Making Home Ec modern in Escondido

From making string cheese to weaving string, Modern Maker Company does it all.

Established last summer on Juniper Street, the Escondido-based shop was founded by Heather and Scott Bates. In April, the duo moved their business a block away to Grand Avenue because of the increased food traffic with many restaurants and community events, such as Cruisin’ Grand.

One of the ways the nearly one-year-old market stands out from the crowd is with its wide array of workshops — offering classes on everything from making mustard to macramé.

Previous classes have taught attendees how to prepare chocolate truffles, gin, kimchi, cold brew and various types of bread. Other visitors got crafty and tried their hands at dying fabric scarves, felting soap or knotting macramé plant hangings.

The ticketed events range in price and are open to the public, but custom workshops for groups are also available upon request.

Currently, four classes in June are on the books. This weekend, visitors can learn to weave on Saturday, June 8 or brew kombucha on Sunday, June 9. Alternatively, makers can roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty with a pizza, flatbread, focaccia and Turkish Pide workshop on Saturday, June 15, or during a string cheese class on Thursday, June 27.

While the summer schedule is still in the planning process, Scott said there will be a class in July about how to make sauerkraut, and likely another on dyeing textiles with indigo. Some of the recently held events will also repeat before Labor Day.

In addition to its workshops, Modern Maker Market sells a large selection of herbs, artisan crafts, goods, supplies, homesteading and apothecary products, as well as serves kombucha on tap.

Modern Maker Market, 233 E. Grand Ave., Escondido, 951.236.9071, modernmaker.market