Mark your calendars for the second Sharon Skill Swap on February 22nd, from 9 AM to 4 PM!
The event will start at Sharon Elementary School in the gym at 9 am. Sign up for classes starting at 9 am, come early to secure a spot in a class!
All classes and workshops will be held in the heart of Sharon, Vermont, at the Sharon Food Shelf, Sharon Elementary School, Seven Stars, the Baxter Memorial Library, and Steele Chapel. Maps and schedule will be distributed starting at 9 am. Classes start at 10 am, so come early!

Community Potluck from noon to 1 pm, all are welcome to come (even if you are not taking any classes or workshops!). Bring a dish to share with your community! 

Bring your curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn! All workshops are free to attend, and you can attend as many as you like.

See you on February 22nd!

Schedule for the day
- 9:00-9:30 Arrival, registration
- 9:30-9:45 am: Welcome remarks and orientation
- 10:00- 10:45:  First Block
- 11:00-11:45: Second block
- 12:00-1:00 Lunch - POTLUCK!
- 1:15-2:00 pm: Third block
- 2:15 - 3:00 pm: Fourth block
3:15 - 4 pm: closing remarks, wrap-up of the day, raffle

Classes & Workshops:

  • Basic Apple Tree Pruning - Learn hands-on apple tree pruning techniques on the elementary school trees, removing dead wood and pruning to improve light and air flow for better apple production. Bring hand pruners and saw if you have them. (Russ Patton)
  • Basic Pasta Making - Learn how to make dough, roll, dry and cut to make perfect, delicious fettuccine. I will show you how to make it with a simple pasta roller and a rolling pin version, the way my grandma did it. Bring a rolling pin if you want to participate. (Eileen)
  • Booklet / Pamphlet Making - Learn to make simple booklets and pamphlets from a 1 sheet 8-page mini booklet to soft and hardcovered pamphlet stitched booklets. (Kim Baker)
  • Community Journalism Q&A with Tim Calarbo- Join the Herald's editor for an engaging hour exploring the art of local journalism! From developing story ideas to navigating community coverage challenges, discover how your local news comes together. Learn about the life of a community paper, story selection, and what makes news newsworthy. (Tim Calabro)
  • Community-scale Composting (and Building Basic Backyard Compost Confidence) - At the Sharon Elementary School compost palace. (Cat Buxton & Andy Sherer)
  • Intro to Cribbage - An intro to how to play two handed cribbage, anyone who can add up to 31 are invited! Very young children are encouraged to bring an older friend to play along. (Scott Henkels)
  • Cribbage Variations: 3 Handed, 4 Handed, and Cross-Crib! - Participants should be fluent in cribbage. (Scott Henkels)
  • Intro to Cross Country Skiing: Why fight winter in Vermont when you can get out and ski almost anywhere? Learn the fundamentals of x-country skiing from longtime Ford Sayre nordic ski coach Greg DeFrancis. We have some skis and boots available to use, but feel free to use yours! (Greg DeFrancis)
  • Drum Circle: Johnny Lanza invites you to discover your inner rhythm today! Join our interactive drum sessions where we'll explore the wonders of rhythm together. Drop in anytime - sessions run continuously throughout the afternoon, 1 - 3 pm, with space for 6 people each. Sign up at the meeting space and get ready to jam!
  • Having a Toddler - Playgroup for under ~3s and caregivers with tea and cookies. (Ellie Sowerwine)
  • Homemade Diets for Dogs and Cats - Cooking, raw diets, Chinese food energetics. Recipes provided. No hands-on cooking. (Emma Basham, DVM, CVA)
  • How to Use a Cricut Bring your Cricut or come learn what these amazing craft machines can do! Jenn will demonstrate t-shirt design and other creative projects. All skill levels welcome.- beginners encouraged! (Jennifer Donahue)
  • Lego Duplo construction: Robin Servoz invites young builders to explore and create! Drop in anytime during our continuous sessions today to build, imagine, and play with these colorful blocks. Each hands-on session has space for 6 participants where children can develop motor skills and unleash their creativity. Parents welcome to join the fun. Sign up at the meeting space and get ready to build! (Robin Servoz)
  • Liege Waffle Making: Learn to make the waffles you would eat if you were to travel to Brussels–with Nic Antal, a Belgium native! No fluffiness here—just caramelized, warm, buttery melt-in-your mouth Liege Waffles made from scratch! Nic will also show how to freeze and reheat your waffles for a perfect snack. (Nic Antal)
  • Basics of Partner Dancing (Latin Based) - We'll go over musicality, leader and follower basics, and teach a few basic combinations, as well as have some time towards the end to practice. No partner necessary, we will pair up singles. (Elizabeth Loughran)
  • Pizza Making So you know how to make pizza dough, but you’ve never used an outdoor oven? Kevin Gish will show you how to assemble and then bake your pizza in our outdoor community oven. Then enjoy your delicious, hot pizza at our community potluck lunch!
  • Printmaking with Hand-Carved Rubber Stamps - Learn how to use hand gouges to carve images into rubber blocks for printmaking. All materials supplied. Sharp tools involved, children must be accompanied by adult. (Mack Budd)
  • Traditional Rug Hooking - Participants will be provided with an opportunity to learn how to create fiber art utilizing fabric strips. Age 8+. (Bonnie Dore)
  • Small Engine Repair  Back by popular demand, Jessica Whitney will once again show you how to take the guesswork out of small engine repairs. Jessica will teach you how to troubleshoot and fix small engines (Jessica Whitney)
  • Intro to Snowshoeing: Malcolm McShinsky invites families to explore winter trails with confidence! Perfect for kids and beginners, join us at 1pm to learn snowshoeing basics in a fun, supportive environment. Snowshoes provided in all sizes - no equipment needed but feel free to bring yours! Bundle up, sign up at the meeting space, and get ready for a winter adventure! (Malcolm McShinsky)
  • Staying anchored in stormy waters: Did you know that a little knowledge about your nervous system can have a huge POSITIVE impact on your stress level? Mental Health Counselor, Patrick Lincoln will explain the fundamentals of Polyvagal Theory, an understanding of our autonomic nervous system and its impact on cognition, emotional regulation and social behavior. Most importantly, Patrick will explain a few key practices that can help you stay calm and connected.
  • Spinning - Try drop spindle spinning (spindles provided) and watch wheel demonstrations. All ages welcome. (Elizabeth Lincoln)
  • Tai Chi - Back by popular demand, sample the gentle, balancing movements and healing energy of Tai Chi. (Catherine Freese)
  • Tortillas, Arepas, and Quesadillas from fresh Masa - Nando invites you to learn the art of fresh masa! Create your own authentic arepas, quesadillas, and tortillas from scratch in this hands-on workshop. Learn traditional techniques for working with corn masa and enjoy the delicious results. Each session has space for 6 participants. (Nando Jaramillo from Moon & Stars VT) 
  • Winter Sowing - Starting seeds outside, in winter, without the heat mats, grow lights and mess of indoor sowing! Best for perennials, as well as cold hardy annuals. Bring clean gallon jugs and seeds. (Donna Foster)
  • Soil Block - Seed Starting Without Plastic: Workshop about the magic of starting seeds without plastic pots! Hands-on session where you'll learn to create perfect soil blocks for healthy seedlings. Sign up at the meeting space and get ready to grow! (Ryan Haac)