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.