So you want to learn how to make your vegetable or flower garden easier to manage and more bountiful at the same time? Raised bed gardening is the answer. During this class we will discuss all the specifics including site location, assembling and setup of bed and what kind of soil you need and how much. We'll dig in and prepare and plant a raised bed.and discuss the care of the garden including proper watering, the use of soil amendments and crop protection. We know that turning a confused gardener into a confident on is only a class away.

Classes held at Josias River Farm (171 Logging Rd, Cape Neddick, ME).

Learn how to make one of Poland's traditional dumplings from scratch. Similar to Italian gnocchi, we start with leftover mashed potatoes, incorporate our other ingredients, cook them and then learn how to finish the dish off to perfection. Sue will share her tips and tricks as we roll, form, cook, serve, and eat these tasty morsels of comfort food. Careful! These are addictively delicious.

Please bring containers to take home what we create.

Sue learned to cook authentic recipes by taking notes while her mother and aunts cooked. Sue loves to cook and share recipes, techniques, and best practices.

***Please note that the date for this workshop has changed. The new date is Satutday April 27th.

Frustrating to gardeners and arborists, and not readily favored by birds, Asiatic 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. Learn to make a beautiful woven window feeder for birds! We'll cover identification, responsible collection, materials processing and storage, and creation, including the basics of stake-and-strand waling and randing weaves. The bird feeder that we will make is designed to be attached to a window. Suction cups for the bird feeder, along with all required tools and materials, will be provided.

"If my story were ever to be written truthfully from start to finish, it would amaze everyone". This quote is from Henri Matisse who was a painter, sculptor and printmaker. In this "hands on class", we'll  be learning how Matisse created his artwork, specifically focusing on his cut paper collages he created later in his life. We'll be creating a cut paper collage using  all  sorts of paper and maybe even a little fabric so bring in any goodies like this you may have at home to incorporate into your piece.  This is an art history class that will keep you moving as you learn about this amazing artist.

All supplies provided.

** MUST REGISTER BY APRIL 12 **

Copy an Audobon print onto wool prefelt fabric using the needle felting method. This is fine work and experience with needle felting is helpful. Your instructor will have references to choose from, or people can bring their own.  She has used Audobon’s Birds of America by Roger Tory Peterson (The Baby Elephant Folio). A $5 supply fee will be collected by the instructor at class.

*Needle felting uses a barbed needle that is repeatedly stabbed into the wool to agitate the fibers. As the needle works in and out of the wool, the barbs catch scales on the fibers and cause them to interlock and bind together.

About Your Instructor: Maureen Andrew took up felting over 20 years ago when overwhelmed with fiber from her own flock! Her creations are whimsical and fun. She has been teaching felting for 10 years and has taught at Schoodic Arts for All. A creative artist at heart, she dabbles in multiple mediums.

Would you like to learn the art of North American rug hooking in an easy-going, relaxed environment that encourages modern interpretations? We’ve partnered with Elizabeth Miller from Paris Hill Wool Works in Paris, ME for this one-day workshop to teach you all about rug hooking. You will make your choice of the instructor-provided 6” x 6” patterns. Elizabeth will be in touch by email prior to class to note your pattern preference.

The workshop will include an introduction to hooking, including some history of the craft, an overview of styles, how to choose hooking wools and other materials, tools, a few rules, tips and tricks, and getting started on the projects. Finishing instructions will also be demonstrated! There will be an $85 materials fee (cash or check, only) due at the beginning of class. Learners receive a hook tool, 12” hoop, 6” x 6” pattern hand-drawn on high-quality rug warp, all wool needed to complete the pattern, printed instructions, ongoing access to the instructor for questions, new friends, & a new craft!

Please bring a bag lunch, as we will break at about noon for a short indoor picnic. Storm makeup will be April 27; please reserve this date on your calendar—just in case. Limit 10 students.

Weekend Ceramics Workshops All classes are taught by instructor, Cody Clinton, and will be held at PHEC on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. Finished pieces will be dried and fired after the workshop ends, and be made available for pickup approximately 2 weeks after the workshop unless otherwise specified. We will explore creating textured slabs of clay by hand and using a pressing technique to form them into trays, platters, plates, and even bowls. Day one will be dedicated to learning the process and creating one or two pieces that we will allow to firm up for day two. Day two will allow you time to bring back some of your forms, and textures to experiment with using the technique, as well as we will teach you how to add embellishments and functional components to your pieces such as handles and feet.