Photo: Juice Flair (Shutterstock)
If you’re new to gardening or woodworking—or if you just want to update your refinishing skills—a workshop or adult camp might be for you. Get some hands-on experience and some pro tips in one of these beginner courses for adults.
Woodworking classes and workshops for beginners
For woodworking classes and workshops, check out a Rockler or a locally owned woodworking store. These classes can range in price from free to around $100 and include access to tools you might not have at home. They’re a great introduction to new skills or a brush-up for rusty ones.
For other local options, you can find a local woodworking club. These clubs are a great resource for workshops and might also have access to tools that you can try out.
Home repair classes
If your area has a reclaimed or recycled building materials outlet (like the Rebuilding Center in Portland, Ore., or Community Forklift in Edmondston, Md.) it may offer low cost or free classes and workshops for home repair, woodworking, and DIY projects. Similar projects like Openworks in Baltimore, Md. also offer training on various newer equipment, like CNC machines, as well as shop safety certifications.
Your local tool library might also offer workshops and tool repair—these are a great resource to connect to your local community and upgrade your skills.
Gardening classes
For gardening classes, your local community garden organization, your parks and recreation department, or a local community college can be great places to find hands-on, in-person workshops for aspiring gardeners—or for experienced gardeners who want to grow into some new skills. These courses often allow local gardeners to collaborate and share skills.
For more resources on gardening clubs that offer classes and events, start with your local gardening club.
Online resources
For more resources online, the Woodworkers Guild of America has a variety of classes ranging from about $15 to $170 for a five-class series. (Your local woodworkers guild might also have classes available in-person.) For home repair, DIY University has a catalog of both on-demand and instructed classes that cost between $10 and $170. For gardening resources, check out Ron Finley Teaches Gardening for a $15 per month membership fee.
