ORWELL — The Orwell Free Library has several free workshops and talks planned for February and March. All events will be held at the library at 423 Main St.
First on Saturday, Feb. 10, the library will host Winter Tracking with Josh Hardt at 10 a.m. Hardt will detail what questions to ask to decipher your next trail, plus tips and tricks to take your tracking to the next level. This workshop is part of the Shoreham Orwell Libraries 2018 Keynote Speaker Series.
For those into composting, the library will host “The Dirt on Backyard Composting” on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m. This free workshop from Addison County Solid Waste District will cover the basics of backyard composting, including information on why food scraps should be diverted from the landfill, what compost is, how to set up and manage a pile, uses for finished compost, and troubleshooting tips. Whether a seasoned composter or brand new to the process, come get questions answered, concerns addressed, and learn more about the wonderful world of compost.
For those who have ever considered writing, librarian, poet, and founder of Zig Zag Lit Mag, Muir Haman will be on hand on Saturday, March 10, from 10 a.m. to noon to run the workshop “‘I can be a writer?’: An Intro to Creative Writing.” This is a two-hour intro to the creative writing process.
Writing is not the painful process from grade school days, it is a core human skill that anyone can enjoy, and everyone who can tell a story can “write.” Haman will explore some basic concepts, techniques, and at least one writing prompt to help spark creativity. Whether a practicing writer or someone who has simply dreamed of being a writer at some point in life, the workshop will offer something rewarding. Discussion will cover a wide array of expression and will focus on techniques that can be adapted to any form of writing. Bring a writing utensil and paper.
Then on Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. Local mushroom farmers Heather Ewing and Jimmy Horton will share their experiences growing mushrooms. Come learn about the many ways to grow mushrooms, including in the backyard.
By the end of March, when the ground begins to thaw, soil scientist Sheri Young will be at the Library on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m., to talk about Septic System Maintenance and Best Practices.