This place is fantastic! I've been obsessed with reading about woodworking of all sorts whether it…read morebe magazines, books, you tube videos, etc. I have had a harder time time actually committing any of this newfound book knowledge to use because of the lack of tools. Unfortunately woodworking is one of those hobbies that by and large require a large assortment of tools to do various projects. While many of these tools can be useful for even the regular homeowner into DIY (router, band saw, table saw, palm sander, various hand tools) several other tools are needed depending on the project. While I own most of the tools mentioned above one I don't have is the lathe. It's also one of those tools that I couldn't justify buying without trying because a) Wood spinning at 1000rpm is a little scary b) I would prefer to have some instruction prior to purchase c) Why spend the money on a machine for it to collect dust because I'm just not that into it. Enter Easthampton School of Woodworking/The Workbench. Aside from offering an intensive 6 month cabinet building program they also offer several weeknight and weekend classes that cover various topics. I perused through their list of available classes and saw an introductory lathe class for $80 which accounted for the material for the mallet you would make and also the 6 hours of instruction. Not too shabby. Location/Amenities: This place is pretty flipping stellar Its housed in an old factory building with several different rooms setup with various workbenches for use with hand tools, large woodworking power machinery, and in the back is a room with their lathes available for classes and open shop time. Instructor: Our class was taught by Brian who attended the North Bennet Street School of Woodworking (pretty esteemed school). He did a great job of giving our class of 5 individual instruction when necessary and also partitioning out the group instruction in manageable pieces so as not to inundate us with information. Open Shop Time: While I haven't used this resource I can see where it would be amazing. Aside from having the wood necessary for the project, the amount of machines necessary to dimension rough cut lumber can be quite expensive and take up a lot of space in your workshop area. Many people can't justify the space or the expense to own these machines, or perhaps they're reluctant to buy any of the big power tools because of cost or safety hazards of the machines. The great thing about this place is on Thursdays from 6:30-9:30PM they have open shop where once you demonstrate you can safely use their machines you can log in to a computer that tracks your hours (~$10/hr), and use their machinery. Not only do you have access to their machines but you also can use the staff that is overseeing open shop to ask for help if you run into an issue. I personally don't own a jointer/planer (needed for dimensioning lumber), but I would certainly use theirs and save quite a bit of money buying the wood rough cut vice s4s (smooth on all sides) and finishing it myself. Overall: It was an awesome experience and I'm currently searching Craigslist and auctions for a quality vintage lathe (I'm a sucker for anything old). It's pretty amazing turning a straight piece of wood into a useable tool in the course of an hour. Highly recommended if you have an interest for woodworking, or would like access to larger tools that you may not own. This would also be a good gift for a spouse, sign them up for a class, who doesn't like a guy/girl that can create something with their own two hands.

I came across an ad at the library for summer sewing camp for kids, but I really wanted to re-learn…read more(last time I used a sewing machine was 16 years ago) using my semi-newish sewing machine. She was very willing to teach me the basics using my machine, and she charged at a very reasonable class rate. She provided patterns and fabric. I finished making an snazzy apron yesterday!!! I love how it turned out! I feel very comfortable with using my machine and venturing out with other material types and stitches. Lately, I have been spending time after work into the late hours just to practice with some simple projects. It's addictive to make and create! I highly recommend her if you are looking to learn how to sew with the basics. She can provide a sewing machine or you can bring your own; it's your preference. She has 3 sewing machines available to learn on. She's very patient and friendly and has great ideas! If interested in learning basic sewing, shoot her an email: dlacai06@yahoo.com to see what she has for availability, etc. It's "Sew" Fun! :P

My three brothers, dad and I just finished up a week long timber framing course here at Heartwood…read more It was a pretty good experience. Pros: Michelle - She manages the business end and handles meals. She was incredibly helpful and always very pleasant. Dave - He's one of two instructors and most of what I got out of the course came from working with him one-on-one. He's super talented and all of my encounters with him were positive. I (along with most other people in the course) sought Dave out for any questions and help. The food - Michelle put together a great lunch every day. The skill set - I walked away from this week confident that I could handle basic layouts and build a structure using the skills I learned here (which is the whole point of the course). The safety - The instructors take safety very seriously and quickly react to any questionable behaviors. Cons: Class size - There were 26 people enrolled in the course including four "apprentices" which left two instructors who knew what they were doing to teach all of us. Organization - The first half day was spent sitting in a classroom watching minimally helpful overhead sheets and the second half watching demos. It would have been very easy to integrate hands on exercises on scrap wood and mix this information in over time. Barn raising - Friday was dedicated to assembling the frame we built Tuesday through Thursday. There were too many hands for too little work. Dave said you need a max of fourteen people to raise a structure like the one we built. You had to actively fight to participate. The "apprentices" - Really two of the four were actually pretty good and cared about learning. The other two seemed to cause more problems than they fixed. Ultimately I learned a lot from Dave while I was here (and Brad, another instructor who was there for one day was also great). Will was pretty impatient and not particularly helpful. The mix of people who were taking the course was about 50% carpenters (some with timber framing experience and some without) and 50% from random backgrounds (some teachers, a cobbler, some IT folk, a student, etc). Everyone was able to keep up and a carpentry background really isn't necessary. The group instruction wasn't that helpful but if you take the time to seek out knowledgable staff (or peers who have already done a piece you're working on) you can learn a lot here. It's really what you make of it. If you're looking to get a basic crash course in timber framing this is a good place to get it (despite class size and some other kinks). You can make as many mistakes as you need to (and should, this is a great way to learn) and someone will be able to show you how to correct it before you try this on your own.

From the owner: 2-day to 2-week educational courses in woodworking, homebuilding and timber framing.read more

This is a lot of fun. Rob is very knowledgeable and taught so much. Loved every minute.read more

A fantastic and unique experience awaits you at Green Mountain Falconry School! Not only is Rob…read moreincredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the ancient sport, he is very thoughtful and provides a wealth of information and experience. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever getting to handle and learn about his hawks and how they hunt and train. I cannot recommend this enough.

This place is really great! Huge campus. Larry my teacher has been fabulous! They serve…read moreBreakfast,Lunch,& Dinner...FREE!! The salad bar has everything including tuna fish , & fresh soup!! If you live too far or just want to stay the night you can...FREE!! Don't get me wrong you pay your union dues monthly and the ones out of your check as well but this is really nice to be able to invest time into your resume while your waiting for the weather to warm up and your laid off. The teachers have treated us all with respect. I realize I should only speak for myself but i think it's been exactly the same experience for my fellow Union Brothers & Sisters! I hope they increase the classes they have to offer. I will continue to come here and get these awesome amenities that's included with my education as well as union dues!

Baker's Pin is a lovely store with tons of cooking supplies and top name brands…read more Their cooking classes are fun and informative. Some chefs are hands on, and some lecture and you watch. Either way, you get to taste the recipes and learn tips and techniques.

Never having been to The Baker's Pin before, but being a total sucker for kitchen stores, I was…read morereally happy with my visit last night. We drove by and had to stop in just to browse. There were two employees who always seemed to be within earshot and had hilarious responses to my comments about various items -- one of them told me I should rent a UHaul to drive from MA back home to SC so I could buy everything I wanted. They really embodied what every small business needs - people who are personable, funny, and helpful without hovering or disappearing. I didn't end up purchasing anything at this visit but found some ideas and had some real laughs in the meantime. I have long wanted to take a cooking class and will keep an eye on these classes when I am up in CT for my next visits.

I had Code Wiz come to my place of work in Westford to do some STEM activities with 50 kids ages…read more5-18. They were on time, professional and fun. The kids all had a blast learning how to code and making a robot actually move. It was a great event and a great company to work with! I give Ruth and her team a 2 thumbs up!

From the owner: Code Wiz is a center in Westford, MA that prepares your child for their technology-driven future…read more Sign up for a monthly membership, and you'll receive instruction that is custom tailored to your child. We offer programs such as tech tracks, coding classes, robotics, and much more. Enjoy a free, no obligation trial class to see if we are right for your child. Call us today for more information!

I arrived here at 11:30am. I saw no signs of the establishment. The website says and had said for a…read morewhile that they are temporarily closed and more information will be available. The phone number is disconnected. Sad if they have closed-a great place

This is great. I miss the company very much because of the great customer service. The value was…read moreawesome right where you need to be there selections of all the equipment was great. Very cost effective .