New2Maine.com

As spring continues to arrive in fits and starts here in Portland, I’ve decided it’s about time to do some spring cleaning. New2Maine.com will turn one year old next week and its had essentially the same theme for that entire time. No more. I’ve replaced the greens and the Prout’s Neck header image with a more muted, cleaner theme and an image of The Portland Head.

I’d love to hear some feedback on this new look. Love it? Hate it? Don’t care because you only read through RSS? Whatever the case may be, let me know what you think…

Spring has finally sprung here in Portland. Unfortunately, I’m missing most of it. Work has me off to New Jersey for a few days now, three days after getting back from Louisville. At least I should be back in time to catch the Sea Dogs game on Friday…

I just got back from a week-long business trip to Louisville, KY and it appears that I brought some nice weather with me. Low 70s and sunny! What a wonderful welcome home present. Amber and I are headed to The Front Room for dinner tonight. I’ll post our review this weekend.

Though we’re still new here, as far as Amber and I can tell, Maine is one of the more eco-friendly states in the country. In addition to recycling just about everything imaginable, state subsidized CFLs, and bottle deposit programs aimed at getting consumers to turn plastic back in rather than throw it out, there is also a big push to buy local produce where possible. One of the things that we learned about at Eco Appetito was community supported agriculture. The foot is fresher, the carbon footprint is lower, and other Mainers make a living. What’s not to like?

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardners Association publishes a directory (large PDF) of Community Supported Agriculture in Maine. From their site:

Over the last decade, we have witnessed the proliferation of farmers’ markets in this country. The number of markets nation wide increased more than 7 percent in 2006 alone and has more than doubled in the last 10 years.

Right here in Maine, a renewed commitment to eating local foods is evident through the annual increase in sales at the farmers’ markets across the state. It seems that the time is right for Mainers to take their commitment to local seasonal food to the next level with community supported agriculture (CSA).

With over 100 farms and 4000 shares and counting, Maine’s CSA community is just beginning to show its potential for transforming relationships with food and farms. There is no formula to a CSA. Each is unique as the community supporting it. The bottom line is that people make commitments to farms, and in return farmers make commitments to produce for their members the freshest, most flavorful, highest quality food possible.

Having recently had the pleasure of sampling local foodstuffs and shopping at great little neighborhood markets like Pat’s and Rosemont Market & Bakery, I think that we may look into joining one of these CSAs (though probably only a half-share for now, as it’s just the two of us). Some of the farms here in Cumberland County even offer the ability to work the farm in exchange for a share. I grew up on a farm, so it might be interesting to get outside and get my hands dirty again.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. My parents and younger brother came up for Easter, so Amber and I spent much of the day Friday cleaning, and my family arrived that afternoon. I think it’s probably a little rude to spend a whole lot of time typing up a post while they’re here, so I’ll just wish all my our readers a Happy Easter (if you are a Christian; for those who are not, it’s a beautiful Sunday morning up here, hopefully you’re enjoying much the same). We’ll be attending Easter Mass at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church down in Cape Elizabeth and then heading into Old Port for brunch at MIMS. I can’t wait.