Participants will learn how to season, care for, and use a Chinese wok and cleaver. The recipes for the class will include stir-frying, oven-roasting, and preparing steamed rice. Each student will take home a specially selected kit including a lightweight cast iron wok, wok spatula, carbon steel cleaver, honing steel, a heavy-duty cutting board, and one of Chris Toy's 6 cookbooks. The retail value of the kit is $230.  (Those in the know bring containers just in case!)

Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. 

This three-hour course is NOT about installing an alarm system. It is about adjusting your awareness around you as you move through your day and your home. It is about doing mental exercises to handle the “what if’s” to keep you and your loved ones safe. Learn situational awareness, conflict avoidance, and how to access your home’s defense.

Students must have an audio- and video-enabled laptop, desktop, or tablet with reliable internet to participate in class. We do not recommend using a smartphone.

Participants will make a batch of hot press goat milk soap using a variety of molds and having many scents and extra add-ins to choose from. Each person will come out of the class with 4-8 soaps, depending on the choice of mold and the recipe and know-how of how to make future batches at home. Each student will need to bring a dedicated crock pot and submersion blender/hand mixer to the class that night. All molds, scents, and soap materials will be provided by the instructor. Soaps will be ready for pickup the following week, due to curing time. The fee includes all materials.

Learn how to design and carve your own fishing handline. Each student will get materials to make up to two handlines, though only one may be completed during the class. Supplies include wood, line, hooks, and weights. We will go over everything from how to use your handline and cast it properly. 

We’re spending more time outside and that is good. Learn how to integrate weather forecasts and your own reading of the weather signs to plan ahead and to best manage your outdoor activities - walking, biking, hiking, camping, paddling, boating, playing and exercising. Learn from a Master Maine Guide & Total Weather Spotter. Course is presented on Zoom.  Students must have an audio- and video-enabled laptop, desktop, or tablet with reliable internet to participate in class. We do not recommend using a smartphone.

In the Thirsty Gourd Workshop, we will create a water bottle and a cup from a bottle gourd. In the class, we will learn a little about the cultivating of these gourds, harvesting, processing, and then creating wonderful works of usable art. Students will have time to personalize their creations with paint designs or experiment with wood burning. A variety of stencils will be readily available, allowing students to add an extra touch of artistry to their cups and bottles.

This three-hour course is for firearm owners and nonowners. You’ll learn what to do when you see an attack or if you are attacked and respond with force. You’ll learn how to contact the first responders, how prosecutors might view what you did, rules about concealed carry in the U.S. and Maine, and various ways to protect yourself without using a firearm. Students must have an audio- and video-enabled laptop, desktop, or tablet with reliable internet to participate in class. We do not recommend using a smartphone.

In this hands-on cooking class, you'll dive deep into the art of making Chinese Steamed Char Siu Bao, the beloved fluffy buns filled with savory Chinese BBQ pork. Learn the secrets of creating the perfect bao dough from scratch. Jeff will guide you through each step, from mixing and kneading to proofing, ensuring you achieve that perfect pillowy texture. Master the rich and flavorful char siu filling. Discover the blend of spices and techniques that make this BBQ pork so irresistible. Take a culinary journey through history as we explore the legend of how bao were first invented. You'll hear captivating stories that add a cultural dimension to your cooking experience. By the end of the class, you'll not only have a batch of delicious Char Siu Bao to enjoy but also the skills and knowledge to recreate this traditional treat at home. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this class promises to be a fun and educational adventure. Class fee includes a set of traditional Chinese bamboo steamer baskets. (Bao contains gluten and soy)