Courses

You will have the opportunity to cook a four course Italian meal. Your hard work in the kitchen will be followed by a sit down dinner beginning with roasted tomatoes with basil/ burrata with focaccia, followed by chicken marsala and garlic buttered noodles as the main course and lemoncello tarimisu for dessert. You will savor your culinary creation all while sipping on a glass of wine. You will have the added pleasure of enjoying the company of those you have prepared the meal with and will most likely take home leftovers. Bring take home containers with you, just in case!

Sharon Sperry is a retired Head of International Schools who has had a passion for cooking her entire life. She’s cooked for ambassadors, kings and, of course, children and their teachers. She invites you to share her enthusiasm for good food enjoyed with family and friends.

Many people are familiar with butterflies and bees as our pollinators and black flies and mosquitoes as our pests, but there is so much more to know about the insect world. Where did they come from, what are they doing, and how can insects help my garden grow? In this 2 session class we will discuss how insects affect our environment and specifically our garden. Learn about insect life cycles and identification, Maine's top invasive species to watch out for, and common pests in our garden. We will talk about non-chemical integrated pest management solutions like companion planting, beneficial insects, and manual control methods to help you manage your garden pests. For the last class, come prepared to get a little dirty. You will have the opportunity to start some companion flower seedlings to take home to nurture and transplant into your own garden.

The cost of this class includes all materials, however additional seedling kits will be available to purchase at class for $10 per kit.

. 

Mei-Ling Cheung has a background in horticulture, urban forestry and permaculture. In her newest endeavor, she is providing a variety of classes to help people learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Her classes focus on practical, hands-on  skills and her style of teaching is fun and casual, yet structured and informative. 

There is still a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about Maine's compassionate end-of-life care option. Many providers and patients in Maine are still not familiar with Maine's Death with Dignity Act. In effect since September 2019, the law permits physicians to practice medical aid-in-dying under specific circumstances. Know the facts and, if qualified, the right to access medical aid in dying if they choose. Join this class to get fact-based information and all the details you need to know about Maine's law, how to have the conversation with your physician, and how to qualify for the law or support your loved one who may be qualifying. (No materials/supplies required).

What: Come join us for this fire, ice, and sustainability adventure in Iceland and explore how photography canchange how you see the world. You will reconnect withnature while experiencing some of the most inspiring landscapes and sustainable practices in the world today.You will stay at one of the world’s oldest ecovillages, visitstunning waterfalls and volcanoes, explore an Icelandicfarm with sheep and horses, tour a geothermal power plant,visit a traditional Icelandic turf house and farm, andtransform your photography from simply taking pictures tomaking photographs that tell a story of who you are. You will sample traditional Icelandic food, learn about Iceland’sViking history and about the culture and geography thathave shaped who Icelanders are today. And finally, you willbe invited to craft an action plan for growing what you have learned when you return home.

Where: South Iceland, including visits to: Thingvellir National Park, Gulfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls,Geldingadalir and Kerid volcanoes, Mt. Hekla, HellisheidiGeothermal Power Plant, Solheimar Ecovillage, anIcelandic turf house, a traditional Icelandic farm, historicReykjavik, the National Museum, and other sites.

Who: Photography enthusiasts who would like toreconnect with nature while evolving their art ofphotography; share this unique experience with others in asupportive, close-knit community; and learn aboutsustainable practices while experiencing breathtakinglandscapes and macro-beauty in the land of fire and ice.

Leaders: Dave Oakes, co-founder of CELL, formerprofessor of education, and photography enthusiast; and EdPalaszynski, master photographer, will share his passionfor nature and fine art photography and sustainability. Tosee more of Ed’s work, please visit:edpalphotography.photoshelter.com.

Costs: $3,800 per person (includes all in-country food, lodging, travel, and activity fees). Does not include round trip airfare.For more information: Contact Dave via email atdave@cellonline.org or call or text 207-230-4025, or Ed atedpal2@verizon.net. We look forward to hearing from you!