Do you want to make the most of your yard and gardens? Then this field-based class is for you! Fall is an excellent time to assess your landscape, plant trees, shrubs and perennials, and prepare the ground for spring. After the first meeting classes will meet at each participant's property where individualized, site-specific options will be explored. Organic practices will be emphasized as will the incorporation of native plants, especially those important for birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficials. Please give us your physical address when registering. The first night is mandatory, students will receive information and subsequent garden visits will be planned for all participants - this will be the only meeting held at CHRHS. Dates and times of subsequent meetings will be determined that evening. Read more about instructor Sharon Turner here.

This class will feature easy-to-understand information on finding, collecting, identifying, and preparting the safer and more common edible and medicinal mushroom species of New Egland and Eastern Canada. Whether you are a cook, forager, herbalist, or restauranteur, you will enjoy this class. The book "Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada" will be available for purchase in class for $21.

Would you like to extend Maine's short growing season? Discover the many ways you can lengthen that short season and have good wholesome food available through the fall, winter, and early spring. You will explore everything from old-fashioned cold frames and hot caps to the latest in low and high tunnels and coverings. Seed starting, winter vegetable storage and fall garlic planting will be covered, and organic practices will be emphasized. You will also be able to buy wonderful garlic to plant now for harvest next summer! Read more about instructor Sharon Turner here.

This class is about how you can grow and harvest edible native plants. David has been farming his land (and a nearby public plot) in Washington, Maine for many years, and his PowerPoint will show the native plants he farms with - such as wild highbush blueberries, American chestnut, Viburnums and dozens more - while he provides a discussion of the ecological implications.

Chaga is a type of fungus that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in cold climates. For centuries, it's been used as a traditional medicine in Northern European and Asian countries, mainly to boost immunity and overall health. In this class we will cover chaga facts, myths, and miscellany. We will explore all aspects of chaga fungus from finding and harvesting it down to the microscopic level of its many uses. This class will be offered remotely.

Via Zoom: As the seasons shift during a time that includes some uncertainty, this is a perfect occasion to look at rightsizing your stuff. Learn insider tips from a professional home organizer on how to create more time for what is important in life by bringing order and simplicity to your home. Your day is easier when your space is stress-free and things you need are found with ease. With a theme of kindness, compassion and love, this course covers all aspects of decluttering including household, clothing, paper, and sentimental and inherited items and includes a workbook. Come prepared to laugh and share your own challenges and success stories. This class is offered remotely.

Are you curious about better energy efficiency in homes? In this talk, Erik will discuss the high-performance methods of building that we must adopt in order to secure our energy future. He will review the six tenets of the German Passivhaus standard and explain how they far exceed the current building code standards for new residential construction and the renovation of existing homes. Materials and methods will be discussed along with the economics of why building better, legacy structures should be considered for every home construction project. Erik will also touch on related topics such as Passivhaus approved high-efficiency components such as windows, heating and cooling systems, insulation products and some basic building science topics.

Learn about using wild mushrooms. The various mushrooms are like vegetables. They have different flavors and widely varying textures, colors, moisture content and water absorbency. Hence, the various species respond to cooking processes differently. We will learn about matching mushroom species to cooking techniques. Also discussed will be the appropriate foods and wines to match with wild mushrooms and which species may be mixed together in a recipe.