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. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created.

Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private concert by award winning Celtic Fiddle player, Katherine Moller, in the Victorian parlor of Hubbard House. Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park. 

Comments from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“I learned so much that Chris taught me, and the recipes were attainable."  “Chris speaks slowly and encourages questions."

Visit the working homestead and education center of Maine Local Living School on Open Farm Day! We will lead tours of the campus including the ice house, root cellar, greenhouse and gardens, solar food dehydrator, animal barn, and the classroom/workshop. Visitors will learn about and interact with earth-friendly systems including rainwater collection and solar water heating, rocket stoves and outdoor kitchens, composting toilets, and alternative building construction. Visitors will also have the opportunity to put their hands to work on a homestead project and try cookies made with acorn flour. Free and open to the public.

Date: Sunday, July 28, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Discover the difference between the original Maine wild blueberry and hybridized “grocery store” blueberries through a guided tasting experience showcasing a variety of blueberry products made by Mainers. The iconic wild blueberry's 10,000-year history as the original superfood of Maine is an age-old story packed with flavor - we'll leave you in good taste as you see for yourself what sets the Maine wild blueberry apart from the rest! In this class, attendees will learn about Maine's wild blueberry industry while sampling a wide variety of wild blueberry products made by Maine producers.

A beautifully arranged charcuterie and cheese board is a sure way to impress, whether you're entertaining at home or contributing to a pot luck. The best way to improve upon this classic appetizer is to fill your board with locally-sourced cheeses, meats and accouterments. In this class, students will be introduced to a wide variety of Maine producers; sample their products and learn how to incorporate them into your next charcuterie board. Attendees will also explore the fundamentals of arranging a beautiful charcuterie board - from cutting techniques for meats and cheeses to selecting and arranging eye-catching garnishes. This class will offer plenty of opportunity to taste products and practice various cutting and arranging techniques. All materials and product lists/recipes will be provided.

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. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created.

Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private concert by award winning Celtic Fiddle player, Katherine Moller, in the Victorian parlor of Hubbard House. Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park. 

Comments from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“I learned so much that Chris taught me, and the recipes were attainable."  “Chris speaks slowly and encourages questions."

Your instructor, Chris Toy, is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian cooking for several Maine community education programs.  Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients.  Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques and stories behind the dishes being created. 

Escape to a grand Victorian inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine with an intimate group of artists, cooks and creatives! We will convene on Saturday at 1 pm and end on Tuesday at 11 am. 

Cost of lodging is additional, however all meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a special private house concert by Grammy balloted sing-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordon Ward. 

Day students are welcome.

Should you wish to stay overnight at the inn, participants will need to book their stay at the inn by calling 207-963-9122.

Please note: Included in the registration is a $40 non-refundable fee should you have to cancel.

Acorns: the amazing, bountiful, ancient staple of humanity! But did you ever try eating a raw acorn? Yuck! However, it just takes some simple processing to transform acorns into a truly delicious grain-like (and gluten free) food. This is real food; we eat hundreds of pounds a year. As part of this day we honor indigenous cultures that have enjoyed acorns for thousands of years, and we investigate the potential of acorn to transform modern food systems and culture. We'll begin the day with harvesting and end with baking!

Date: Saturday, October 19, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cost: $30-60 sliding scale

For Online Registration:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-ivEDl5Uf5ZdGuaLybModku3sTsBv_5fVR37xsrY5Po/viewform?edit_requested=true

Food and nutrition have a profound impact on our health and well-being, yet many of us are not aware of what foods to eat, which diets are healthy, and where our food originates. We eat toxic, irradiated, or genetically altered foods and we eat more than we need. How can we change our eating habits and become more conscious of what we eat, why we eat it, how it is prepared, and what consequences our food choices have on our health as well as the health of our planet? This certificate provides an overview of the role of food and nutrition choices on our bodies, our immune systems, our overall well-being, and the health of all sentient beings on an increasingly populated planet.

The outcome of this certificate is for the learner to describe a holistic overview of current food and nutrition issues and their impact on physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and planetary health.

For more information on this course click the link.