Access At CVUHS

Have you always wanted to start your own seeds? Join Mary for this 1-night class where you'll not only learn all the tips and tricks from her years of experience, you'll also start your own seedlings and make your own seed tape, a convenient way to plant veggies with pesky small seeds like carrots, lettuces and more. Each student will get to: plant their own 6-pack of mixed tomatoes and peppers that they can then take home for planting in their own garden when the temperatures warm up. In Mary's experience, a 6-pack with a mixture of varieties is ideal for a small or average sized garden. make seed tapes and then plant seeds in a small box inside a domed plastic container to create the ideal humidity. For students aged 13 and older. Children aged 8 and up are welcome to join with an adult caregiver who is also registered.

From their eye-catching beauty to their show-stopping flavor, native plants make a wonderful addition to our gardens and yards. These incredible species also support crucial biodiversity for wildlife and pollinators by providing food and/or habitat. Natural plant communities are often more resilient and require less maintenance than other landscapes. There is a perfect native species for every niche in your diverse planting plan. Come learn which are best for your landscape!

Color expert, Betsey Dempsey, will briefly guide you through the basic steps to consider when choosing paint colors for your home or business. Some of the topics will include intensity, value, undertones, and how light affects paint colors. We will also discuss color trends as well as many tips and tricks to make picking paint colors easier!

In this demo-style class, Louis will offer basic instruction in the principles and techniques sharpening of various household tools. Items covered in this workshop are those that work well if their working edges are reworked with commonly available devices such as medium-grade files and bench stones. Using honing stones, files, strops, sharpening jigs and other devices commonly used in sharpening, these items will be restored to a reasonable fine taper and have their working parts reasonably cleaned, tightened, and well lubricated. Instructor sharpening up to max two-items is included in the fee. Items covered for this course are as follows: Ordinary Kitchen Knives Shop Tools Lawn Mower Blades Garden Tools Bring in one or two items that warrant sharpening and/or adjusting and learn how to start doing this at home with the right files and stones. NOTE: Sharpening tools/knifes such as carving knives, chisels, chef's knives, straight razors, dressmakers shears, hair-stylist scissors, etc. will be covered in the NEXT class- Part 2 on 4/16. Please do NOT bring these items to this class. "This class inspired me to dig out all the kitchen knives the following morning and spend it sharpening them all. I'm writing a note in my January calendar to sharpen all my garden tools." KW

Are you a pet owner of a dog or cat, and want to help your beloved family member live a long and healthy life? Then join local veterinarian, Dr. Viola Chu, for this one-night presentation where all your questions will be answered! This class will cover common topics in preventive care for household pets. We will have a list of topics, but the class will primarily be aimed at discussing topics of interest from each participant. Participants are encouraged to submit questions during registration. This class will meet at CVU. Please leave your pets at home :) “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.” - Aldo Leopold

Learn why we graft apple trees and the technique of how to graft to reproduce your favorite apple varieties. A valuable tool for the propagation of plant cultivars, grafting is a technique of joining two plants to continue their growth as one on a single plant. Grafting is particularly useful in the preservation of heirloom apple varieties. This is a hands-on class — participants will graft trees to take home, and care of seedlings will be discussed. Additional materials fee of $20 includes all supplies including rootstock, scionwood, handouts, as well as 3 apple trees to take home.

In this demo-style class, Louis will offer basic instruction in the principles and techniques sharpening of various tools, knives and scissors that require an extremely sharp edge to maintain the performance as if they are new. This type of sharpening requires a sophisticated approach to resharpening and honing that carefully controls the angles at which sharpening devices are set and progresses through a number os stages abrasiveness from course to ultra-fine. This process is dictated by an assessment oft he amount of sharpening that a particular tool needs based on it's purpose, condition, and quality of manufacturer. Instructor sharpening up to max two-items is included in the fee. Items covered for this course are as follows: Carving Knives and Chef's Knives Chisels Straight Razors Dressmakers Shears Hair-Stylist Scissors Bring in one or two items that warrant sharpening and/or adjusting and learn how to start doing this at home with the right files and stones. NOTE: Sharpening tools/knifes such as ordinary kitchen knives, shop tools, lawn mower blades, and gardening tools will be covered in Tool & Knife Sharpening Part 1 on 3/26. Please do NOT bring these items to this class. "This class is an excellent introduction to how to sharpen knives and other home tools. I highly recommend it." JRB

Have you thought about keeping bees? This is the opportunity to learn more about these vital and fascinating creatures providing so much of our food. The instructors, or apiarists, have over 40 years of combined experience and will pass along not only the facts, but also tips from hands-on experience in the field and many years in the beekeeping business! Learn more about your bee passion from Vermont based beekeeping experts at this popular Access class. These three sessions will enlighten, and maybe even inspire you to start a few hives of your own! Plenty of question-and-answer time and all the info needed to start your own operation. A "possible" 4th field session may be offered. Dates, time, and location to be determined based on weather and instructors schedule. Deborah and Rick tending to bees at a hive.

Join us as we learn more about pollinators, and growing pollinator friendly landscapes. Creating pollinator gardens doesn’t just help the bees; it also helps your fruits and vegetables. We will cover the key local and regional native perennials that provide pollinators with nectar and pollen throughout the season. This course also highlights host plants for caterpillars of butterflies and moths, and plants that provide for other pollinating specialists. Participants will take home plant lists and a greater understanding of strategies to incorporate these plants and techniques into your own garden space. This is a workshop for all levels, beginner to professional. This class will meet inside CVU.

Dragonflies, and their smaller cousins the damselflies, re-appear in VT in May and June. Some migrate in from the south. Others emerge from wetlands after one to several years of maturation as under-water predators. Naturalist Laurie DiCesare will share macro photos, a bit of biology and field stories about these amazing aerial experts. She’ll also suggest where and when to search for them and how to gently catch-and-release them with a photo op to document your finds on iNaturalist. Photo Credit: Laurie DiCesare (Shown are: Ebony Jewelwing, Eastern forktail, Cherry Meadowhawk, Aurora Damsel, and Lilypad Clubtail)

Do you have any idea how to check if the oil is low, change a tire, add basic fluids when needed? Want to be informed about what to know when buying a used car? Join the techs from Girlington Garage for a quick, down and dirty look at the basics of car care. Get to know the basic layout of your car under the hood, Vermont State Inspection requirements, how to avoid getting taken advantage of at the repair shop, or anything else concerning cars that you would like to know. This class involves lots of standing. You are encouraged to bring a folding/camping chair if you would prefer to sit. This class will meet outside CVU.

Just a few steps outside your door lies a world of plants waiting to be discovered! Kelley Robie of Horsetail Herbs will guide you on this introduction to identifying common and abundant “weeds” that make some of our very best wild foods and medicines. Here in Vermont for at least half of the year we can find dozens of nutritious and healing plants to incorporate into our meals! We will identify local plant species, discuss parts of the plants used, when to harvest them and even do some taste-testing. You will go home with wild food recipes galore and a new appreciation for Vermont’s local wild plants. Local eating at its best, both fresh and free! This class will meet inside CVU, before moving outside. In the case of extreme weather, the class may move to a rain date of May 29th.