Join us for this information-packed lecture and demonstration to build confidence in your ability to diagnose car problems and communicate with auto repair professionals. Get a general overview of the major systems of an automobile from an experienced mechanic and instructor who can make all things automotive both fun and clear. We will cover basic maintenance, discuss common problems, and troubleshoot ignition, charging, cooling, fluids, electrical, brakes, and exhaust systems.

Welcome to the fascinating hobby of beekeeping. This class will cover the benefits and how-tos of keeping bees. Get started or get a refresher on everything from honeybee biology and behavior to how to acquire your first bees and where to place your hive. We’ll discuss equipment, how to conduct inspections, seasonal management of your colonies, and being a good neighbor.

Do you dream of transforming a room in your house with a fabulous makeover but don’t know where to start? Learn the basics of decorating a room from the ground up. We will cover everything from selecting furnishings and rugs to styling with accessories and hanging art. A professional color consultant will guide you through the process of choosing perfect paint colors. Learn how to read paint undertones, tackle common color dilemmas, and discover how to use color to enhance your home’s design, mood, and flow. Get the tools and the confidence to kick off your own decorating project and take the first step toward creating the home of your dreams.

If you love flowers and want to learn how to create gorgeous arrangements for your home, this is a fabulous introduction to floral design. Choose from an abundant selection of flowers and get expert guidance in basic floral design techniques and principles. Leave with the confidence to create gorgeous flower arrangements on your own. Please note: A vase, flowers and tools will be provided, but you can always bring your own garden scissors or shears.

Bring your creativity to this open design workshop. With access to a wealth of locally-grown flowers and greenery, come explore and experiment as you create your own arrangement. In addition to the abundance of materials, the experts at Derby Farm will provide basic design techniques and tips to develop your own design skills and knowledge.

Do you ever look at your garden and know that it could be nicer, but you don’t know how or where to begin? Or are you a new homeowner and unsure of what kinds of plants you have or how to maintain them? It can be overwhelming. Join a passionate garden coach for practical skills and tips on where to start. A few simple things can make a big and immediate difference—and all you need is your enthusiasm, energy, and some basic tools.

Get an overview of the biodiversity crisis and why gardening with native plants is essential for reversing species loss. Discover how native plants, insects, birds, and fungi have evolved together in vital relationships that support each other’s survival. Learn how cultivating native gardens using ecological practices can restore biodiversity, boost landscape resilience, and help slow climate change—all while creating a beautiful, thriving garden for you to enjoy.

Discover how fungi can transform your garden ecosystem and ways to incorporate them to help plants and trees thrive. Learn how essential symbiotic relationships support soil health and how to introduce fungi into outdoor gardens or indoor cultivations. We’ll focus on mushrooms common in New England and their ecological significance. Leave with a practical plan to use fungi to cultivate a vibrant, sustainable garden.

Gain a solid overview of the home-buying process in this information-packed workshop that will educate and prepare first-time home buyers for their entry into the real estate market. Discuss how to buy smart: how much you can afford, understanding the mortgage process and home-buying timeline, what to expect from a real estate agent, strategies for getting your offer accepted, typical first-time home buyer pitfalls to avoid, and much more.

A home inspection is a crucial step when buying a home, offering insight into the property’s condition, structure, systems, and components. It’s more than just a walkthrough—this process helps you understand how the property operates and how to maintain it, while also identifying potential issues to avoid costly surprises later on. Explore both the big picture and the details of a home inspection, along with legal and ethical considerations. Have all your questions answered by an experienced, licensed, and certified home inspector.

Hygge (pronounced “hYoo guh”) is the Scandinavian concept of “coziness,” and “enjoying the simple things of life.” Learn the basic principles of hygge as well as the practical insights of design psychology from a “Best of Boston” design consultant. See how to create homes that bring people together and support personal relaxation by using a warm, practical approach to hygge and interior psychology. Beat the winter doldrums with simple changes in your home, using what you already own.

Thinking about getting your home off fossil fuels but not sure where to start? Learn how to create a practical, cost-effective plan to electrify your home at your own pace. Explore available technologies, financial incentives, reliable information sources, anticipated changes, and factors to consider as you map out your transition to cleaner energy.

Your house tells a story. Its age and architectural style, its place in the community, and the lives of the people who have lived there all contribute to this history. Get an introduction to the methods and sources of researching your home’s history. We’ll look at property deeds and historical atlases, town directories, and annual reports. See how probate records and census listings reveal the families who lived in your house and in your neighborhood. Begin compiling research after the first class and share what you’ve uncovered in the second. Leave with ideas for next steps to finish your house’s story. Please note: Bring the address of a property you wish to investigate or choose one from the instructor’s list of examples. Most of our resources will be Arlington-specific, but the research techniques are applicable broadly.

Celebrate the beauty of spring with fabulous flowers! Learn basic flower arranging techniques and design principles at this introductory floral design workshop. With an array of beautiful blooms to choose from, you’ll go home with a sweet spring arrangement. Please note: A vase, flowers and tools will be provided, but you can always bring your own garden scissors or shears.

March is the perfect time to introduce a new plant landscape to your home. You’ll assemble your own bespoke tabletop garden and walk away with something alive, thriving, and beautiful to breathe fresh life into any room. This is a wonderful and simple way to reconnect with the natural world. Please note: We’ll provide the plants, soil, and stones as well as a container and tools to use. If you’d like, you can bring your own container, gardening gloves and snips.

Sow seeds for native plants and take home two containers ready to plant in your garden or a local community garden come spring. Many native seeds need a cold period to germinate, which naturally occurs outdoors. Using the winter-sow method, we’ll turn milk jugs into mini greenhouses to protect your seeds so they can be left outside all winter long. Our focus will be on native host and nectar plants that support native pollinators as well as the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, an initiative to increase natural habitat, boost biodiversity, and help support monarch butterfly populations. By spring, watch your seedlings sprout and thrive!

Ever dreamed of fresh eggs for breakfast and feathered friends in your backyard? Learn everything you need to raise happy, healthy chickens. Discover how to choose the right breeds, care for chicks and adult birds, protect your flock from predators, and pick the perfect coop. Bring your questions and get advice from an experienced chicken owner as you decide if you’re ready for the challenges and rewards of backyard chicken-keeping.