New2Maine.com » General

Anybody Out There?

Jason — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:28:55 +0000

Hi there. Is anyone still reading this? According to my analytics reports, the blog is still averaging 5-6 hits a day, despite the year-long lapse in posts. Is anyone out there? Is there a desire for this site to still exist? Would anyone be interested in taking over for me in writing it? I ask because the domain is due for renewal, and I’m not sure if there’s a reason.

Use the comments section, and let me know…

Go Green, Portland

Jason — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:02:18 +0000

I just found a link to a pretty cool initiative here in Portland to promote green living. Portland Green Streets is

a grassroots effort to encourage the use of alternate transportation – and is comprised of people who commute through, live, work, study, or send children to school in Greater Portland.

Their most visible effort is Green Streets Day, which is the last Friday of every month. Participating is simple and helps raise awareness for green transportation. To join the effort, simply wear green and travel green on the last Friday of the month. This month’s Green Streets Day happens to be Halloween, so wearing green should be pretty easy!

If helping out the environment and saving on the cost of gas isn’t enough reward to get you interested, a number of local Portland businesses also offer coupons, gift certificates, and other incentives to join the effort via a monthly raffle for all participants (see September’s winners).

Not Dead, Just Busy

Jason — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:00:10 +0000

Just wanted to throw a quick note up here assuring everyone that Amber and I are, in fact, alive. We’ve just been busy lately. We’re heading out of town this weekend for a camping trip at Keyser Pond outside Concord, NH. We’re hopeful it won’t rain the whole time. I’ve got a handful of restaurants to review when I get back, so stay tuned…

Lobster Wars!

Jason — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:12:46 +0000

After watching some episodes of Deadliest Catch and Ax Men this summer, I thought it would be cool if there was a similar program devoted to lobstering (since Mainers don’t fish king crab and our trees are felled for paper). Lo and behold, a little Googling yields this fun little series of Discovery called Lobster Wars. It doesn’t look like it’ll be seen on TV any time soon, but I’m contemplating ordering the DVD.

Oh, and as a bonus, they use the awesome “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys as the theme song. Check it out:

One Year and Counting

Jason — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:09:11 +0000

Today marks the first full year of our residence in Maine. So far we like it up here a great deal. We’re renewing our lease for another year, I’m still working from home, and Amber has gotten a new, full-time teaching position at a middle school in the area (sort of). We’re making friends and starting to feel like this is home. Our only real complaint so far is the distance from our family and friends from New York and Connecticut. Amber laments “if only we could get rid of New Hampshire and Vermont, this place would be perfect.” Not sure that’s going to happen, but as problems go, that’s far from the worst we could be having.

Spring Cleaning

Jason — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:24:31 +0000

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…

And I’m Off Again

Jason — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:11:16 +0000

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…

Back Home and the Weather is Wonderful

Jason — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:15:42 +0000

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.

Community Supported Agriculture in Maine

Jason — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:15:32 +0000

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.

Happy Easter

Jason — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:26:12 +0000

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.