By Jessica Skwire Routhier CERAMICS BELONGS TO the “arts of the fire,” so called because, along with glass and metalsmithing, it requires heat and flame to turn raw materials into lasting and functional works of art. Transformation is key to understanding the ceramic arts—both in terms of how time-honored techniques can transform humble clay and…
From berry picking to cheese tasting, and kayaking to cafes, you’ll find no shortage of things to do on Maine farms. By Jen Hazard AS WE BECOME more connected to our food and where it’s from, the interest in local farms has skyrocketed. Fortunately for those visiting Maine, there are more farms to visit than…
Here’s a way to enjoy a scenic bike ride, without the bike: the newly re-opened RailCyclers provides foot-pedaled, open-air “railcycle” tours along the historic Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad. Riding railcycles is a low-impact, quiet, non-polluting activity, and a great way to get in shape. They are basically a tandem single speed pedal bike built…
What makes a high-performing house? By Chris Briley & Heather Chandler THERE ARE A LOT of loosely defined terms used to describe how “green” a house is. Luckily, some professionals in our industry have worked very hard to find ways to quantify this almost intangible quality, and in so doing, have generated new nomenclature that can…
AN IMPROPERLY BUILT foundation can be a primary culprit of both indoor air quality and energy problems in homes. Whether your new home is built on a slab, a crawlspace or a full basement, your foundation has some very important work to do, including: prevent moisture and soil gases (such as radon) from entering the…
How to Design and Build a Pretty Good (or Better) House by Michael Maines THE BUILDING STANDARD that’s not a standard and started as a joke takes off… again. Once a month a small group gets together in Portland, Maine to discuss hot topics in building science—the field that covers everything from indoor air quality…
By Lynn Ascrizzi IT’S GREAT THAT we’re building and upgrading our homes to reduce energy costs and the needless waste of precious resources. But in our eagerness to use the latest green technology for our indoor living spaces, it’s easy to overlook the need to create sustainability in the environment right outside our windows. That…
WE REACHED OUT TO A few local organic lawn care experts to find answers to some of lawn owners’ most common questions and concerns – from how to safely deal with pests to how to fertilize properly. We discovered that whether you hire an experienced organic landscaper or you do it yourself, maintaining a beautiful…
By Tim King SINCE HENRY FORD started his first assembly line, people have understood that the most efficient way of consistently constructing a high-quality product was to do so in an environment that was designed specifically for accomplishing those tasks. Not only is this method of manufacturing efficient – producing the highest number of widgets…
Did you know organic waste comprises about 40 percent of what goes into the average Maine trash can, and about half of that is food waste? That’s nearly a quarter of your trash that could instead be converted into nutrient-dense compost or farm fertilizer. The state has set a goal to recycle half of the…