Classes and events are the primary way that many co-ops engage with their owners, shoppers and communities. Since the pandemic began, however, co-ops have had to rethink their usual approach and develop creative online events that allow people to gather virtually.
It has been a trial-and-error, learn-on-the-fly kind of year, as co-ops quickly translated in-person events to virtual ones, from CSA fairs and local farm tours to annual meetings. Now, numerous co-ops are hosting board meetings online, and both co-ops and participants are growing more comfortable with using the technology platforms that make virtual events possible. One year after the pandemic hit, here’s a snapshot of how co-ops are nurturing the sense of community while at a distance.
Cooking Classes
Food brings people together — even virtually. Davis Food Co-op turned the cooking classes held in their Teaching Kitchen into online classes through Zoom. Participants receive the recipes and an ingredients list via email after they register, allowing them to learn the recipes at home. Afterwards, the co-op emails a recording of the class to everyone who attended. Current topics include meal prep for a week’s worth of lunches and dinners, a DIY kombucha series, natural egg dyeing, and monthly “Brunch Club” sessions featuring brunch recipes.
Wellness, Environmental and Creative Topics
Beyond cooking and food-related classes, co-ops are hosting a variety of educational workshops online to help their communities stay healthy, active and engaged during the pandemic.
Virtual classes at Whole Foods Co-op in Duluth, Minn., feature such timely topics as green cleaning methods, keys to longevity and “Help Me Sleep.” In an upcoming presentation called “Keeping Wildlife Wild,” a partner organization will talk about preventing harm to animals and the work of wildlife rehabilitators. There’s also a recurring yoga night.
Yoga sessions are on the calendar at City Market in Burlington, Vermont, as well, along with a painting class, a local tree identification workshop presented by a naturalist, and “Food for Talk,” a book group focused on cookbooks and recipe demos. City Market archives recordings of their past classes on their website, too.
Weavers Way Co-op in Philadelphia offers new member orientations virtually, combining a short presentation about membership with a Q&A session. Additionally, the co-op is hosting a public forum on plastics reduction, Qigong sessions and ongoing workshops presented by the Weavers Way Wellness Team of advisors.
Livestreaming
“Co-op Community Connections” is the weekly livestreamed program produced by Concord Food Co-op in New Hampshire. It features interviews with wellness professionals and local farmers and conversations about health topics and socially responsible products. It also shines a spotlight on the local nonprofit partners that benefit from the co-op’s monthly “round up” donations.
Concord streams Co-op Community Connections live on Friday mornings on the co-op’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, where past episodes are also archived. The show airs on a few area radio stations, too, reaching even farther into the community.
Seasonal Promotions
While they’re not holding large seasonal events at their stores that draw crowds on a single day, Outpost Natural Foods is using themed sales flyers to promote the same spirit of fun. The festivities got started last summer when Outpost created a state fair foods promotion. More recently they promoted a winter-themed “Yeti Wonderland” flyer and a “Hygge” flyer featuring all things warm and cozy.
Find tips and recommended best practices for planning a virtual event in these short articles: Going Virtual: Best Practices for Online Events and How to Keep Attendees Engaged During Virtual Events.
