square Mall.
Owner Appreciation Days
Thursday, May 2nd - Sunday, May 5th
Store wide sales & samples
Where would we be without co-op owners!? Owners make up the co-op community, and we are ready to celebrate! The first weekend in May will be our second Owner Appreciation Days of 2019. Join us for store wide sales, samples from local producers, and 10% off one purchase during the weekend.

Thursday, May 2nd; 6-8pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
Got Milk? Join us to whip up some creamy concoctions in Part 1 of the Beyond Dairy series! Learn how to make plant-powered milks and creamers at home with ease and finesse. Walk away with six new recipes under your belt and a milk mustache on your face! Plus, get the scoop on the dairy’s impact on your health and the pros of a plant-based swap. Finally, we'll savor a sweet treat over a closing Q&A session.

Professional Knife Sharpening
Market Saturdays, 9-11am
$4-$7 per knife
Local knife sharpener, Laurence, will be in the Flatlander Classroom on market Saturdays to offer his expert knife sharpening services. Bring your dull and worn kitchen knives to the co-op, and they’ll leave like new!

Food For All Fundraiser: Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, May 4th; 10am-1:00pm
Located on the co-op porch
Looking to start your garden? Stop by the mall hallway for locally-grown seedlings and support our Food For All program! Food For All is the co-op food accessibility program that provides free memberships, food discounts, and class discounts to those in need. Our local farmers and gardeners have banded together to bring you countless varieties of herbs, vegetables, and succulents for affordable prices to help the co-op fund Food For All!

Thursday, May 9th; 6-7:30pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
Join us & make three vegan desserts, including two raw vegan treats. The recipes featured will be a raw vegan date/nut torte, raw vegan oreos, and tahini cookies. There is a recipe for everyone whether you are vegan, raw vegan, paleo, gluten-free. These recipes will be the perfect treat as we wait for summer!

Saturday, May 11th; 2-4pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
Make it all from scratch! You’ll be all ready for tea time after you’ve learned to make scones, butter, & jam all from scratch. This class will show simple recipes to make the home cooking lifestyle as easy as possible and build your confidence in the kitchen!

Tuesday, May 14th; 4-5pm
Free! Registration required
In this hour long class, 1st & 2nd graders learn basic cooking skills, how to read a recipe, and make tasty snacks!

Wednesday, May 15th; 10am-6pm
$15 owners / $20 non-owners
What exactly are these meal kits? Think Blue Apron or Hello Fresh, just with co-op fresh foods, less plastic packaging, and more affordable prices. This month, we are featuring a healthy roasted vegetable couscous bowl.  Check out the recipe here!   Order your meal kit by Tuesday, May 14th and pick it up any time on Wednesday, May 15th.

Beyond Dairy Part II: C reamy Cultures
Thursday, May 16th; 6-8pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
Are you hip to lactic-acid cultures? Come learn how to foster your favorite fermentations from home - yogurt, kefir, and sour cream, all with the power of plants! We'll walk through this ancient practice, imploring a modern means toward a more compassionate end. We'll also take a brief detour into the world of ecology to more fully appreciate the impact of our dairy-less deeds. At the end, all students will be gifted a starter to ensure that your solo quest will start off on the right foot!

Friday Feast: Congolese-Inspired Cuisine
Friday, May 17th; 5-7pm
$9/ serving; located in the Flatlander Classroom
Our next Friday Feast will showcase Congolese-inspired cuisine! Join us to experience the flavorful dishes, Tshaka Madesu, a stew made with greens, peppers, and beans, as well as Moambe Chicken, chicken stewed in a spiced tomato sauce. Both dishes will be served with rice.

Tuesday, April 23rd; 4-5pm
FREE; registration required
In this hour long class, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders learn basic cooking skills, how to read a recipe, and make tasty snacks! Please e-mail education@commonground.coop to alert instructor of any dietary restrictions. 

Thursday, May 23rd; 6-8pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
In this continuing series, Red Herring staff will lead a class on vegan Japanese cuisine, featuring recipes for miso soup, cabbage pancakes, roll-your-own sushi, plus more! Join us for an engaging class packed with tips and tricks for vegan cooking. 

Saturday, May 25th; 2-4:30pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
Join us for another informative and engaging Flavors of Ethiopia class where we’ll learn the steps for making injera, the traditional Ethiopian bread. Not only will we make injera, we’ll also sample a classic vegan dish and learn more about the culture of Ethiopian food!

S olar Power Hour w/ Solar C-U 4.0
Tuesday, May 28th; 6:30-7:30pm
No registration required
Solar Power Hour is back at the co-op! Stop by the Flatlander Classroom to learn more about installing solar power in your home and how Solar Champaign-Urbana is making it accessible to the community as a whole.

Thursday, May 30th; 6-8pm
$10 owners / $15 non-owners
In round 3 of this series, we will be learning to craft the classics - mozzarella, cheddar, cream cheese, and chèvre. Indulge in these familiar favorites and taste of what's possible with plants! You'll be acquainted with two new cultures - rejuvelac and miso, and deepen some food friendships from levels 1 & 2. Beginners beware: completion of prior levels preferred! We will also discuss the modern reality of the dairy industry and explore our connection to our daily food choices. A dangerously cheesy evening for those who dare.


For details on our classes, check the calendar on Eventbrite.