If you’re a beginner with some basic experience playing Mah Jongg, or you’ve taken Sharon’s introductory Mah Jongg class listed above, then you’re ready to take this class. Continue to receive hand-on guidance and learn game play which focuses on strategy. This class will advance your knowledge of the game, help you understand defensive and offensive strategies, and strengthen your ability to pick hands, as we continue to build our local Mah Jongg community. Bring your own official 2017 American Mah Jongg card; tiles provided. See instructor bio above.

Four Thursdays, 06/01 to 06/22/2017

6:30 to 8:00 pm, $26

Instructor: Sharon Ash Tancredi, LCSW 

What defines the “perfect Maine lawn”? One that’s safe for Maine kids, pets, wildlife and environment. Join the healthy lawn care movement. Learn ways to minimize or eliminate synthetic fertilizers, weed and bug killers; save money, time and effort; yet have a lush, beautiful lawn that’s “bare-foot safe” for kids and pets. Overview strategies to address fertilization, weed and thatch control, renovation of poor lawns, transitions to organic care and more. Whether you maintain your lawn or contract with professionals, round up neighbors and join. Teachings compatible with Town of Scarborough’s organic pest management (OPM) policy for school and town properties, as well as South Portland’s new ordinance. Kat implements community education and outreach programs for Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, holds a degree in environmental education and communications from Green Mountain College, and offers this as a free community service.

Thursday, 03/30/2017, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

$5 adult ed processing fee

Instructor: Kat Munson

New! Where do your trash and recyclables go, once you’ve set them out to curb? Watch this fascinating virtual tour of ecomaine’s recycling, and trash-to-energy plants. You’ll be surprised at the journey your soup can, yogurt container and paper products take: Tide containers shipped to China, that become your polar fleece jacket; recyclables sorted on a conveyor belt using laser beam technology; non-recyclable waste incinerated and turned into electricity; plus how all this helps take a bite out of climate change. Learn convenient ways to sort waste, make a positive impact on the environment, and lower trash outputs and costs. Bring your questions: Do I rinse out cans and bottles first? What about pizza boxes and liners covered in cheese? What if a bag’s marked recyclable, but there’s no triangle? Can I recycle Styrofoam? ecomaine is your community-owned nonprofit waste management company, providing comprehensive long-term solid waste solutions in a safe, environmentally-responsible, economically-sound manner; they’re leaders in raising public awareness of sustainable waste management strategies and offer this as a free community service.

 Wednesday, 04/12/2017, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

$5 adult ed administrative fee

Instructor: Katrina Venhuizen, ecomaine Environmental Educator

New! Come learn to create a landscape around your home that’s not only aesthetically beautiful, but produces delicious fruits and vegetables too! Discuss the selection and planning process, and enjoy a PowerPoint showcasing images of formal to informal styles of landscaping, and the variety of species possible. Consider edible trees, shrubs, flowers, herbs and perennial vegetables, such as sea kale, mulberry, and even a variety of peach that can thrive in our zone. Students will go home with seeds of several rare edible landscape plants. See instructor bio on page 9.

Monday, 02/27/2017, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, $20

Instructor: Aaron Parker

New! Trees provide us with much - beauty, shade, oxygen, means for shelter. But many species also provide delicious harvests of fruit, nuts or edible leaves. Learn about many often neglected species of tree crops suitable for our climate and how to care for them. Class one will cover different species of tree crops, along with some vines and shrubs, and how to choose the right ones for your space. Consider schisandra, hazelnut, mulberry, paw paw, peach, butternut and more. Class two will cover sourcing trees, proper planting and long term care. Students will take home seeds to grow their own trees and companion plants. 

Aaron is owner of Edgewood Nursery, specializing in unusual edibles, including uncommon fruits, medicinal herbs, perennial vegetables and permaculture plants; and also Edgewood Landscapes, focusing on edible landscapes and sustainable practices.

 Two Tuesdays, 03/21 and 03/28/2017

6:30 to 8:30 pm, $40

Instructor: Aaron Parker

Houseplants add an instant sense of life, natural beauty and wonder to your home. They can de-stress your home and purify the air. Cover the basic needs of house plants: light, soil, water, nutrients and protection from pests. Learn about basic propagation techniques and take home your very own propagated baby plant. There will be an overview of typical problems and solutions, with attendees encouraged to each bring in one challenged plant for advice on care. Please be sure to wrap your plant to protect it from the cold, bringing additional wrap for your baby plant. Learn about the variety of choices for houseplants, and best bets for easy care and gift-giving. On behalf of Broadway Gardens, one lucky student will also take home their very own houseplant! Raychell is a horticulturalist, landscaper and farmer on the side. She has been dubbed, “the house plant lady” at Broadway Gardens where she’s worked for 8 years. 

Thursday, 02/02/2017

6:00 to 8:00 pm,  $14 

Instructor: Raychell Libby

New! Did you know that in North America, an estimated 40% of waste in landfills is organic material? That’s a huge portion of food and compostable material that could be pulled out of the waste stream and put to better economic and ecological use. Scarborough just signed on one of its neighborhoods to be a pilot program for curbside food waste pickup through ecomaine, starting in Spring 2017. Maybe your neighborhood’s next! The result would be your food waste being collected, processed and repurposed into energy, animal bedding and fertilizer – right here in Maine - while also reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Listen, learn and ask questions about this new cutting-edge method of food waste recovery.

ecomaine is your community-owned nonprofit waste management company, providing comprehensive long-term solid waste solutions in a safe, environmentally-responsible, economically-sound manner; they’re leaders in raising public awareness of sustainable waste management strategies and offer this as a free community service.

Wednesday, 04/26/2017, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

$5 adult ed administrative fee

Instructor: Katrina Venhuizen, ecomaine Environmental Educator

New! American Mah Jongg is a fascinating, game that’s gaining recognition and popularity in the U.S, while also yielding cognitive and social health benefits. Perfect for adults of all ages. Players use tiles and the National Mah Jongg League’s annual card to put together winning hands, similar to Gin Rummy. Learn the basics of the game and receive hands-on assistance and practice with identifying the tiles, understanding the Mah Jongg card, and becoming familiar with game play. Meet new people in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Students required to purchase the official 2017 game card provided at the first class; tiles provided. Sharon Ash Tancredi is a social worker who has a private practice in Portland; she’s been enthusiastically playing and teaching Mah Jongg for many years and enjoys spreading its joys! 

Four Thursdays, 05/04 to 05/25/2017

6:30 to 8:00 pm, $26, plus $8 required fee payable at door for official 2017 card

Instructor: Sharon Ash Tancredi, LCSW