Maine Potato Harvest - School Break for Field Work a Maine Tradition

The annual potato harvest is a big deal in northern Maine.  It is so important that the students attending local schools get time off to work in the fields.  This is a long-standing tradition that may soon go away.  But for now - it is observed and the students love it!  Read more in "Debate Boils Over Harvest Break", The Wall Street Journal, October 7, 2010.

Life in Maine: Experience it through the many blogs about Maine

Blogging has become an important aspect of life for many people.  For some it is a great hobby (as in my case - it is cheap, enjoyable, and keeps me out of trouble).  For others, it is a way to keep track of events, politics, hobbies, past-times, family, and other interests.  If you are interested in Maine as a "way of life" then reading blogs is a great way to experience Maine and what goes on here.  Click on the link below for a listing of blogs about Maine vacations, travel, life, sports, nature, outdoors, politics, government, health, community service, fall foliage, environment, books, photography, and other categories.

http://www.travel-maine.info/maine_blogs.htm

A Little of Maine Becoming History: Sardine Cannery to Close

The last sardine cannery in the United States is shutting down on April 18, 2010.  The cannery, in Prospect Harbor, Maine, will be the last of its kind to operate in the U.S.  Sardine canneries in the U.S. have "fallen victim to global competition, corporate consolidations, and a general lack of appetite".  There used to be at least 50 canneries in Maine but they have gone away over time.  Read more in "In Maine, Last Sardine Cannery in the U.S. Is Clattering Out", The New York Times, April 3, 2010.

Census Taking in Maine: ATVs, Lobster Boats, and Snowmobiles All Help Out

"PORTLAND, Maine - Census workers are using snowmobiles, airplanes, all-terrain vehicles — even lobster boats — to visit the most far-flung, hidden-away dwellings when counting the nation's populace.

Hand-delivering 2010 census questionnaires in the bush of Alaska, Maine's North Woods and other isolated regions isn't as simple as strolling up a front walk to a suburban home. To get to the more remote homes, census workers might fly over mountains or onto far-removed islands, four-wheel it through forests and contend with deep snow, bone-chilling temperatures and wildlife on the move.

In Maine, census workers will begin delivering forms this week by whatever means it takes — ATV, snowmobile, cross-country skis or snowshoes — to get to those hard-to-get-to places."

Read the rest of the article in "Snowmobiles, ATVs, lobster boats used for census", CNBC, March 21, 2010.

Bruce McToose: The Intrepid Traveler - A Little Bit of Maine Culture

For you folks "from away" that want to know what life in Maine is like - we offer you "Bruce McToose the Intrepid Traveler".  Bruce is a celebrity adventurer and explorer and host of the TV series Intrepid Travels.  He is a guide to exotic and unusual places.  His show has been seen on Fox 23, WPME, and the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.  Check out his website for a slice of Maine life!

http://www.brucemctoose.com/

Wolf Moon Journal: A Maine Magazine of Art and Opinion

Maine is rich in its abundance of writers.  Many successful book authors (for example Stephen King) live here as well as lesser known authors.  Add to this the numerous writers who post their creations online - whether it is fiction, non-fiction or niche blogs on a certain topic.  One such blog or "journal" is the Wolf Moon Journal: A Maine Magazine of Art and Opinion. 

"Wolf Moon Journal is a small but plucky independent web magazine based in Winthrop Maine, and has been on the web since 2002. The journal has a broad range of content, including movie reviews, essays on various topics, images of Maine, and poetry. While based in Maine, not all of our contributors are from Maine nor are all the articles about Maine—we are not afraid to tackle big themes that go beyond the state. On the other hand, we do treasure our independent voices from the hinterland, and much of our focus is on life in Maine. In short, we enjoy being somewhat contradictory."

Click here to visit the "Wolf Moon Journal"
 - http://www.wolfmoonjournal.com/

Click here for a listing of other blogs, journals, and magazines found online
 - http://www.travel-maine.info/maine_blogs.htm

Building a Maine Cabin

Maine is a land made up of resourceful people.  Some like the big city (Portland?) while others thrive to be in the country.  A lot of back-to-nature and plain old-fashion Maine folks live off the land (or try to).  Here is a blog by a person building a cabin in the Maine woods.  Read "Maine Cabin Blog" to share the author's experience of building a cabin.

Black Fly Season in Maine

Black fly season is here in Maine. There is not much you can do about it. Here is a recent online article that humorously offers some suggestions to mitigate the hordes of black flies that want to ruin your outdoor cookout. See "Black flies and barbecues: facts for staying at the top of the food chain", The Examiner.com, May 23, 2009.

Read a previous post on black flies from 2008 on Maine Vacation and Travel Info. http://travel-maine.blogspot.com/2008/06/black-flies-in-maine.html

"The Working Waterfront" - A Maine Newspaper

"The Working Waterfront" is a monthly newspaper published both online and in print format. It is a newspaper that provides information and stories about people who work along coastal Maine - whatever their occupation may be. If you are interested in a part of coastal Maine that some tourists don't see then this newspaper is for you. A small blurb taken from the newspapers website follows below. If you are interested in learning more about coastal Maine then visit the website of the "The Working Waterfront".

"Published monthly by the Island Institute, Working Waterfront considers the myriad ways people earn their livings on the islands and waterfronts of Maine and the Gulf of Maine region. Our "beats" are fishing, small business, manufacturing, the arts, books, scientific research, communities, aquaculture, transportation, history, the environment -- just about anything connected with this coast and the lives of the people who live and work here. In addition to our on-line edition, we print and distribute around 50,000 copies per issue, making us one of Maine's largest newspapers in terms of circulation. The paper is available, free, to residents of many coastal towns, as well as to subscribers and members of the Island Institute".

Black Flies in Maine

Maine is well known for its many species of black flies. Generally the black flies emerge just after Mother's Day and tend to go away right after Father's Day; however some are still around until mid-July. Some bite and some don't but all are very annoying. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide in your breath which is why you always find them gathering around your head. They are tiny things and are sometimes called "no-see-ums". If you are outdoors - hiking, camping or whatever the best protection is a head net. Head nets are are lightweight and will easily fold into a pocket but if you need it will be invaluable. Repellents sometimes help. Read a recent article in the Boston Globe about Maine's black flies - "Black flies surge in Maine's clean rivers", The Boston Globe, June 23, 2008. So how do you fend of the bothersome Maine black flies? The Globe article offers the following suggestions:

"So how to protect yourself? Wear light-colored clothing. While it may not look fashionable, tuck pant legs into socks or boots and wear tight-fitting, long-sleeved shirts because the flies often crawl into snug regions of the body to feed. Insect repellents also work".

More information can be found on the website of the "Maine Blackfly Breeder's Association". This organization is located in Machias, Maine and provides "facts" about black flies. Another source of information is Maine Nature News that provides "Some questions and answers about black flies in Maine". Also, check out "What about those Black Flies and other flying pests I have heard about?, MaineOutdoors.com.

Deer Checking Out Recently Hayed Field in Maine

Our back yard was recently hayed. As we were eating dinner my wife looked out the dining room window . . . . and spotted this deer. I took a quick picture (not the best). Looks like the deer was wondering where all the tall grass went!

Haying Time in Maine

It is haying time in Maine! Everywhere you drive you see the tractors out in the hay fields cutting, tethering, and baling hay. If you live near the Maine coast like I do you get treated to seagulls gathering over the newly cut fields. I suppose there is some type of food out there for them to eat - I won't explore that subject! Here is a picture of the hay field just outside my back door.