PROOF - Metro April

Growing &

WHAT TO PLANT

APPS THAT HELP

Sustainable $5.95

April 2019

LIVING

f EARTH-FRIENDLY INTERIOR DESIGN LESSONS IN REDUCING

& REUSING

CONTENTS

APRIL 2019

FEATURES 40

NATURAL TECH

Apps and tech to plan your 21st century garden

46

PLANT THIS, NOT THAT

How to reduce your carbon footprint through gardening

52 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN’T RECYCLE Lessons in reducing and reusing

58

EARTH-FRIENDLY DESIGN

Decorate your house more sustainably — and great local secondhand stores to shop

64

40

NATURAL TECH

58

EARTH-FRIENDLY DESIGN

GET OUT

Blue Hill packs a lot into a small downtown any time of year

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

22

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

72

THE VIEW FROM HERE

I don’t want to grow up

ON THE COVER From green gardening to earth-friendly decorating, we’re living sustainably.

2 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

PHOTOS: ©CHARTPHOTO & ©DERINPHOTOGRAPHY/ADOBE STOCK

Local news & sightings

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FOOD & DRINK

HEALTH & FITNESS

26

28

14

Fiddleheads are popping up everywhere and we’ve got perfect recipe to enjoy this spring delicacy: Garlicky Fiddlehead Risotto

SONG BIRD

50 years later, the Bangor Community Chorus is still going strong

18

IN SEASON NOW

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) GABOR DEGRE; SARAH WALKER CARON; AISLINN SARNACKI; BOB DUCHESNE; AMY ALLEN

HOW TO

OUTSIDE

36

70

Surprise your pooch with homemade (healthy) dog bones

38

Explore trails featuring a wide variety of plants this spring

34

NATURE BY DESIGN

Bringing the outdoors in is the next big trend in design

Tracey Hecht believes in the power of reading out loud to kids at any age

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

HIKE ME

WOODS & WATERS

Plan a trip to explore one of Maine’s many National Wildlife Refuges

CREATE IT AT HOME

Tips for being more sustainable in the kitchen www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

SustainableHOME

AT FIRST, it was just the plastic wrap that didn’t get replaced.

When we finished the roll, that was it. As it stood, I was only buying plastic wrap every few years, so it wasn’t a big leap to stop buying it. Beeswax wraps took its place for those instances when we’d otherwise use it, along with covered containers. And it worked out. The reusable wrap and containers held what we needed held easily.

Then we ran out of large resealable plastic bags.

I didn’t notice at first. I’ve been using our reusable containers more anyway. Then the medium and sandwich sized reusable bags ran out too. I didn’t really notice. It didn’t matter.

Instead of sticking leftover cheese in plastic bags, I tucked it into resealable containers. Instead of sandwich bags, we used our glass storage containers or aluminum foil in a pinch. It worked for me.

Not so much for my kids, though. They missed sandwich bags.

As I am writing this, we’re awaiting a package from Etsy, the makers site, filled with four reusable sandwich bags in fun patterns. I am hoping the kids will like them. I am hoping the reusable bags will make them more comfortable in my quest to cut down on waste and stop relying on single-use plastics. The bags are handmade and washable, with velcro closures. I am pretty excited.

THE FACT IS THAT I AM CUTTING OUR RELIANCE ON PLASTICS FOR MY CHILDREN AND FOR THE EARTH. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data from 2013, the average American produces 4.4 pounds of trash daily. That means my small family could, conceivably produce more than 4,800 pounds of trash in a year, unless we do something about it — such as create less waste.

I don’t want to contribute to the growing garbage problem. And, should our community join the ones doing away with recycling programs (see our story on page 52 from Crystal Sands), I want to already be living a less-waste lifestyle. We don’t need to buy single-serving packs of everything or have cheap plastic bags that rip after a single use.

We also don’t need cheap, practically disposable furniture when sustainable decorating is smarter and often more cost effective in the long run (see Natalie Feulner’s story on page 58). And we can make small steps toward a more Earthfriendly life through little things, like planting native plants (see how this can reduce your carbon footprint on page 46 in a story from Lorraine Berry).

This issue of Bangor Metro is dedicated to sustainability. From bringing the outdoors in (see our story on page 34 from Poornima Apte on biophilic design) to hiking where you can see Maine’s many climates and native plants (see Aislinn Sarnacki’s monthly Hike ME column on page 28) to making your own dog biscuits (see Amy Allen’s tutorial on page 36), there are so many ways to live more sustainably and enjoy all that Maine has to offer.

HOPE YOU LOVE THIS ISSUE. WE ENJOYED CREATING IT.

z

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro bangormetro talkback@bangormetro.com

www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000

PUBLISHER

Richard J. Warren

EDITOR

Sarah Walker Caron scaron@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen

aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

COPY EDITOR

Kaylie Reese kreese@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Julia Bayly jbayly@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Abigail Curtis acurtis@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Poornima Apte, Lorraine Berry, Gabor Degre, Bob Duchesne, Natalie Feulner, Rosemary Lausier, Emily Morrison, Crystal Sands, Katie Smith www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT’S YOUR BEST

Bangor Metro Magazine. April 2019, Vol. 15, No. 3.

Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company.

Bangor Metro is published 10 times annually by Bangor Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher.

Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine.

Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit.

Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication.

Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online.

Editorial: Queries should be sent to Sarah Walker Caron at scaron@bangordailynews.com.

Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $15.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date. Please contact Fred Stewart at 207-990-8075.

Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

SPRING CLEANING TIP? THIS MONTH OUR CONTRIBUTORS TALK SPARKING JOY & CLEANING UP “I wrote a story last spring about cleaning without harsh chemicals, and ever since then, I’ve mixed together my own natural cleaning solution to wipe down the house.

The mixture includes hot water, white vinegar, Dr. Bronner’s biodegradable cleaner and a few drops of fresh-smelling essential oils, such as orange or lemon oil. I use this cleaner on many of the surfaces in my home. However, I’ve read that vinegar and other acidic substances can eat away at granite and other types of stone, so I steer away from using it on those surfaces.”

— AISLINN SARNACKI, STAFF WRITER

COVER PHOTO: ©Halfpoint/Adobe Stock

“I’m a big fan of clearing out my bookshelves. I have a Kondo-esque method of deciding whether I’m going to keep books or not where I think, ‘Will I read this again and get something out of it?’ or ‘Did I love this enough to want to share it with someone else?’ If the book doesn’t ‘spark’ either of those feelings, I bring it to a book buyback store (Bull Moose, I hear, is a good one around here). With store credit, I wind up getting about one new book for every five I sell back, which I still count as decluttering!”

— SAM SCHIPANI, CONTRIBUTING WRITER “I turn my cleaning playlist on and go to Motown. Even scrubbing my oven is fun when I’ve got ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ in my ear.”

— EMILY MORRISON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER “Hire someone. And then go on vacation to return to a clean house!”

“

I don’t spring clean, per se.

But I do strongly believe in a good airing out of the house once warm weather sets in.

Even if it’s still chilly at night, letting the fresh air in is like a signal that winter is over.”

— SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

— JULIA BAYLY, STAFF WRITER “I’m never going to be skinny enough to wear that again.”

— BOB DUCHESNE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER “I love to throw open the windows.

The cold air is refreshing and motivates me to keep moving.”

— NATALIE FEULNER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

ONGOING THROUGH APRIL ART EXHIBITS The University of Maine Museum of Art is featuring several exhibits through May. Reversible Roles: Meghan Brady features large-scale paintings and collages brought to life through intense color saturation and dynamic, abstract forms. Big Rock Candy Mountain: Zach Horn is an exhibition where food and landscape take center stage. Edging Forward: Richard Keen features both paintings and mixed media, wall-oriented sculptures. Admission to the museum is free.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2 “IN LIGHT OF THE LOGOS: CREATION, THE INCARNATION, AND THE CHRISTIAN IMAGINATION” LECTURE Ken Myers, founder of Mars Hill Audio Journal and former Arts & Humanities 8 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

Editor for NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, will give a free lecture at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, at Imago Dei, 56 Center St., Bangor. The title of the lecture is “In Light of the Logos: Creation, the Incarnation, and the Christian Imagination.” The event is part of the Christ & Culture Lecture Series. To pre-register, go to www.kenmyersinmaine. eventbrite.com or call 1-207-505-5847.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 ART TALK “Contemporary Illuminated Manuscripts: the work of Nancy Ruth Leavitt,” is an exhibit on display at the University of Southern Maine, Glickman Family Library’s Great Reading Room on the seventh floor through April 30. On Wednesday, April 3 at 4 p.m., there will be a special event featuring the artist. An Interview with the Artist: Nancy Leavitt Speaks with Priscilla Juvelis will be held in the University Events Room and is free and open to the public.

THURSDAY, APRIL 4 BLACK VIOLIN Wil B. and Kev Marcus will combine their classical training and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound as Black Violin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, at the Gracie Theatre. Black Violin has shared stages with top names including Kanye West, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and has creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys. Tickets are available at gracietheatre.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 LORRIE MORGAN PERFORMANCE Lorrie Morgan, the first woman in country music to begin her career with three consecutive Platinum albums, will perform at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, on the

PHOTO: TROY R. BENNETT | BDN FILE

APRIL

APRIL 20 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race

Criterion stage, 35 Cottage St., Bar Harbor.

Lorrie Morgan is a Nashville native and the daughter of Country Music Hall of Fame member George Morgan. She made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage at age 13, singing “Paper Roses,” and has been innovating Country Music ever since.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 53RD ANNUAL KENDUSKEAG STREAM CANOE RACE One of the most iconic events in Maine — and the springtime sporting event of the year in Bangor — kicks off bright and early Saturday morning, and finishes up in the late morning in downtown Bangor. If you’re not participating yourself, get there early and line up along the banks of the stream to watch the canoeists come in!

For lots more information, visit www.kenduskeagstreamcanoerace.com.

ALL MONTH Reversible Roles: Meghan Brady at UMaine Museum of Art

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 BANGOR AREA CHILDREN’S CHOIR CONCERT A Bangor Area Children’s Choir concert will be held at Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School on April 23 at 7:30 p.m. The BACC will be performing with the Bangor Band and University of Maine Collegiate Chorale. Donations gladly accepted.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 STEPS FOR SOULS EVENT Steps for Souls: Suicide Awareness and Prevention will be hosting its third annual event on Saturday, April 27, at Broadway Park. The event will feature a series of mental health organizations who will be sharing their resources with the community and a short walk for those who choose to participate.

Featured organizations include Northern Light Acadia Hospital, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Community Health and Counseling Services, the Bryce Pelkey Memorial Scholarship Fund, the JD Foundation, and Fellowship Health Resources. Donations will be presented to Northern Light Acadia Hospital’s youth program.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

10 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

WHAT’S HAPPENING

PHOTO: KAZNADEY/ADOBE STOCK

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 5TH ANNUAL FRIENDS OF THE CROSS INSURANCE CENTER GALA The 5th Annual Friends of the Cross Insurance Center Gala will be held at the Cross Insurance Center on April 27 at 6 p.m. Delicious food, live music, and dancing, all for a great cause. This year, three non-profits doing significant work addressing food insecurity and feeding families in our region will be honored: Eastern Area Agency on Aging — Meals on Wheels, OHI Maine — Brewer Area Food Pantry and Good Shepherd Food Bank. For more information or tickets: www.crosscentergala.com.

APRIL 28 Bangor Band Concert

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 BANGOR BAND CONCERT The Bangor Band will play a Members Memorial Concert sponsored by Bangor Parks & Recreation on April 28 at 4 p.m. at Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School. Donations gladly accepted.

STILL STUMPED?

Here are the answers to last month’s Pop Quiz.

  





Visit our Bangor Metro Facebook page to play online!

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

WHAT’S HAPPENING

1

HERE’S A LOOK AT JUST A FEW SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH...

2

1: Tony Hamlin announced the 2019 inductees to the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame at the Cross Insurance Center recently. John Donato (right) was one of 16 inductees.

2: Kids from all over the state competed in the Maine State Team Scholastic Chess Championships which took place recently at the Cross Insurance Center.

3: Ryan Albert of Bangor Savings Bank was one of the attendees at the Bangor Daily Brews event about workforce development in Maine and attracting young workers. This first time event was held at Black Bear Brewing on Exchange Street in Bangor.

SHARE YOUR EVENT PHOTOS! 12 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

Email your photos and captions to

talkback@bangormetro.com

PHOTOS: (1 & 3) LINDA COAN O’KRESIK | BDN; (2, 4, 5, 6) JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT

3

BOOK WORMS UNITE!

4

How well do you know Maine authors? Visit the Bangor Metro Facebook page to play online — and for the chance to win a FREE one-year subscription!

4: The United Way of Eastern Maine and sponsor Darling’s Corporation celebrated the phenomenal efforts of the community during their Campaign Finale and Awards, announcing campaign award winners, honoring individuals for their dedication to the campaign, and celebrating that they are on target to reach their fundraising goal.

5: There were over 20 recipients of the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Campaign Awards.

6: The Board Chair’s Award given to Jose Flores.

5

6

FIND ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S POP QUIZ ON PAGE 11! www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

ARTS & CULTURE

SONG BIRD

ORIGINAL BANGOR COMMUNITY CHORUS MEMBER STILL SINGING AFTER 50 YEARS

FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, Bangor-native Lloyd George has always had a passion for singing.

George, who turns 85 in April, has been serenading Bangor audiences since his youth choir days as a young boy, a member of the Interracial Choir of Bangor and Brewer, and is the last original member still singing in the Bangor Community Chorus, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

When George joined the newly formed choir in 1959, he did not expect the group to be going strong 50 years later.

“I never dreamed it would last 50 years when we started. There have been a lot of ups and downs,” George said.

George was a member of the Bangor Savoyards, a local community theatre group. Members of the group wanted to sing together more frequently, so members Arline Keith, Jeanette Taylor and Marian Vafiades formed the group, according to George. George, then 34, and six to eight members left the Savoyards to join the chorus with Vafiades serving as its first conductor until 1986.

The Savoyards eventually merged with the Bangor Civic Theatre to form the Bangor Community Theatre in 1969.

The chorus would practice in members’ homes and then the Bangor Community Center on the Davis Road.

Today, the group has a permanent rehearsal space at the First United Methodist Church on Essex Street in Bangor.

The group plays a variety of music including secular music, popular music and music from films and Broadway.

George says his favorite style to perform is Gilbert and Sullivan, and his favorite pieces he performed with the chorus were “The Storm is Passing Over,” by Charles A. Tindley, and “The Prayer.”

“I have enjoyed all the music,” George said. “I really enjoy religious music.”

Ruth Munson, an alto, says the pieces the chorus sings can be challenging, but the chorus allows her to continue what she loves: singing.

14 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

PHOTOS: (ABOVE & TOP RIGHT) GABOR DEGRE; (MIDDLE) BDN FILE; (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF BANGOR COMMUNITY CHORUS

BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

Bangor Community Chorus members are all smiles at practice recenlty.

“It is really so much fun. It’s really the people. Most are just people who love to sing — pure and simple,” she said.

Through the decades, the group has had its ebbs and flows, but George says they’ve stayed a “friendly, happy, fun, group.”

George says the group has gotten larger with more talented voices but with fewer basses and tenors. In the early ’70s, the group was considered a women’s group because so few men had joined.

The friendship and the group setting is what George has enjoyed the most about the chorus, making close friends in the process. Waldo “Mac” Libbey and Palmer Libby, both tenors, were “lifelong friends” who have since passed away.

There were periods when George has not participated in the group — after his youngest daughter was born and when his work schedule conflicted with rehearsals.

(Above) Lloyd Gerorge in 2015.

(Right) Brenda Gott, Jeanette Taylor, Lloyd George and Arline Keith perform in 1969.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

ARTS & CULTURE

He now sings with the choir on an intermittent basis. Both daughters are now members of the chorus, with his daughter, Stacy, serving as president of its board.

The group has worked hard to keep itself going and all the individual members working together is what has kept them together, George said.

“I hope it continues the same route it has taken these past 50 years,” he said.

“There will be struggle and defeat, but it will continue on. I hope it lasts forever.”

Colin Graebert, the chorus’ conductor for the past two years, said George’s continued presence in the group, as an original member, speaks to its legacy.

The chorus at practice recently.

(Left) Gathered at Cascade Park in 1992.

“Lloyd George is one of the coolest and most dedicated singers I have ever met in my life,” Graebert said. “His love of music and singing is infectious, and his dedication should be an inspiration to all singers.”

The chorus will celebrate its Golden Anniversary at its Spring concert, “A Golden Night for Singing,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at the First United Methodist Church.

The chorus will perform pieces from the past 50 years.

George is confident the choir will continue for 50 more years and his love for singing will continue with it.

“As long as I’m able to breathe, I am going to want to sing.”

16 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

Lloyd’s daughter Stacy George now serves as president of Bangor Community Chorus board.

Colin Graebert, Marj Lawrence, Lloyd George and Carolyn McKinnon in 2010.

PHOTOS: (TOP & BOTTOM RIGHT) GABOR DEGRE; (OLDER PHOTOS) COURTESY OF BANGOR COMMUNITY CHORUS

“AS LONG AS I’M ABLE TO BREATHE, I AM GOING TO WANT TO SING.”

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

ARTS & CULTURE

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

TRACEY

HECHT INSPIRED BY MAINE WAKING UP

PHOTO: YOSOMONO PHOTOGRAPHY/ MICHEL GODIMUS/ADOBE STOCK

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

18 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

TRACEY HECHT was facing a problem so many parents do: trying to get her kids to go to sleep.

Then an idea came to her. What if she wrote a novel for middle-grade readers that started as nocturnal animals were waking up. And what if it was written in a way to make it readaloud material?

The idea was different. Middle-grade readers, stories written for students generally 8 to 12 years old, are typically independently read. Stories for younger kids are more often read-aloud books.

But Hecht wanted a book with a cadence that worked for those older young readers.

“I really believe in reading for kids, and I really believe in read aloud for kids all the way through [middle school],” Hecht said. “I feel like with a world that’s so busy and there’s so many screens, it’s one of those things that slows things down to the moment.”

So she did it.

That book, “Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions,” was turned down by publishers. It had three protagonists, which they felt was too many. But Hecht wasn’t deterred. She found a partner who believed in the concept and financial backing and they launched Fabled Films and Fabled Films Press.

“We felt a niche for a different kind of book and got some people to believe in it and invest in it,” Hecht said. “I really respected [the publisher’s] decision and at the same time thought there was a chance to do something different.”

The effort paid off, and the first book was wellreceived. It was chosen as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick by the Association of American Booksellers.

And it received good reviews. Kirkus Reviews

“...I REALLY BELIEVE IN READ ALOUD FOR KIDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH [MIDDLE SCHOOL],” HECHT SAID. “I FEEL LIKE WITH A WORLD THAT’S SO BUSY AND THERE’S SO MANY SCREENS, IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SLOWS THINGS DOWN TO THE MOMENT.”

called it: “A delightful adventure about the power of uncommon traits and the joys of newfound friendship.”

“We were so happy,” Hecht said.

Since then, Hecht, who spends summers with her family in a cabin near Oquossoc, has penned three additional books in the Nocturnals middlegrade series and also launched a companion series for early readers.

The newest, “The Nocturnals Level 3: The Chestnut Challenge,” comes out April 23. Two others, “The Nocturnals Level 1: The Tasty Treat” and “The Nocturnals Level 3: The Kooky Kinkajou,” come out in the fall. Fabled Films Press also has another series coming out later this year that is reimaginings of classic literature for a middle grade audience. The first, “Pippa Park Raises Her Game,” is based on the story of “Great Expectations.”

The early readers were a natural fit with the character-driven style of the middle grade series, Hecht said. And since they tell different stories and have storylines that are “PG or even G,” the early readers can be read by kids learning to read who are also reading the middle grade books aloud with their parents.

“I really believe in character-based story telling so the books are really character driven,” Hecht said. “You don’t often see books in middle-grade go lower [as in have early-reader companion series] and I actually think that’s a mistake. You want to make reading not just about the rigor and practice; you want to make it about the joy of story.”

The early reader books focus on alliteration to help kids learn the sounds certain letters make.

For “The Chestnut Challenge,” that’s ch-ch-ch.

“It’s really fun to write,” Hecht said.

Hecht says Maine, where she wrote the first book in the middle-grade series, helped inspire her.

“Your environment really reflects how you write,” Hecht said. For her, that meant rising early at 5 a.m., when the world was waking up around her family’s cabin. She’d see the lake and the woods as the day began.

And sometimes, that would include foxes running by.

“That was a really wonderful place to be to start [writing about] night-time adventures with animals,” Hecht said.

“Now I write everywhere.”

She’s already looking forward to next summer, when her family will return to Maine for a few months. She’s particularly looking forward to her favorite meal: a lobster roll and root beer float from Pine Tree Frosty in Rangeley.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

WE WANT TO KNOW

THE ONLINE QUESTION

We want to know...

WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE MAINE AUTHOR?

THANK YOU

“

FOR SHARING! THANKS TO EVERYONE

Aislinn Sarnacki — I loved her 1-Minute Hike series for BDN and find myself often referencing her when researching different trails.”

—CHRISTINA BERUBE

“Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs.”

—SARAH SPANGLER PFEIFFER MCCARTHY

“Ohhhhh... so many!

Chris Van Dusen and Monica Wood.”

OUR ONLINE QUESTION! HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF YOUR ANSWERS...

“Maybe it’s the obvious choice, but I love Stephen King. ‘Hearts in Atlantis,’ ‘11/22/63,’ ‘Bag of Bones,’ they’re all so good. ‘Pet Sematary’ is the scariest thing I’ve ever read — I could only read it downstairs, during daylight hours. I don’t always love scary books, but they’re just so well written — you can’t help get sucked into the story.”

—AMY ALLEN, ART DIRECTOR

—CHRISTINE DIRMEIR

“Anita Shreve!”

“I adore Christina Baker Kline, who grew up right here in Bangor and is a lovely writer and person. Her book, ‘A Piece of the World,’ was a fascinating read seeped in history. When I recently was in New York, I got to see the painting that inspired it: Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth at the Museum of Modern Art. What a thrill!”

—SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

20 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

WHO PARTICIPATED IN

—KATHLEEN LEDGER CASSIDY

Osbourne / Katahdin Trust WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WE WANT TO KNOW!

FIND THE “WE WANT TO KNOW” POST ON OUR BANGOR METRO FACEBOOK PAGE OR FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT TO: BANGOR METRO ATTN: WE WANT TO KNOW PO BOX 1329 BANGOR, ME 04401

YOU JUST MIGHT BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF BANGOR METRO MAGAZINE!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MAINE STATE PARK? __________________ YOUR NAME & TOWN:

__________________ __________________

PHOTO: ©THOMAS BETHGE /ADOBE STOCK

EMAIL ADDRESS:

__________________ HAVE A GREAT PHOTO TO GO WITH YOUR COMMENT? WE’D LOVE TO SEE IT AND POSSIBLY SHARE IT IN OUR UPCOMING ISSUE WITH YOUR RESPONSE. EMAIL IT TO AALLEN@ BANGORDAILYNEWS.COM. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

ARTS & CULTURE

OBSESSIONS

OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

WEAR LISTEN

FITBIT CHARGE 3 WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Accountability is something that’s always been important to me when it comes to living a healthy life. The more accountable I am, the healthier I am. So when I first bought a FitBit One a little over five years ago, I found myself striving to walk more and aiming to hit that recommended 10,000 steps a day. It worked wonders. My health (and weight) improved substantially. Recently, I decided it was time for an upgrade. FitBit has a number of new devices with more features including the ability to wear it while you swim and to track different types of exercise beyond walking. I purchased a FitBit Charge 3 at BJ’s, where it comes with an extra band — and it’s wonderful. I love that it tracks my heart rate and can be used in more ways. But what I really love the most is that it keeps me accountable to myself. Hourly alerts remind me to get up and walk about, instead of staying chained to my desk all day. Weekly progress reports let me see how I am doing overall. Also, since this is a wrist version, I can check my progress throughout the day without falling into the labyrinth of phone apps I have. Plus, it’s comfortable.

THE BIG ONE: YOUR SURVIVAL GUIDE PODCAST FROM KPCC WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I like to get a good podcast playlist going before I start cleaning. It turns cleaning into an educational adventure, but it is not as distracting as, say, having the TV on in the background. My latest deep-clean podcast series was The Big One: Your Survival Guide from KPCC. It made me thankful to have moved from the tectonic West Coast back East (also, the storytelling is very compelling).

— SAM SCHIPANI

PHOTOS: ©OLEGBRESLAVTSEV, ©PRASONGTAKHAM, ©RAWPIXEL LTD., ©MOTIZOVA/ADOBE STOCK

— SARAH WALKER CARON

READ So many books cross my desk at Bangor Metro, and I purchase even more. Every month, I select a few that catch my attention.

“THE HUNT FOR THE MAD WOLF’S DAUGHTER,”

BY DIANE MAGRAS — It’s a Scottish medieval adventure.

In the follow up to “The Mad Wolf’s Daughter,” young Drest’s adventure continues as she attempts to save Lord Faintree from his traitorous uncle who is trying to have him killed. Meanwhile, she’s also working to prove she deserves to be part of the war band, not left behind. My kids and I loved reading the first book in this series by Maine author Diane Magras. But the second was even better than the first (we all agreed). So much action, smart thinking and interesting situations. (MIDDLE GRADE) “ALL THE WILD HUNGERS,” BY KAREN BABINE — Cancer is vicious. It worms its way into the flow of life and the tenor of relationships. And it’s scary. When Karen Babine’s mother is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, she begins treatment and Babine begins to cook. Through vivid descriptions of searing meat and simmering bone broth, Babine aims to use food to heal and to soothe, even when her mother’s treatments render her unable to taste anything. This is an intimate portrait of food, family and illness. Worth a read for any daughter who has felt helpless as her mom fought cancer. (MEMOIR ) “ROBIN EMERY: MAINE’S FIRST LADY OF ROAD RACING,” BY ED RICE — Bangor native Ed Rice met Robin Emery through the running circuit and befriended her. Now retired and living in New Brunswick, Canada, he shares a vivid and inspiring portrait of the woman who started running when it wasn’t something women did, and continues to 50 years later. A fun read, even for a non-runner like me. (BIOGRAPHY) — SARAH WALKER CARON

FOOD & DRINK

OBSESSIONS

OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

COOK

DINNER

BUTTER-FLAVORED OLIVE OIL FROM TAVOLO BANGOR WINE AND CHEESE

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Bangor’s blessed with several beautiful, higher-end restaurants perfect for a date night or special occasion. But my all-time favorite is Massimo’s Cucina Italiana on Hammond Street, and I’m going to be honest — there’s only one meal I’ve ever ordered. Some dishes are just so good you can’t bring yourself to try anything else on the menu. The Linguine con le Cozze is that meal for me.

My husband’s been more adventurous, so I’ve gotten to try bites off his plate and everything is delicious — there’s really no wrong way to go — but the mussels in a garlic and tomato sauce with linguine... oh man. The sauce is just a little spicy and the mussels are a treat I can’t resist.

The atmosphere in Massimo’s is upscale and sophisticated, but friendly enough that you can bring the kids for an extra special occasion. We did just that for my birthday last year and Chef Massimo Ranni came over to the table to convince my “plain noodles with butter” children to try something a little more fun. They did and they weren’t disappointed. And they couldn’t get enough of the homemade artisanal bread and the herbed olive oil. With my birthday coming up this month, I know what I’ll be asking for again this year.

—AMY ALLEN

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? One of my favorite workday breaks is walking up to the Bangor Wine and Cheese Shop on Hammond Street and sampling the various Tavolo olive oils and vinegars they have available. During one of my mid-afternoon taste-tests, my tastebuds and I stumbled up the “You’ll swear it is butter” flavor of olive oil.

Frankly, it rocked my world.

Imagine a fresh tub of movie theater popcorn, or a warm buttery dip for freshly-cracked lobster — but in the form of a light, sweet olive oil. I can’t wait to use it to scramble eggs, dip crusty bread or maybe even make my favorite orange olive oil cake. The possibilities are endless!

—SAM SCHIPANI

PHOTOS: ©SEA WAVE, ©ALESSIO ORRÙ, ©FAHRWASSER, ©IRYNA DENYSOVA/ADOBE STOCK

LINGUINE CON LE COZZE MASSIMO'S CUCINA ITALIANA IN BANGOR

LOCAL EATS

DESSERT CUPCAKES THE HARBOR HOUSE AT 27 WATER STREET, BLUE HILL WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Is there a happier food on earth than a cupcake?

Not as far as I’m concerned.

Consider, in a world where it is considered impolite, if not completely gluttonous, to scarf down an entire cake by yourself, a cupcake is a delightful, single serving cake. No sharing required or even expected.

I’ve rarely met a cupcake I have not enjoyed, but a recent discovery of the chocolate cupcakes at The Harbor House in Blue Hill has just raised the bar.

Moist, chocolatey cake covered in a swirl of rich chocolate buttercream all made by hand by Harbor House chefowner Kathy Eaton.

Correction, made with love by Kathy Eaton.

Eaton creates a variety of pastries daily at her waterfront restaurant and for some it may be hard to choose among the cannolis, croissants, turnovers, pies or cookies in the display case.

But for me, it’s a no brainer and next time I’m in Blue Hill my first stop will be for one of Eaton’s cupcakes. Or perhaps two. Because not only is it perfectly fine to enjoy an entire one by oneself, it is completely acceptable to have seconds.

Your ad could be on this page.

Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Food & Drink section.

Call 990-8000.

—JULIA BAYLY

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25

FOOD & DRINK

in season now

FIDDLEHEADS

AS THE END of April nears, so does Fiddlehead season. These wild-growing delicacies can be foraged — with permission of landowners, of course — from spots near brooks, rivers and lakes.

You are looking for ostrich fern fiddleheads, which are edible. The fiddleheads of other ferns may not be.

“The ostrich fern fiddleheads are edible and can be identified by the brown, papery scalelike covering on the uncoiled fern,” according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

“Fiddleheads are approximately 1 inch in diameter, have a smooth fern stem (not fuzzy), and also a deep U-shaped groove on the inside of the fern stem. Look for ostrich ferns emerging in clusters of about three to 12 fiddleheads per plant.”

Of course, if you aren’t one for foraging, you can also find these delicacies with an oh-so-short season at roadside vendors and occasionally in the grocery store as well. Personally, I am content buying them from folks who are better at plant identification than I am.

It’s essential that fiddleheads are cooked well before consuming them. Raw or undercooked fiddleheads can lead to a variety of foodborne illness symptoms. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension recommends only steaming or boiling as safe methods of cooking fiddleheads. If you plan to saute or use fiddleheads in salads, be sure to cook them first.

Once they are cooked and ready for use, they are quite the treat. They taste of spring and earth and delight. And although they aren’t something I grew up with, I am excited to have discovered the joys of fiddleheads as an adult.

There are so many things you can do with these baby ferns — pickle them, saute them, create salads with them. But one of my favorites is to swirl them into a creamy, garlicky risotto.

It’s a rich and flavorful dish, perfect for spring.

I hope you love it, too.

26 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

PHOTOS: (TOP) ©LA_VANDA/ADOBE STOCK; (BOTTOM) SARAH WALKER CARON; (RIGHT) JULIA BAYLY/BDN FILE

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

GARLICKY FIDDLEHEAD RISOTTO Serves 6

INGREDIENTS 2 cups fiddlehead greens, trimmed and washed 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon, divided 3 shallots, chopped 1 cup arborio rice ½ cup white wine 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth, warmed ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper, to taste 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced

INSTRUCTIONS Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the fiddleheads and boil for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a heavy stockpot, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped shallots and saute until softened and lightly golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the arborio rice and toast, stirring, for 1 minute.

Stir in the white wine and allow to cook until fully absorbed. Add the chicken stock or broth, one ladle at a time, stirring well and allowing it to completely absorb before adding more. Continue until all the stock or broth has been used.

Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese.

Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute — until softened. Add the drained fiddleheads and toss well to combine. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until warm and fragrant.

Stir the fiddleheads into the risotto. Adjust seasonings as desired. Enjoy.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro magazine. Her newest cookbook, “One-Pot Pastas” was released by Rockridge Press on Jan. 15. She’s also the author of “The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook” and the popular food blog, Sarah’s Cucina Bella (www.sarahscucinabella.com).

HIKE ME

BOTANICAL

Explorations TRAILS FEATURING A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANTS STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

SUN FILTERED through a vibrant green canopy. The leaves, newly unfurled, were the telltale shape of a red oak — long, with dramatic pointed lobes. Throughout the spring, the leaves would grow and their color would deepen to emerald. That autumn, they’d turn a russet orange, then fall to cloak the forest floor.

The oak tree was just one of many plants she spotted that day, walking along the woodland trail. Crisp white blossoms of bunchberry dotted the ground. The tiny red fruit of wild strawberries hid in the grass, and fern fiddleheads had begun to unfurl. In early spring, after the ground has thawed, a whole host of plants emerge in the woods of Maine, rapidly growing as they compete for sun.

Throughout the nature preserve, tiny identification tags were fastened to the branches of trees and bushes, while other plants were described in interpretive displays.

And for those mysterious plants that weren’t labeled, she carried a guidebook of local flora, which she leafed through each time an unknown species caught her eye.

The native plants of Maine vary dramatically, from poisonous to edible, fragrant to stinky, drab to colorful. And in one short botanical exploration, you might be surprised at all you can find.

In no hurry, she shuffled along the trail, embracing a world that had been dormant for so many frozen months. Spring had finally arrived, and with it so much life.

HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER

IN JEFFERSON MODERATE

Covering 1,000 acres in central Maine, Hidden Valley Nature Center features a 25-mile trail system that explores a variety of habitats, as well as a boardwalk that extends out into a peat bog. Along the trails, native plants such as witch-hazel shrub are labeled so visitors can learn their common and scientific names. The labels also include a few interesting facts about each plant species.

HVNC has a history of holding workshops on sustainable forestry. Its co-founders, Bambi Jones and David “Tracy” Moskovitz, were awarded the 2014 Outstanding Tree Farmers of Maine as well as the Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Northeast Region by the American Tree Farm System.

The boardwalk on the property is a place where you’ll find a number of plants you’ll only find in a peat bog, where only certain species can thrive in the acidic environment. Just a short walk from the parking lot on the Warbler Trail, the boardwalk leads to a platform with interpretive displays about the bog’s fascinating flora, including three carnivorous plants: roundleaf sundews, pitcher plants and horned bladderwort.

The center asks that visitors leave a $5 day-use donation at the kiosk near the parking area. Dogs are permitted off leash, if well behaved and if they respond well to voice command. For more information call the Midcoast Conservancy office at 207-389-5150 or visit midcoastconservancy.org.

DIRECTIONS: The address is 131 Egypt Road in Jefferson. To get there, start at the intersection of Route 194 (Jones Woods Road) and Route 215 (S Clary Road) in Newcastle; drive on Route 215 for 4.4 miles and turn left onto Egypt Road. Drive 0.5 miles and the gate parking area will be on your right, just before the gate, which bars visitors from the center’s service road. Hike up the service road and you will come to a kiosk on the right, which includes a donation box, trail maps and plenty of information about the center.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

BEECH HILL PRESERVE IN ROCKPORT EASY Conserved in 1986, Beech Hill is covered in blueberry fields that are filled with wildflowers, including daisies, beach rose, black-eyed susans and fireweed. The fields are also home to the native wood lily, which have large orange blossoms on tall green stalks. These tropical-looking flowers are scattered throughout the fields.

The hill is located on a 295-acre preserve that features two public trails: the 0.75-mile Summit Road Trail and the 1-mile Woods Loop Trail, which travels through a 2-acre sugar maple stand. Posted along these trails are interpretive displays that help visitors better understand their surroundings. These displays include information about plants, birds and historical features on the property, including Beech Nut, a historic stone hut located at the summit of Beech Hill. There on the building’s veranda, visitors enjoy views of Penobscot Bay, Camden Hills and Saint George Peninsula.

The property is free to visit during daylight hours. Dogs are permitted but must be on leash at all times. For more information, call Coastal Mountains Land Trust at 207-236-7091 or visit coastalmountains.org.

DIRECTIONS: There are two trailheads to the preserve. To reach the Summit Road Trailhead, drive to Rockport on Route 1 and turn onto Beech Hill Road, which is across from Hoboken Gardens. Drive about 1 mile and the parking area is on the left. To reach the Woods Loop Trailhead, drive to Rockport on Route 1 and turn onto Rockville Street. (If you are heading south, it will be the first right after Fresh Off the Farm.)

Drive about 0.7 miles on Rockville Street, and the parking area is on the right.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31

A narrow bog bridge gives walkers the option of avoiding the mud on Stonewall Trail in Shore Acres Preserve.

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

SHORE ACRES PRESERVE ON DEER ISLE EASY Shore Acres Preserve is one of several preserves on Deer Isle that can be explored with the help of a detailed, nature guide booklet created by Dr. Kenneth L. Crowell and Marnie Reed Crowell. This booklet is available for free online and includes 10 points of interest on the preserve’s 1.5-mile loop trail. At each of these points of interest, the authors have identified and described in detail several native plants, as well as fungi.

Color photos in the guide will help you locate these natural features yourself.

Some of the plants included in the guide include a woodland flower called sweet white violet, an evergreen herb with bright yellow roots called goldthread, and a particularly stinky plant called skunk cabbage. The guide also helps visitors identify a number of common native trees, including red maple, white pine and white birch.

The preserve is owned and maintained by the Island Heritage Trust and is open to the public for free. Dog

are permitted if on leash at all times. For information, call 207-348-2455 or visit www.islandheritagetrust.org.

DIRECTIONS: From Route 15 in Deer Isle, turn onto the Sunshine Road at Mill Pond Mobil. Drive 1.2 miles and bear left at the fork onto Greenlaw District Road. (Watch for traffic coming around the bend.) Drive about 0.9 miles to the parking area, which is on the right and marked with a sign.

AISLINN SARNACKI is a staff writer for Bangor Metro and the Outdoors and Homestead sections of the Bangor Daily News. An expert on the Maine outdoors, she is author of the just-released guidebook, “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path,” and also “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.”

Follow her adventures on her blog, actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

HEALTH & FITNESS

NATURE by

DESIGN BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN

BY POORNIMA APTE

SURE, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY state office in Brunswick might look like it’s right at home in Maine, but there’s a welldesigned reason for its seamless integration into the landscape. After all, the curvilinear walls are made from yellow birch sustainably harvested from the St. John River Valley, and the carpets are made from recycled fishing nets.

In other words, the Brunswick Nature Conservancy lives and breathes Maine.

Buildings that are consciously designed to be a product of their place are known as biophilic, a practice that is becoming increasingly common in architecture, especially of work and commercial spaces, according to Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of International Living Future Institute and author of the book, “Creating Biophilic Buildings.”

“The opportunity of biophilic design is to connect to the particular ecology of the place, to its culture, history and beauty and to create a building that will regenerate life,” Sturgeon said.

There are more than just touchy-feely reasons to focus on biophilic design. For one thing, science has proven that humans are much more productive after a mere hour in nature.

“I would argue that the monotonous cubicle

34 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

farms that we have become used to as offices are not exactly stimulating,” Sturgeon said.

And she has a point.

Biophilic buildings make such an impact on how workers feel that qualifying structures get stamped with a WELL standard, “a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Administered by the International WELL Building Institute, the standard necessitates certain greenery and structural standards focused on boosting employee wellbeing and mood.

The Nature Conservancy outfit in Brunswick meets these stringent qualifications and from all indications, and so will many workplaces in the near future. But right now, it’s only one of two projects that meet the WELL standard in Maine. The second is listed as private.

Reconnecting building occupants with nature through a variety of pathways including plants, sounds, texture, is a primary goal of biophilic design — and that is good news for all of us.

PHOTO: ©KREATIVFLUX/ADOBE STOCK

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35

HOW-TO

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

HOMEMADE

DOG BONES DON'T TELL YOUR DOG, BUT THEY'RE HEALTHY TOO STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY ALLEN

OUR OLD DOG PETEY is a pure-bred food hound. His palate isn’t always the most discerning, but he knew something delicious was in the works the second my daughter opened the peanut butter jar and starting cooking. He was more than willing to supervise, try to help, and sample the goods.

Packed full of veggies and topped with a coconut oil and peanut butter drizzle (coconut oil is supposed to be good for dog’s skin and coat), these dog treats are simple to make and easy to make adjustments to depending on your own dog’s preferences, nutritional needs and any sensitivities or allergies.

Petey will eat just about anything, but he doesn’t like bananas — which is too bad because I think these treats would work well with bananas instead of zucchini. As with any dog treat, check with your vet if you have concerns about how your dog will react to any of the ingredients.

These are a great project for kids home during April vacation — and fun to share with your furry friends.

36 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 1 /2 cup pumpkin purée • 1 / 3 cup peanut butter • 1 large egg • 1 /4 cup old fashioned oats • 2 cups flour (whole wheat is the healthier option, but regular white flour works too) • 1 carrot, shredded • 1 /2 zucchini, shredded • 1 /2 cup spinach, chopped • Glaze: 1 Tbsp coconut oil & 2 Tbsp peanut butter

DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Mix the pumpkin, egg and peanut butter together. Add the oats and flour on a low speed until combined. The dough will be a little dry and shaggy.

3. Grate your carrot and zucchini; chop the spinach. Mix into the dough.

4. Flour your surface and knead about half the dough with a little more flour until it’s not too sticky. Flatten it out with your hands and cut out your shapes.

Any cookie cutter will do — just keep in mind what size treat you’d like to create for your dog. Place the shapes on the cookie sheet. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.

5. Bake for 25 minutes total, flipping the treats over about halfway through.

6. While the treats are cooling, place 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a microwavesafe bowl. Microwave for 20-30 seconds, just enough to melt the oil. Whisk together and drizzle over the cooled treats. Pop them in the fridge for a few minutes to harden and share with your pup!

with KIDS

HOW-TO

CREATE IT AT HOME

BEING MORE GREEN IN THE

KITCHEN HOW TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE IN THE KITCHEN

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

WHEN I PAUSE to think where the trash from our garbage bins goes, it’s a little overwhelming. It doesn’t just magically disappear. Instead, it’s dumped in landfills or burned. And as recycling becomes less the norm (see Crystal Sands’ story on page 52), even the feel good notion of recycling more than we trash is evaporating.

But there is hope. And hope lies in being more sustainable in the kitchen.

Food waste adds up. Between the coffee grounds, vegetable peels, and stems alone, it’s a lot filling up trash bags. But why send that nutrient-rich refuse to the dump? Many items considered food waste can actually be used and reused.

Meanwhile, single use items like resealable sandwich bags, plastic wrap and disposable plates also can add up. So what’s a responsible Earth dweller to do?

It’s simple: waste less.

38 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

SHOP IN BULK AND STORE IN GLASS AND REPURPOSED JARS

SWAP OUTS:

TRADE PLASTIC WRAP FOR BEESWAX WRAP — Reusable beeswax wrap makes wrapping up leftovers and storing food a cinch. And when you’re done with it, you just wash it and reuse it. This is available in stores throughout Maine including locally at The Willie Wags in Downtown Bangor and the Natural Living Center in Bangor.

TRADE PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR GLASS ONES

TRADE RESEALABLE SANDWICH BAGS FOR REUSABLE ONES — Sure, the plastic bags are convenient. But they are also very wasteful. Instead, purchase a few reusable ones.

They can be washed out easily and reused daily without waste. Check local stores and craft fairs for these or check out the selection on Etsy. com. I purchased lined ones with a Velcro closure that we love.

TRADE PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR GLASS ONES — If you have a set of reusable plastic containers you love, keep using them.

But as they break, consider replacing them with glass ones. A variety of options in many sizes are available from companies like OXO and Pyrex and can be used to store leftovers, pack lunches and more. I was gifted a set of Pyrex ones several years ago and they’ve become my goto for all things food storage. Not only do they wash well and resist discoloration (a pet peeve of mine!) but they are also super durable.

TRADE SINGLE-USE BAGS FOR REUSABLE BAGS — As more and more towns in Maine move to discourage or ban the use of single-use plastic bags, take the hint: Reusable ones are better.

Purchase some (I prefer canvas, but ones made from recycled materials can be great too!) and store them in your car so you don’t forget them.

Also, fold one up and tuck it into your work bag and/or purse so one is always at the ready. And your reusable bags don’t have to be limited to shopping bags. Reusable produce bags are sturdier than the flimsy single-use bags and are readily available. Better yet, make your own reusable bags and produce bags from clean old clothes.

MAKE SMARTER CHOICES:

BUY LESS — Don’t roll your eyes. This is serious. When you buy less, you waste less. Better yet, plan your meals for the week (yes, all of them) so you can purchase just what you need for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Then stick to the plan!

PHOTOS: ©MIREK PESEK, ©DIDECS, ©PETRRGOSKOV, ©AGAVE STUDIO/ADOBE STOCK

SHOP IN BULK — Not only is it more wallet-friendly (seriously, bulk bins are big money savers for staples like rice, flour and beans), but it means you only have to buy what you need when you need it.

Bulk bins, which you can find at stores like Tiller & Rye in Brewer, the Belfast Co-Op and the Natural Living Center, are excellent for eating sustainably and lowering your waste. Only need a cup of rice this week? Just buy a cup of rice from the bulk bin! Need just a little bit of nuts or seeds for a recipe? Buy exactly what you need.

DON’T TOSS THESE:

LEMON AND LIME RINDS — When you juice lemons and limes (oranges and grapefruits too!), don’t toss the rinds. Instead, store them in a freezer-safe container (in the freezer) and pull them out to zest. Citrus zests add a nice burst of flavor to foods, and frozen rinds are super easy to work with. Hint: A little balled up towel inside the rind makes it’s easy to hold while zesting.

VEGETABLE SCRAPS — When you peel onions, carrots and other veggies, stick the discarded peels in a freezer-safe container.

Also toss in the scraps from chopping veggies. As long as they are well-washed (hint: no dirt), they are perfect to hold onto. Once you have several cups of scraps, toss them in a pot of water, bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour. Voila! Vegetable stock.

GLASS JARS — If you happen to buy marinara sauce (in particular the ones that come in nice, thick jars) then you want to hang onto those jars. They have so many uses from storing leftovers to packing layered salads to crafting. Those jars can hold your random collection of nails or screws. They can store ribbon for wrapping. They can even hold your homemade pet treats.

THINK BEFORE YOU BUY — There was a time when I would walk into stores with their inexpensive, flashy $1 or $2 products.

And I would be enthralled. Itty bitty milk jugs for drinking out of?

Why not! Diminutive chalkboards? Sure! But there’s a reason those items cost so little: they are cheaply made and constructed. In other words, they are just waiting to be trashed. So I don’t let myself be lured in by them anymore. If something just has that cute factor, consider not buying. You don’t need it. Maybe if enough of us reject cheap cute stuff, fewer stores will keep pushing it on us.

BUY USED — I am buying less new. Used furniture has always held a certain allure for me (love the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for this!) and you can sometimes score great items in the kitchenware section of Goodwill. If you need something, consider thrifting for it. It might take a little more looking to find the pan, pot or plate set (or collection — I love a random collection of plates!) that fits your needs, but it’s worth it for the environment, your wallet and our Earth.

MIX & MATCH USED DISHES FOR A FUN COLLECTION

FEATURE

Natural TECH THESE APPS WILL BENEFIT YOUR 21ST CENTURY GARDEN

BY NATALIE FEULNER

40 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING the way we do nearly everything these days, including the activities we traditionally think of as decidedly non-techy, such as gardening. After all, isn’t the whole point of growing food to tap back into our roots as homesteaders living off the land?

Not so fast.

Tech has its place in the gardening and homestead world. In fact, the right online tools can help home gardeners maximize space, track a garden’s progress or order supplies.

Garden planning and planting apps are a great way to stay organized and help ensure a garden’s success. But it can take a while to filter through the dozens of phone and computer apps available for home gardeners. So this spring, Bangor Metro has done some of the research for you.

If you want help tracking progress: THE GARDENING COMPANION — This app helps everyday backyard growers track a garden’s progress and offers everything from articles to YouTube how-tos ranging in topic from companion planting to tips on how to know it’s time to harvest. Users can track their garden’s progress in a gardening journal and upload pictures to compare growth year over year. Available for iPhone, Android and iPad. COST: FREE

PHOTOS: ©LERKRAT, ©TOODLINGSTUDIO, ©MARIA SBYTOVA/ADOBESTOCK

SMARTSTEADER — Looking to take your garden or home beyond simply supplementing your weekly grocery run this summer? SmartSteader is marketed toward the homesteader who wants to digitally record annual harvest, calculate price per pound, store receipts and compare homestead experiments year over year to find out which methods are most productive. Available for iPhone and Android. COST: FREE FOR 30 DAYS THEN $2.99 PER MONTH OR $29.99 FOR A YEAR

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41

FEATURE

If you need help planning: GARDEN PLAN PRO — This simple to use tool helps the everyday gardener with layout design, plant arrangement and allows the user to track a garden’s progress. Whether you have acres of traditional rows, use the square foot gardening method or are growing in raised beds on the balcony of an urban apartment, Garden Plan Pro allows users to work with nearly every shape and size of garden. Available for iPad and iPhone. COST: $9.99 GARDEN SQUARED — Designed for those growers who are already familiar in a garden but are looking for an easy-to-use planning method, this app helps users plan gardens ranging in size from one square foot up to 4 feet by 8 feet. Once seeds are in the dirt, consider using the journal feature which allows users to record notes about progress.

Available for Android. COST: FREE

PHOTO: ©ALISONHANCOCK/ ADOBE STOCK

PLANT ALARM — Having trouble remembering to water? Don’t worry, it happens to the best gardener among us. Plant Alarm is an app that allows users to set a variety of gardening alarms whether it’s a reminder to water or pull in plants that need to stay out of the elements during that unexpected summer thunderstorm. Available for Android. COST: FREE

FEATURE

If you need help deciding what to grow: FROM SEED TO SPOON — After a few years chronicling their attempts to grow food for their family of six, Oklahoma-based homesteaders and bloggers Dale and Carrie Spoonemore created an app for first-time backyard farmers. From Seed to Spoon includes growing guides for more than 70 vegetables, herbs and fruits. Each category can be filtered based on location and health benefit and the app has an overview of companion planting strategies and natural methods for eliminating pests without detracting beneficial insects.

Available for iPad and iPhone. COST: FREE

GROWVEG — This app carries a hefty price tag, but you can try it out for free for seven days. And if you’re serious about your garden this year, it may be worth the cost. GrowVeg helps the everyday gardener determine the best times to plant based on information from more than 5,000 weather stations across the U.S. and Canada. Information related to most common plants is pre-loaded into the tool making it easy to find companion plants, time plantings throughout the season for weekly harvests and if needed, plot and plan drip irrigation lines. Available for PC and Mac, iPhone and iPad. COST: $29

PHOTO: ©CHARTPHOTO/ADOBE STOCK

GARDROID — This app provides lists of fruits and vegetables users can search, finding out about how deep and far apart to plant seeds as well as information for each on the required pH level of soil and optimal sunlight. There’s also a handy hardiness indicator for commonly planted crops so if your green thumb is still a work in progress, you can focus on plants more likely to succeed. Once seeds are in the ground, users can add planting dates to the app’s database which will then create a progress bar that updates with how many days are left until harvest. Available for Android. COST: FREE

GARDEN MINDER — This app from the Gardener’s Supply Company helps users every step of the way with weekly alerts and how-to tips. Where this app differs from others — it is specifically geared toward raised bed gardens. Users can submit images and take notes on progress and it even has an “Ask a Gardener” option with helpful tips and answers to commonly asked questions from a gardening expert. Available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. COST: $9.99

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Plant This,

NOT THAT HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT THROUGH GARDENING

BY LORRAINE BERRY

Here is a test of your lateral thinking skills: WHAT CONNECTS THE FOLLOWING?

CAT SPRUCE

PAGODA DOGWOOD BLUE BEADLILY

DOWNY SHADBUSH

WHITE TURTLE HEAD

BONESET

ANSWER? EACH OF THESE TREES AND PERENNIALS CAN HELP YOU TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IN YOUR GARDEN. WHY? BECAUSE EACH OF THEM, AND MORE THAN 1,500 OTHER PLANT SPECIES, ARE NATIVE TO MAINE AND ITS 100-PLUS TYPES OF HABITAT.

A UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FACTSHEET quotes this definition of carbon footprint: “The total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product.” It’s important that each of us reduce that footprint as much as we can in order to work collectively to reduce the rate of climate change. Choosing to grow native species rather than non-native reduces your carbon footprint.

Some of the advantages of growing native species is that they naturally require less TLC in the forms of synthetic chemical fertilizers, extra water, and chemical insecticides in order to thrive in Maine. Growing a garden that is good for the environment does not mean that you have to give up showy blossoms, flowering trees or effective ground cover.

Native perennials such as White turtlehead produce complex white flowers in the midsummer months. The Northern bayberry tree can help where poor-quality soil makes it difficult to grow other plants. And the Gray dogwood produces clusters of small white flowers that become white berries — which birds love — in the fall.

NORTHERN BAYBERRY TREE

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PUSSY WILLOW 48 / BANGOR METRO April 2019

“Pussy willow (Salix discolor), Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Jackin-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) are few interesting native plants that I would recommend,” Matthew Wallhead, an ornamental horticulture specialist and assistant professor at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, said. And these are just six of the many species that are listed in Cooperative Extension Publication No. 2500, which also includes information on each plant’s preferences for sun, shade, water and soil type.

PHOTOS: ©MELODY MELLINGER, ©CORA MÜLLER, ©SUNDAY_MORNING, ©BERT FOLSOM/ADOBE STOCK

JACKIN-THEPULPIT

COLUMBINE

IMPROVE SOIL Wallhead agrees that planting native plants can make a difference, and he offers more tips. “The No. 1 thing that a Maine resident can do in their garden to reduce their carbon footprint is to increase the organic matter content of their soils and to compost or incorporate plant debris in place,” Wallhead said. “Organic matter in the soil is captured carbon, so by increasing the organic matter content of a soil a resident is storing carbon in the soil, thereby reducing or offsetting carbon emissions.

“I would encourage Maine residents to consider how to enhance or facilitate the eco-services that gardens, lawn and landscapes can provide. Such as providing food, habitat and materials for nesting for wildlife and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, insects, spiders and earthworms,” Wallhead said.

It’s not just that non-native species in your garden require extra care, which uses up resources. Because they have been removed from their own native habitats, they do not have natural predators that keep them in check. Thus, certain of these species — purple loosestrife or Japanese barberry, for example — have been termed “invasive” because of their propensity to crowd out and kill Maine native plants.

A single-purple loosestrife, even if it is contained in a garden, can produce 3 million seeds in a single season, which may be spread by wind, rain, or carried in the digestive tracts of birds and small animals. Increased competition from invasive species present survival challenges to plants already feeling distress.

Meanwhile, native spring wildflowers are struggling with the effects of climate change. A recent study conducted

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

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COFFEE GROUNDS

TREE LEAVES

EGG SHELLS

GRASS CLIPPINGS

NATURAL SOURCES OF NITROGEN THAT MAKE EXCELLENT MULCH

MANURE

PHOTO: ©LORA HILTON PHOTOS/ADOBE STOCK

by a University of Maine conservation biologist, Caitlin McDonough MacKenzie, and a Boston University colleague show that wildflowers are not getting enough time to photosynthesize the nutrients they need in order to flourish. “Wildflowers are now leafing out about one week earlier than 160 years ago, but the trees are leafing out two weeks earlier,” MacKenzie indicated in a news release. “Understory wildflowers need the sunny conditions before the trees leaf out for their energy budgets, but we didn’t know how a shadier spring would affect those plants on the ground.”

CUT BACK ON SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER Using fewer amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is also a significant step that gardeners can take to help reduce a carbon footprint. The problems with these products begin with its manufacture.

Producing synthetic fertilizers requires vast amounts of energy. It takes more energy to transport those fertilizers to your local gardening center. And plants may not use all of the nitrogen the

fertilizers contain, which releases the excess nitrogen into the air.

“A single atom of reactive nitrogen can contribute to air pollution, climate change, ecosystem degradation and several human health concerns,” Alan Townsend, an ecology and evolutionary biology professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, told other chemists in a presentation to the American Chemical Society. That damage to the ecosystem includes water pollution and a reduction in biological diversity.

Gardeners may consider using any number of natural fertilizers. The Farmer’s Almanac lists several natural sources of nitrogen and those that make excellent mulch. Among these are grass clippings, kitchen scraps, manure (variety of sources), tree leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells and banana peels. It also suggests making a “weed tea.” The recipe is to fill a 5-gallon bucket one-quarter full of pulled weeds. Fill the rest of the bucket with water. Allow to sit for one-to-two weeks, or until the water is as brown as tea. Pour this onto your garden.

As the days lengthen and thoughts turn once again to flowers and leafy trees, Maine gardeners can each do their part to reduce the impact of global climate change by substituting some of Maine’s loveliest native plants for those hard-to-grow non-natives.

Armed with a long list of choices, the trip to the garden center can be one of exploration and delight at what will thrive with little attention from you. And when blooms burst forth over the summer and into fall, you can enjoy it knowing your carbon footprint is taking up less space in our crowded ecosystem.

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN’T

RECYCLE? LESSONS IN REDUCING AND REUSING

PHOTO: DIDECS/ADOBE STOCK

BY CRYSTAL SANDS

DEDHAM’S CURBSIDE RECYCLING program ended last year because of rising costs, but Kristin Beauchamp calls it a “blessing in disguise.” Beauchamp, the owner and operator of Lone Spruce Farm in Dedham and the leader of 4-H Club “Spruced Up Homesteaders,” saw a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing turn of events.

“Our consumerism became highlighted. … Just the physical act of throwing a glass jar in the wastebasket felt so counterintuitive, painful even, that it became apparent our real problem was not the disposal of but rather the consumption of single-use packaging,” Beauchamp said.

Even though Beauchamp’s family and business were already highly efficient, she realized the need to address recycling after the loss of the recycling program in Dedham. “As a business, we began seeking more bulk options, trading labeled bags for stamped paper bags, and sourcing every supply we need as locally as possible. We use linen bags when purchasing produce and reject products packed in plastic as much as possible,” Beauchamp said.

The Beauchamps are among the growing number of Maine residents who live in smaller communities, such as Eddington, Holden and Dedham, where recycling programs have changed or ended in the past year. Rising costs of recycling coupled with a reduced market for the recycled materials has resulted in towns making tough decisions about their recycling programs.

China, formerly the biggest purchaser of America’s scraps, raised its standards on importing recycling material and banned many recycled materials it has previously purchased from the U.S. When China purchased recycled materials, recycling programs could make money to offset costs, but when

FEATURE

China quit buying in 2018, recycling programs lost revenues from sales to China, making the programs too costly to keep up for many small communities.

Still, China’s shift is not the only cause for the loss of many smaller recycling programs. Many Americans do not clean their recycled materials and even sometimes include materials that are not recyclable in their recycle bins. Things like greasy pizza boxes in the recycling bins means that someone needs to sort through recyclables, adding costs to recycling programs.

JJ Starwalker is the vice president of the Penobscot County Chapter of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the owner and artist behind Dutch Hex Sign, a local folk art company.

In the 1960s, she was a part of the initial push toward recycling in the U.S. She has been excited to see the way recycling has taken hold and become such an important part of our culture. However, she said she has had concerns about the nature of recycling in the U.S. “Recycling success in the large economy has always been dependent on marketability of the individual materials, which has always had peaks and valleys. It saddens me greatly, now, that the single-stream recycling [a system where all recycling materials are collected together instead of separately] has been so badly compromised by contaminants and materials that were never meant to be recycled, that the entire system is at risk,” Starwalker said.

“Though the recycling message has come through the years loud and clear, the idea of actually reducing the amount of waste we generate — whether we can recycle it or not — appears to have mostly fallen on deaf ears,” Starwalker said.

Indeed, there is more we can do to make a difference. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Making a new product requires a lot of materials and energy.” Therefore, the best way to conserve natural resources and protect the environment is to reduce and reuse what you buy.

Reducing and reusing can also save you money, so taking proactive steps toward reducing and reusing helps both the planet and your pocketbook.

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REDUCE

Those who are hoping to reduce their impact on the planet can find ways to simply reduce the amount of packaging materials they acquire. Consider the following strategies:

PHOTO: ©JOS_PERSONA/ADOBE STOCK

• PURCHASE IN BULK OR LARGE-SIZED ITEMS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Shopping this way means you get more of the product with overall less packaging. Of course, you want to be careful to make sure you can use the food items you buy in large quantities before they spoil. At the Natural Living Center in Bangor, for example, you can purchase a wide variety of items including beans, flour, and dried berries from the bulk bins in the quantities you need.

• LOOK FOR ITEMS WITHOUT ANY PACKAGING. For example, fresh fruits and vegetables are usually not in packages. Also, if you bring a reusable bag, which you can make yourself or purchase from the maker community Etsy.com, to the grocery store for produce items, you won’t need even the thin plastic bags for produce that grocery stores offer.

• USE CLOTH NAPKINS AND DISH TOWELS. While paper napkins and paper towels have become the norm, using cloth means there’s no paper to be tossed.

• SEND FORMAL REQUESTS TO KEEP JUNK MAIL AND CATALOGS FROM BEING SENT TO YOUR HOME. Some nonprofit organizations run websites to help you in this endeavor. Sites such as catalogchoice.org offer options for stopping catalogs from being delivered to your home.

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REUSE

Reusing items can help save money and our planet. Buying less and looking for ways to take advantage of resources already available to you can make a big difference. Consider the following ideas when looking for ways to reuse more of what you have: • REPAIR YOUR ITEMS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW ONES. For example, you can patch a hole in your winter coat or darn your socks. If you do not know how to darn socks, there are helpful YouTube videos that provide instructions.

• INVEST IN REUSABLE BAGS FOR YOUR SHOPPING. And, if you forget your bags, carry your items out without bags. Doing so will help you remember next time, and you won’t bring unnecessary shopping bags into your home.

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• BUY REUSABLE ITEMS INSTEAD OF DISPOSABLE ITEMS. For example, you can avoid plastic silverware by just using your normal silverware in your lunch pack. You can also buy items such as metal straws and canvas snack bags for lunches or snacks.

These items may cost more up front but will save money and the environment in the long run.

• LOOK FOR WAYS TO REPURPOSE ITEMS YOU ALREADY HAVE. Glass jars are wonderful items to reuse for both storage and crafts. For example, glass jars can be used to store everything from leftovers and spices to buttons. They can also be used in a wide variety of crafting activities for children and adults. Glass jars make great candle holders and vases and can be decorated by children and used for things like piggy banks and note holders.

PHOTO: ©SEWCREAM/ADOBE STOCK

Ultimately, losing access to recycling provides us with an important opportunity to reflect on the ways we shop and what we bring into our home. And, while recycling is an important part of caring for our planet and its resources, reducing and reusing what we buy has an even bigger impact on the planet.

“In reality, the loss of our recycling program was a blessing,” Beauchamp said.

“We’ve lost an already-broken system — one that was already up against a wall. We’ve gained insight into our true need to replace the emphasis on recycling with the very real need to reduce, before anything else.”

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Earth-Friendly

DESIGN

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR HOUSE SUSTAINABLY

PHOTOS: ÅNJA KAISER, ©DERINPHOTOGRAPHY, ©KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU, ©PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU/ADOBE STOCK

BY NATALIE FEULNER

STEP ASIDE, SUBWAY TILES and exposed lighting.

According to the home decorating site Decoraid, the coming year will see design trends moving away from the recently popular tech-themed decor to a more natural look featuring materials such as stone or copper. The effect? An organic and serene ambiance that reflects the world outside the home, the site says.

In Maine, that’s never been truer. With an increased focus on materials sourced from within the state, or at least within the country, many Maine-based designers are finding that customers increasingly are looking to create a more sustainable, earth-friendly home.

“Not unlike many other design fields, interior design is intertwined with changing styles and trends,” Michele Zajkowski of Portland-based Ocean View

Designs said. “One of the fastest-growing segments of interior design and interior architecture is in the incorporation of ‘green’ design.”

And even more are searching for ways to bring the outside in.

“Our beautiful landscape provides an incredible backdrop for interior design in Maine,” Zajkowski said. “So many people move to Maine for the quality of life that we experience. We are lucky to have small-city living with incredible restaurants and live close to both the mountains and the ocean.”

But where to start? Bangor Metro recently spoke with two interior designers in Maine to get their take on how Mainers can find their home’s personal style and create a more sustainable livable space.

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DISCOVERING YOUR STYLE For Rachel Ambrose, owner at Home Remedies in Portland, personal style is not something that can be found through a Buzzfeed quiz or flipping through a digital magazine.

“I don’t think you can find your style online,” she said. “I think you have to touch and feel and smell furniture. It’s not something you do on a screen, and it takes talking with people who know what they’re doing.”

Ambrose said many of her clients go 20 or 30 years between decorating or re-furnishing a home and may not be as in touch as she and other interior designers are with changing designs and trends.

“We’re in the business. We do this every day,” she said.

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WORKING SUSTAINABILITY INTO DESIGN Designing sustainable spaces doesn’t have to be complicated, Zajkowski said. Think first about creating a durable and timeless space. Stay with traditional shapes, and stay away from super trendy permanent materials and finishes, such as wood paneling or chevronpatterned tiles, which can be expensive and wasteful to replace.

“Choose quality over quantity, investing in the best sofa you can — one you’ll want to reupholster in later years, not throw in a landfill,” Zajkowski said. “And incorporate heirloom family pieces as you’re able. You can always paint them, restain or reupholster.

For those drafty older homes, or even newer ones, Ambrose encourages clients to consider dressing their windows to keep heat out in the summer and heat in during the winter.

“Windows are wonderful for light, but you need to be able to control that light,” she said. “Shades can be made of all different kinds of materials, some of which are recycled or layered creating a superinsulating feature that look gorgeous.”

EMBRACE THE OLD (BUT INCLUDE THE NEW) As for working in the heirloom pieces your grandmother passed down, consider giving old furniture a new, more earth-friendly life.

“We can slipcover things, or we have organic fabrics,” Ambrose said. Not to mention, designers are experienced in using repurposed materials such as reclaimed beams or other wood pieces to create unique finishes to ceilings or furniture.

Zajkowski said those classic pieces can help tell a home or family’s story, creating a unique blend of old and new. She fondly recalls pieces such as the upcycled antique candlestick she was able to turn into a lamp or the old lamp she repainted and added custom silk lampshades to.

“I like a house to be collected or tell your story. Perhaps it’s something handed down or a piece you’ve found at an antique flea market — there are always different ways to use things,” she said.

But a word to the wise from Ambrose: Make sure whatever you’re repurposing is not only fashionable but functional.

“It needs to be comfortable, because just changing a cover isn’t going to make something comfortable,” she said. “And if it’s not comfortable, what’s the point? Then, it needs to have a place in your home and fit in with the rest. Yes, [interior] design is a lot about fashion, but you’ve still got to like it.”

And most importantly, Zajkowki said, take your time.

“Budgets change, and sometimes one room at a time is best,” she said. “As designers we realized people grow and change, styles change, interest change and art may be collected. Our job is to help clients and push them out of their comfort zones to help avoid costly mistakes.”

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Shop Local AND OFTEN

Second-hand stores are often moving merchandise on and off the shelves quickly so be sure to check back often. Here are a few places throughout Maine that offer sustainable or repurposed products: • BANGOR ANTIQUE MARKETPLACE AND CAFE: A two-floor antique store filled with unusual collectibles and furniture including wardrobes, dressers, kitchen items and pottery.

PHOTOS: AISLINN SARNACKI | BDN FILE

• 304 STILLWATER AVENUE FURNITURE, BANGOR: Custom furniture store specializing in Maine-made solid wood items.

• TREASURES AND TRASH BARN, SEARSPORT: An eclectic collection of everything from antique tools to bathtubs and ironwork.

• ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES, HARBORSIDE: Maine’s oldest Victorian-era architectural dealer specializing in lighting, doors, windows, hardware and fireplace items.

• MAINE WOODWORKS, SACO: A social enterprise of the nonprofit Creative Works, Maine Woodworks employs an integrated workforce, made up of people both with and without disabilities.

• PORTLAND ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE, PORTLAND: A large-scale salvage, antiques and art store has four floors of merchandise, from plumbing to hardware to flooring and windows.

GET OUT

BLUE HILL

GET OUT:

Blue Hill BLUE HILL PACKS A LOT INTO A SMALL DOWNTOWN STORY & PHOTOS BY JULIA BAYLY

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I’M A FAN OF DOWNTOWNS. It matters not if they are large metropolitan areas with hundreds of shopping and eating options or small, one-street communities with a single diner and general store. There is just something about that downtown vibe that I don’t get in shopping outlets or malls.

My most recent downtown find is perched on the edge of the Blue Hill Peninsula and is about a 1½-hour drive southeast from Bangor.

Frankly, that drive alone is worth the trip.

The roads wind toward the coast through Bangor, Brewer, Ellsworth and other smaller towns until I arrived in Blue Hill.

The physical landscape is a mix of blueberry barrens, stony ridges, tree-lined valleys, rivers, lakes and finally sweeping views of Blue Hill Harbor and the Gulf of Maine beyond.

Architecturally it’s a collection of farm houses, small cabins, larger new homes, 100-year-old snug cottages and imposing sea captain’s homes.

It all speaks to the atmosphere of the area that is equal parts agriculture, tourism and working waterfront.

The Blue Hill downtown area has enough of the above to make that drive for a day trip or long weekend totally worth it.

So, let’s break it down.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE For a community with 2,666 permanent residents according to the 2010 census, it’s not an overstatement to say Blue Hill has something for everyone regardless of what time of year you visit.

Early spring is certainly a more relaxed time of year, without the hustle and bustle of the summer tourism season. But on a recent February visit, I still found plenty to do and see to keep me busy over a two-night stay.

GETTING THE LAY OF THE LAND My visit to Blue Hill began at The Blue Hill Inn, where my tiny dog and traveling companion Chiclet and I checked in to the pet-friendly Cape House Suite. Innkeeper Duncan Hamilton was not around when we arrived but had left clearly written instructions for me on where I was staying and where to park.

Once inside, Chiclet and I found more instructions that covered everything from how to operate the propane heater to accessing the internet.

There was a fully stocked refrigerator with yogurt, juice, milk, locally baked bread and local eggs for me in the kitchen, and on a table in the sitting area was a silver bowl full of dog biscuits and chewies for Chiclet.

40 Union St. It felt like we were getting the VIP treatment, but it’s bluehillinn.com what every guest can expect.

for more info

THE BLUE HILL INN

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TKTKT

At the Blue Hill Inn it was a warm welcome for both myself and my tiny travel companion Chiclet who had her own water bowl, treats and bed waiting for her upon our arrival.

It's hard to get more local than fresh Maine mussels.

At Thurston & Co. the mussels are served with garlic toast points and toasted kale.

There is a lot of wine selection and wine knowledge at The Blue Hill Wine Shop.

There was even a fireplace with a freshly laid logs just ready for the match and a comfy dog bed ready for a tiny dog.

It was welcoming, cozy and a perfect base for our Blue Hill explorations.

We had arrived relatively late in the day and the light was fading, but there was still enough daylight for a walk down the town’s main street that runs paralleling the water of the bay from the intersection with Union Street up to the cemetery on Route 15.

Along the way Chiclet and I passed art galleries, cafes, churches, a hardware store, an auto repair shop, real estate brokers, boating supply businesses, banks, a wine store, a book shop and finally the Blue Hill Co-op.

In other words, everything a resident of visitor could possible need within a 1-mile stroll.

IN SEARCH OF SUSTENANCE After our stroll, I tucked Chiclet back in our cottage on her bed, and I headed out to find some supper.

I ended up at Thurston Co. Restaurant & Bar, where even on a Monday evening in the winter they recommend making a reservation, which I had done on their userfriendly website.

Inside there was the option of sitting at the cozy wooden bar backed with a variety of Maine-made beer and spirits or at a table in the dining room.

Within minutes of opting for a small table a slice of fresh, multigrain bread baked on the premises appeared in front of me.

Thurston & Co’s menu is heavily skewed to local ingredients, and it was a tough choice among entrees that include the Gulf of Maine shrimp and grits, the fish and chips or griddled meatloaf.

In the end, I decided to combine two appetizer items to make make my dinner.

Let me just say this about that — the bowl of hot, housemade roasted pepper and tomato soup and the overflowing plate of Blue Hill Bay mussels served with toasted kale and more of that toasted bread was simply perfect on a blustery coastal evening.

I also had a gin and tonic, featuring Maine-made Hardshore Gin. For dessert, which I took to go given how filling the soup and mussels were, I ordered a chevrie cheesecake with toasted pistachios with a lemon and grapefruit curd.

It made a fantastic late-night snack.

WALKING TOUR It was obvious from our walk the previous day that to fully explore the downtown of Blue Hill, all I needed were my two feet and Chiclet’s four paws. So on our first morning we headed out to find that all-important cup of coffee.

We ended up at Bucklyn Coffee, a tiny coffee and pastry cafe that is one of those great morning gathering spots.

While waiting to place my order I chatted with a couple who owned a local gallery; a dad and his toddlerage son on his lap, who created enough crumbs on the floor below as he ate a scone to keep my tiny dog

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very busy; a local retired woman; and a young man in for a quick cup of coffee to go as he headed out for a day at his construction job.

As for the coffee? It was hot, strong and robust.

So much so that I bought of pound of beans to bring home.

From Bucklyn’s I went back to the inn to enjoy my coffee before heading back out to retrace my steps from the previous evening. Later, I ended up at the Blue Hill Wine Shop, which has everything a person could want for a summer al fresco picnic to a winter fireside nosh.

After some deliberation and expert help from the staff, I left with a bottle of Chianti tucked under my arm. Had I been in the market, I also could have purchased cheese, dried sausage, pastry or bread to accompany it.

From there it was an easy stroll up the road to the Blue Hill Co-Op Community Market & Cafe, where shelves are filled with local and imported foods, beverages, wine, beer, candy, beauty products, produce and books.

Out in back is the cafe, which is open for breakfast and lunch only but also has a refrigerated case full of fresh salads, sandwiches and other to-go items if you get there after they close.

MEETING E.B. WHITE Walking back to town with two organic chocolate bars added to my day’s purchases, I took a side trip to Blue Hill Books off Main Street at 26 Pleasant St. It is everything a good, independent bookstore should be — not too big, well stocked without being overwhelming and the kind of place you can spend hours browsing the shelves. There are how-do books on gardening and farming, books by Maine authors, popular fiction, historical tomes and everything in between.

I could not leave without a copy of a collection of E.B White’s essays. I mean, the man lived and wrote just a few miles down the road on a saltwater farm in Brooklin for nearly 40 years after he purchased the property in 1936. How could I resist?

Because I was there in winter, many of the shops and galleries lining the streets were closed for the season, but that did not stop me from doing some serious window shopping at locally produced art, crafts and other creations along the way.

THE WELCOME WINDOW Chiclet and I ended our first full day in Blue Hill down on the waterfront on the small bay just in time to catch the sunset as it turned the clouds from fluffy and white to jagged, with hues of oranges and reds.

From where we stood, it looked like half the bay was encased in ice with open water maybe a quarter-mile or so offshore.

Quiet, cold and windy this evening, it was not hard to imagine a summer scene of pleasure crafts and fishing vessels bobbing in the waters or tied to the docks off-loading lobsters, haddock and tourists. Nearby, a pile of lobster

The Welcome Window provides stunning views of the harbor.

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TKTKT traps half-obscured under a recent snowfall were silent testimony to the working nature of this waterfront.

Off to the side and next to the water is a large granite sculpture with two semi-circles in its core. “The Window of the Sea” was created by Japanese artist Hitoshi Tanaka in 2011.

Known as “Blue Hill’s welcome window,” looking through the center of the creation offers a view of sky and water from the Blue Hill side, or a view of the town and hills when approached from the sea.

As the light faded, Chiclet and I trudged through the foot or so of snow surrounding the statue to gaze out at the bay. It was definitely a view that made the snow in my boots worth it.

Afternoon teas at The Harbor House in Blue Hill are among the options for a relaxing afternoon.

PHOTO BY KATHY EATON

where to

Stay

THE BLUE HILL INN is open year-round but only serves its signature breakfasts and brunch during the summer months. It has 11 rooms in the main building, in addition to the two cottage suites.

The area is dotted with RENTAL COTTAGES that open in the summer. To narrow down your selection, head to Maine Vacation Rentals or Peninsula Property Rentals.

MAINE VACATION RENTALS mainevacationrentalsonline.com PENINSULA PROPERTY RENTALS www.peninsulapropertyrentals.com

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LOCAL FARE AND CONVERSATION Back at the inn it was closing in on supper time. I opted for a fresh pizza made at Merrill & Hinckley, one of those great grocery stores that is also a cafe, liquor store, hunting supply store and souvenir shop.

Simply put, if you can’t find it at Merrill & Hinkley’s the first time you look, just dig a little bit deeper — or ask one of the friendly folks working there.

I was in the mood for that pizza, but there was also homemade chili, chicken stew, sandwiches and burgers available. As I waited for my pizza — topped with bacon, tomatoes and spinach — I chatted with the young man preparing the corn on the cob for the next day’s corn chowder.

Oh, and that pizza? Perfect ratio of dough to toppings.

Fresh, tasty and the perfect end to my day.

TEA TIME The next day I decided to try out The Harbor House, where everyone seems to know your name within minutes of walking in. Owner and chef Kathy Eaton has run the place for the past five years and will tell you she has the best view in town. Looking out the large windows at the bay beyond, it’s hard to argue.

It’s a friendly place with winter seating for about 20 around the half-dozen tables. In the summer months, seating extends out to the deck and courtyard outside.

Eaton’s breakfast and lunch menus feature traditional fare like pancakes, omelettes, sandwiches and soups.

Then there are her own homemade pastries, like cupcakes, cannoli, crescents and cheesecake. Or something I vow to try when I return — a blackened haddock Reuben with sauerkraut.

Eaton herself is gregarious and takes time to chat with everyone who comes in.

“It’s just like home,” she said handing me an empty coffee cup and pointing me toward the coffee carafes.

“You help yourself.”

When she realized she did not have any blueberries on hand for her special blueberry pancakes I ordered, she offered to run to the store and buy some. Instead, I opted for apple pancakes with no regrets.

In the summer months Eaton offers scheduled or byreservation afternoon high tea in her tea room.

Outfitted with antique tea settings, lace tablecloths and tea time beverages and finger foods of her own creation, the teas have proved to be very popular. Last summer her children’s tea with a “Charlotte’s Web” theme sold out within minutes.

She plans to bring back her teas this summer and add a tapas bar to the restaurant.

Eaton can tell you on any given day what is open, what’s happening and suggest things to do. And if she can’t, one of the locals enjoying a coffee or muffin will chime in with suggestions of their own.

Winter along the coast of Maine is a wonderful time. It’s serene and holds a stark beauty with the rocky coast buried under snow. The boats, tourist shops, farms and outdoor venues seem to be sleeping, just waiting for the warmth that brings the influx of people and activity.

Come summer, Blue Hill offers numerous concerts, community theater, fairs and farmers markets.

I, for one, can’t wait to go back and take it all in.

Don’t THURSTON CO. RESTAURANT & BAR 66 Main St. thethurstonco.com BUCKLYN COFFEE 24 Parker Point Road bucklyncoffee.com BLUE HILL WINE SHOP 138 Main St. bluehillwineshop.com BLUE HILL BOOKS 26 Pleasant St bluehillbooks.com

MiSS BLUE HILL CO-OP COMMUNITY MARKET & CAFE 4 Ellsworth Road bluehill.coop MERRILL & HINCKLEY 11 Union St. merrillhinkley.com THE HARBOR HOUSE 27 Water St.

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WOODS & WATERS

Beyond ACADIA Petit Manan Island in the Maine Coastal Islands NWR. (Left) North Trail in the Edmunds Division of Moosehorn NWR.

EXPLORE MAINE’S NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES

JUST OVER 1 PERCENT of Maine land is owned by the federal government. New state motto: “Maine! At least we’re not Iowa.”

Only 0.3 percent of Iowa is federal land, which ties that state with Connecticut and New York as having the lowest percentage of federal land. By contrast, more than 80 percent of Nevada is owned by the federal government, which also controls about 65 percent of Utah STORY & PHOTOS BY BOB DUCHESNE and 60 percent of Idaho. In fact, 47 percent of all land in the West is held by the Feds.

Why? The East settled first.

Most land remained under the control of the individual colonies when they formed the United States. By contrast, much of the western land was bought by the federal government from the Spanish and Russians or was simply seized from the native tribes. As the nation spread westward, deeds and rights to homestead were granted liberally — that is, until settlement crossed the Mississippi. Much of the West was simply too arid or rugged to farm and often too difficult MAINE RANKS NEAR to ranch. Thus, there was less public pressure to privatize ownership, especially since Article Four of the Constitution gave Congress full THE BOTTOM FOR FEDERAL control over federal lands.

Thus, Maine ranks near the bottom for federal land ownership.

LAND OWNERSHIP. YET Yet our few federal acres are pretty attractive. Acadia National Park OUR FEW FEDERAL ACRES makes up about 20 percent of the total. The new Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument grabs about a third of the pie. The ARE PRETTY ATTRACTIVE. White Mountain National Forest in western Maine contains roughly as much federal land as Acadia.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK All the rest is contained in National Wildlife Refuges. Some of these refuges are not well-known. Many are a bit out of the way.

MAKES UP ABOUT 20 Aroostook NWR’s 4,700 acres were carved out from the former PERCENT OF THE TOTAL. Loring Air Force base. Moosehorn NWR contains two parcels, Baring

and Edmunds, quietly tucked away Down East. Much of the Maine Coastal Islands NWR is, in fact, islands.

You can’t get there from here.

Rachel Carson NWR protects a lot of scattered marshes and wetlands in York County. Often, you don’t even know you’re in that refuge unless you see a sign.

National Parks are for people. National Wildlife Refuges are for wildlife. The former are usually well-developed, with good trails and scenic vistas. The latter are often sparsely developed, with the emphasis placed on giving their natural inhabitants breathing room. For instance, Moosehorn NWR is one of the nation’s oldest, founded in 1937. Much of the refuge has been improved for waterfowl, but its true reason for existence is the enigmatic American woodcock. As numbers of this popular game bird decreased in the 1930s, Moosehorn was created to study management of the species.

To supervise all of its resources, Moosehorn contains a network of roads and wetlands. It’s easily walked, and rarely

crowded. The North Trail in the Edmunds Division is a personal favorite. The Barn Meadow Trail and Vose Pond Road in the Baring Division are equally fun. Both divisions contain thousands of acres of designated wilderness — about a third of all refuge property — that are managed with the lightest touch possible. There are foot trails, but no mechanical transportation is allowed — not even bicycles.

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR lies just northeast of Bangor. Its 11,435 acres are penetrated by only a handful of trails, and odds are that you won’t run into anybody while exploring them. The Carter Meadow trail is short and scenic.

It’s impossible to walk through a saltmarsh, unless there’s a boardwalk to help. The Rachel Carson NWR offers just such an experience with a mile-long loop trail at its headquarters in Wells, enhanced by interpretive signs.

Many of Maine’s offshore nesting islands are sanctuaries under federal ownership.

About a quarter of the acreage in the Maine Coastal Islands NWR protects 49 islands along most of Maine’s seaboard. Three of those islands contain puffin colonies, and two of those are visited routinely by tour boats.

At least four boats visit Petit Manan Island, east of Schoodic Point. Two vessels visit the puffins on Seal Island south of Stonington.

The mainland parcels of the Maine Coastal Islands NWR are underused and underappreciated. The Hollingsworth Trail in the Petit Manan parcel in Steuben rivals many of the trails in Acadia for scenic beauty, yet it’s rare to find more than three cars parked at the trailhead. There are refuge trails in Gouldsboro and Corea that few native Mainers even know about.

So, as 3 million visitors crowd into Acadia this summer, it’s enticing to go where no one else is going.

BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.

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THE VIEW FROM HERE

I DON’T WANT TO

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Grow up

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BY EMILY MORRISON

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commandments and die before I could repent. As long as I kept singing in the choir and banished all thoughts of Dean Cain in tights out of my head, I’d be OK. Looking back, I was a bit neurotic. I clung to my faith and my ideal version of myself because I didn’t want to disappoint anybody — not my parents, not God, not anybody. I had to get good grades, impress my teachers, and do something wonderfully noble with my life, like run a homeless shelter, or else accept failure for the rest of my natural born days.

Not doing the wrong stuff while finding the right stuff turned out to be a tall order for a 12-year-old, so I wrote God a letter asking him what he wanted me to do. As you might imagine, he never answered me (not in letter form, anyway) but there’s a remarkable clarity that comes with a few decades of waiting.

I understand now that one’s purpose, much like life, depends on growth. Fearing change or failure is normal, but fearing growth is counterproductive. If you’re not growing, you’re not living.

And I like my life. I really, really do.

I like teaching kids and seeing their faces light up when I say something funny. I like seeing my husband love our children and watching these three beautiful people grow. I like sharing all these insights with you, dear reader, because sharing my life with you is part of my purpose, too.

Sure, wrinkles aren’t fun and plucking out gray hair is no picnic, but aging doesn’t bother me like I thought it would. Life’s too short to be ungrateful for the chance to keep living it.

PHOTO: ©SOUPSTOCK/ADOBESTOCK

I RECENTLY HIT 40, or 40 hit me, and it’s got me thinking: What’s age but a number anyway?

Most days I still feel like I’m 13, dreaming of what life will be like with longer hair and straighter teeth. Remember that catchy little jingle, “I don’t wanna grow up. I’m a Toys ’R’ Us kid”?

When I was a kid, I sang that tune a lot — first, because it’s hard not to sing it, and second, because maturing was right up there with swimming in shark-infested waters.

At night, I’d journal in my cat diary about how scary adulthood seemed. Would I be the same? Would I still be “me” if I had a husband, six kids, and a house in the middle of a prairie? Where was the prairie anyhow?

The kid in me knew there was magic in childhood. There was something mystical about not knowing how the world worked. I lived in a lovely bubble that occasionally offered pictures, through the nightly news and the magic of Hollywood, of what life was like outside Dexter, Maine.

Those glimpses scared the bejeezus out of me.

I couldn’t watch “Unsolved Mysteries” before going to bed because Robert Stack’s cold, dead stare and spooky voice stayed with me long after I shut off the lights. All those missing people, those murderers on the loose, every creak in the stairwell or branch hitting the window was a predator coming to get me.

I feared adulthood for spiritual reasons, too. My church taught me hell was real, and I was headed there in a handbasket if I wasn’t good. Being “good” meant no lusting, no committing adultery and no lying. The pit was waiting to open wide under my feet if I should break these or seven other

EMILY MORRISON is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and editor from coastal Maine. She is living happily-ever-after with her handsome husband, three beautiful children and two beloved dogs. And a cat.