Roughly half the homes that Maine solar installers visit aren’t well situated for installing electric or hot water panels. But that means half will work, either with a rooftop array or one mounted on a pole on the property. How’s your home? What direction does your roof face? True south is best, of course. That’s…
Simple strategies for extending your growing season by Lisa Wolff It’s a Saturday afternoon in July and Eliot Coleman is sitting atop his picnic table under a grape arbor on the terrace of his Harborside, Maine farm. He is sipping port wine, wearing felted slipper boots adorned with bright orange carrots, made for him by his neighbor. The…
Renovating a basement space is a great way to increase the living area of your home. However, transforming a Maine basement into a living area should only be considered after all moisture and soil gas concerns have been addressed. Use this checklist as a guide. If in doubt, hire a qualified professional, or contact the…
By Tim King Forget death, taxes and porta potties, last winter the great equalizer throughout the state of Maine seemed to be the ice dam. From Fort Kent to the Foresides, from Calais to Casco and Cape Elizabeth, it seemed that no matter where you lived, how big or how expensive your home was, everyone fell…
By Heather Foran, Jonah Fertig, Julie McLeod, Lisa Fernandes & Rachel Lyn Rumson Building community stability requires that we re-skill ourselves and share knowledge that may be lost or hidden in our modern society. The following books are some of the titles that we have been reading at the Resilience Hub in the last year,…
1. PICK A SPOT You want your garden to get lots of sun (6 hours is ideal) in an area that drains well (doesn’t hold water in a puddle after the rain). 2. PREPARE THE GARDEN SITE There are a few different techniques you can choose from to prep your site. Sheet mulched beds (sometimes…
By Gen Jean, Mom to James and Lily Making your own microwave popcorn is easy, less expensive, more nutritious and you can even re-use or recycle the bags it’s made in. Plus, with numerous topping combinations, the potential to satisfy your inner gourmet is endless. Cost savings: Natural and organic microwave popcorn runs about $1…
“You’ll definitely be able to wear it again,” are the famous last words of brides everywhere. If you have an old bridesmaid dress in your closet (or any type of dress you no longer wear), it’s time to free up space. Make room for the clothes you really will wear again and see that bridesmaid…
By Andrew Lindberg, Fermentation enthusiast Quick pickles are a fun and easy way to brighten up your favorite sandwiches, salads, sides, or main dishes. Quick pickles only take 10 minutes to make, and can be enjoyed for several days, with an ever evolving flavor. Try adding sweet cucumbers and pickled carrots to a cold-cut sandwich…
Composting is a natural process that transforms discarded kitchen and yard waste into a nutrient rich soil additive for your garden. It’s easy to get started and you’ll be amazed at how much less waste you produce when you compost your kitchen and yard waste. What’s needed for a healthy compost pile? A healthy compost…