Blacksmith course
ORRINGTON – The Curran Homestead Living History Farm and Museum at 372 Fields Pond Road will offer a basic six-week introductory blacksmithing course, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. The course, open to six participants, starts Feb. 4.
Pat Roy of Belfast will teach the course. Roy is a part-time blacksmith and metalsmith. He has demonstrated blacksmithing at country fairs, and he volunteers at the Curran Homestead Living History Farm and Museum and has taught previously at The Curran Farm’s blacksmith facility.
Cost of the course, including materials and supplies, is $350 per participant. Pre-registration is required. Contact Irv Marsters, Curran Homestead treasurer, at 745-4426, irv@bangorlettershop.com, or by mail at 99 Washington St., Bangor, ME 04401.
Vegetable study
ORONO — Kelly Koss, a University of Maine student pursuing a master’s degree in food science and human nutrition, wants to find out if children are more apt to eat a vegetable that has a novel, bright color. She is seeking 100 children from ages 8-10 to participate in a 50-minute study during the February school vacation.
Participating children will be asked to sample two cooked potatoes (one purple, one white), as well as raw cauliflower (orange and white) and raw carrots (yellow and orange), then answer several questions.
The study will be conducted in the Consumer Testing Center in Hitchner Hall on the UMaine campus. Volunteers who complete the study will earn $10. Mary Ellen Camire, professor of food science and human nutrition in the School of Food and Agriculture, is Koss’ adviser.
All of the vegetables are grown naturally and are not artificially colored, Koss says. Children who are allergic to cooked potatoes, raw cauliflower, raw carrots, dairy, eggs or ranch dressing are not permitted to participate. For more information, contact Koss at 581-1733 or kelly.koss@umit.maine.edu.