This six class course of instruction is designed for those that wish to become a beekeeper. The course will cover the what, why, and how of beekeeping. Topics include but are not limited to bee biology, equipment requirements and setup, seasonal management techniques, diseases, pest management, honeybee environmental benefits, and hive products. The goal of this course is to develop a foundation for new beekeepers to be prepared to keep bees. A course textbook will be provided to each student. *NO CLASS: 2/18.

So-called “Oriental” or round-leafed bittersweet is a creeping vine with inedible berries that is considered invasive in North America. Frustrating to gardners and arborists, and not readily favored by birds, bittersweet is a largely useless bane on wild land. We can use traditional harvesting techniques to tend Asian bittersweet in the wild: harvesting material for baskets while controlling and suppressing future damaging growth. We will cover identification, responsible collection, materials processing and storage, and creation, including the basics of stake-and-strand twining and weaving. We will shoot for a basket about 8-inches wide and 4-inches deep. Price includes all required tools and materials.

Train to become a working Registered Maine Guide not just a test taker. Learn the skills that guides use daily including: map & compass, coastal navigation, shelter building, separated client searches, cooking, advanced first aid, weather predicting, trip planning, canoeing, snowshoeing, SUP’ng, id’s, plus specialty skills for future guides for these specialties: Recreation, Sea kayaking, Tidewater Fishing, Inland Fishing, and Hunting. This ten-session hybrid program includes Zoom, optional all-day skill workshops, and homework assignments. Optional skills workshops are at an additional cost. Those thinking of becoming a Registered Maine Guide will need to take a first aid and CPR course, not included. This 10-wk course is taught online over Zoom. *No Class: 2/16.

Learn to identify, regeneratively gather and harvest, properly store and process, and weave with pine needles. We'll cover the basics of coiled basketry, which is a global, ancient human skill, and create a wonderful pine-needle basket. All tools and materials will be provided. *Program includes all required tools and materials.