Midcoast Maine Farmer's Markets..... make for great shopping and yummy meals!

The Midcoast of Maine has lots to offer YOU each week FRESH from our local farmers markets.....

2014 Midcoast Farmers' Market Schedule

Belfast Farmers' Market
https://www.facebook.com/BelfastFarmersMarket
on Fridays from 9am-1pm May 9th-Oct.31st.
At Waterfall Arts



Lincolnville Farmer's Market at Lincolnville Beach
Fridays from 12 noon to 3 p.m. inside Dot's on Rt. 1

Islesboro Farmer's Market
Fridays at the Islesboro Community Center and Maddy Dodge Field

Camden Farmers' Market
https://www.facebook.com/BelfastFarmersMarket
Saturdays from 9am-12noon May 10th-November & Wednesdays from 3:30-6pm June-September
Behind the Knox Mill in the upper parking lot.

Union Farmers' Market
Fridays from 3-6pm May 23rd-Oct. 10th
On the common.

Rockland Farmers' Market
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockland-Farmers-Market/128740545566
Thursdays 9am-12:30pm May 15th-Oct.30th
Harbor Park

Thomaston Farmers' Market
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomaston-Farmers-Market/287872128006852
Saturday 9-1 behind the Thomaston Academy

Rockport Marketplace and State of Maine Cheese Farmers' Market
https://www.facebook.com/pages/State-of-Maine-Cheese-CoRockport-Marketplace/188660902992
Year round, held outside (weather permitting) or inside at
State of Maine Cheese Co./Rockport Marketplace

Thanks to ME Water Buffalo Co. https://www.facebook.com/pages/ME-Water-Buffalo-Co/196132817095180 and Get Real Get Maine for this great compilation of local market info.
You can find ALL farmers marketings in Maine by going here: http://www.getrealmaine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/farmersMarkets.directory/index.htm

Top Ten Reasons to find - NOCASOBE

Top Ten Reasons to find – NOCASOBE           

1. Lincolnville Beach – enjoy our free public beach on Penobscot Bay. When the tide is out you can experience an extensive walk along the shore-line. Or, soak up the sun on the sandy beach and watch the Islesboro Ferry and lobster boats at the harbor.

2. The Bald Rock Trail – the trail head is at Steven’s Corner (Rt. 173 at Youngtown Rd.) and Bald Rock on Derry Mtn. are both in Lincolnville, part of Camden Hills State Park – according to Destinations Magazine (American Express), ”One of the top ten most beautiful walks in the world!”

3. Outdoor Adventures – kayaking, standup paddle boarding (SUP), golf, hunting, fishing or lobstering, canoeing, rafting, sailing, biking, horse riding, dog-sledding, snowmobiling, and more! Lincolnville ranked in the “Top 20 American Towns” by Outdoors Magazine!

4. Arts & Artisans – in addition to the annual tour of artisan studios, stops at local galleries and studios engages you directly with fine artisans and amazing craftsmanship. Along Rt. 1 you’ll find Maine Artisan’s Coop, Beyond the Sea, and Saturday Cove each providing a wide-range of locally made items. Local artisans Jan Bearse Gallery, Rogers Gallery, Murphy Gallery, Windsor Chairmakers, Sleepy Hallow Rag Rugs, van der Ven Studios, Indian Baskets, Northport Gallery, and Swan Island Blankets are not to be missed!

5. Gourmet Foods, Beer, and Wine – whether you are looking to enjoy coastal seafood fare at great restaurants, excellent baked goods and gourmet deli, locally roasted coffee, hands-on cooking classes, wine tasting and pairings or seasonal ingredients, Andrew’s locally crafted beers, go no further! Sharpen your culinary skills at Salt Water Farm Cooking School, Bay Leaf Bistro’s Seafood Classes, and Cellardoor Winery’s gourmet dinners and winemaker’s events in the vineyard! Experience amazing “farm to table” options at our local farmers markets. Don’t miss the Bean Suppers!

6. Let the Spirits Move You – join retreats and workshops to engage your mind and body. Try massage/reflexology from local providers. Experience a zip-line at Point Lookout Resort or communicate with the hereafter (at Temple Heights Spiritual Camp – mediums, séances, table tipping). Commune with nature or worship at one of our local community churches.

7. See the Stars – bring your telescope or visit our local observatory to see the stars across our clear northern sky or view the “northern lights.” Come be “star-struck” when you encounter a famous resident with a mansion along mid-coast area.

8. Amazing Educational Experiences –NOCASOBE is the place to stay if you plan to attend: Maine Media Work-shops (Rockport), Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (Rockport), The Apprenticeshop (Rockland), Hot Glass at Playing With Fire (Rockland), and don’t forget those cooking classes (see #5).

9. Antiques, Shops, and Roadside Bargains – As you drive Rt. 1, Rt. 173, and Rt. 52 you’ll discover specialty shops with curios, antiques as well as weekend garage and yard sales. Or visit for the Camden Antique Show or at the Union Fairgrounds.

10. History Galore – Discover local Museums, Historic Lighthouses, Native American culture, and Settler’s cemeteries. Lincolnville Historical Society, The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, and the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland all have excellent collections.

 

Finding NOCASOBE

 

Finding NOCASOBE…

“the laugh of the loon is a sign of coming happiness” (Penobscot Indian Lore)

In early times the Penobscot Indians plied the rock-lined waters of what is now called “mid-coast” Maine. They hunted wild turkey, grouse, and loon. They fished the Duck Trap River for salmon which they dried or smoked in preparation for winter. Clams, crabs, and lobsters were abundant rewards from the sea. Basket-making was common to the area tribes as was canoe-building. Settlers from across the Atlantic made trade with the locals, formed towns and villages along the coast to benefit from the fishing, hunting, and forestry. Logging, furniture-making, and paper crafts emerged, yielding to bookstores and related arts.

Tall ships with wide sails and heavy masts brought explorers, merchants, travelers, and ultimately growth. Inns and pubs sprung up to serve the needs of guests and visitors. And, as the “iron horse” made train travel expedient, people from throughout the Americas made their way to see the rocky coastline and islands of Penobscot Bay. As they drank and dined by candlelight, stories of the loon and the power of its feathers were told.

Soon word spread of NOCASOBE. The folk lore was accurate and the mystery location was found. No longer did the Penobscot have the secret of the loon’s feather as their own nor the location of Duck Trap River as only local lore. NOCASOBE could be found. NOCASOBE could be experienced!

Today we know the loons of our sandy half-moon beach on Penobscot Bay. And, we know the loons of our Duck Trap River as it flows to the Bay. They draw us closer to NOCASOBE – they call us as we play along the shores. We discover through NOCASOBE  the joys of the beach, the views from Bald Rock Trail, the lapping water as we kayak or canoe, the lures as they skip along the river for salmon, the changing leaves and fall colors, the simple pleasures of the Penobscot mid-coast.

Still visitors come to seek NOCASOBE – to really experience the lore of the loon’s feather. Our relaxing inns and cottages, delicious restaurants and pubs, creative shops and artisans, innovative winery and brewery support your days of activities – hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, birding, stand-up paddle-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, painting, photography, woodworking, cooking,  and exploring lighthouses. Visit and discover the legend, live the lifestyle…. NOCASOBE (North of Camden, South of Belfast)!

Summer 2014 Events at Bay Leaf Cottages & Bistro

2014 Calendar of Events

Location: 2372 Atlantic Hwy, Lincolnville, ME 04849
Contact: 207-505-0458 for reservations or information

Cooking Classes
Seafood Basics
We’ll be using the preparation and cooking of various seafood appetizers as a means to learning how to work with seafood and adding seafood to your normal meals and special occasions. In this hands-on class we will discuss and explore the following:

a.      Selection of local seafood – Maine scallops, clams, mussels, fish, crab, shrimp, and lobster

b.      Cleaning of seafood and preparing for cooking via pan-fry, baking, broiling, skewers/grilling, steaming, boiling, broiling

c.       Sauces for seafood appetizers – glazes and dipping sauces

d.     Appetizers as starters or as entrees/side dishes – skewers, wraps, cups, salads, dips, and more!

Day/Dates: Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. on 6/12, 7/17, 8/14
(by reservation at least one week in advance – 207-706-7929)

Cost: $30 per person (please feel free to bring your own beverage to accompany the various appetizers)

Instructor: Dr. Jane Liedtke has learned to cook throughout the globe having lived in Europe and Asia in addition to the east-coast, mid-west, and west-coast of the USA. While her Ph.D. is in Industrial Management, her heart is in good cooking and she admits she’s a “foodie”. While living in Maine and Oregon, she helped her learn how to cook seafood, living in China for 10 years taught her more about using spices and sauces. A self-proclaimed “cooking class junkie”, Jane has sought to perfect her culinary skills taking classes at: Salt Water Farm, The Garlic Press, The Eight Mice, Elliot Bay Book Company, and the OSF Center for Healthy Lifestyles. Jane’s “savory crab wontons” won the 2013 Blue Crab Bay Company recipe contest.

Saturday Night Maine Lobster Dinners!

Back by popular demand are our home-style lobster dinners – includes a 1.25 lb Maine lobster cooked to perfection, homemade steak fries or baked potato, Jane’s country-style coleslaw, and iced tea. Try an ice-cream sandwich made from fresh chocolate chunk cookies and vanilla or coffee ice cream.

Dinners begin in mid-June and run thru early August.
Reservations are required! Call 207-505-0458 to book your table by noon on FRIDAY!
Credit card required to make a non-refundable reservation (once we buy the fresh lobsters for your meal it’s on your card!)

Cost: $15.00 per dinner plus 15% gratuity and 8% tax. Dessert is $3.00 each.

 

Lincolnville Neighborhood Pot-luck/Bean Supper
now on Mondays!

Join us for this monthly community picnic from May thru September. Welcome Lincolnville Center and Beach residents, friends and family, as well as visitors from away staying at B&Bs and motels/cottages. Just bring a covered dish, salad or dessert and we’ll provide the meat, beans, mac n cheese, beverages and table service (plates, napkins, plastic silverware). 6-8 p.m. FREE!

2014 Dates: May 26th, June 23rd, July 28th, August 25th, September 29th

 

Island Hopping in Mid-coast Maine

 

Island Hopping!

 

It is soooooo much fun to hop a ferry and imagine what life would be like living on an Island.... whether you take your car along, plan to bike the island, or are an avid hiker, you will find Maine's islands to be full of fun and adventure. Some are well populated while others are not. Some have year-round communities while others swell with visitors "from away" during the summer months. If exploration is your goal then traditional Maine harbors, island lore, and small shops await you .... or a cup of coffee with someone obscure or someone famous... hop onto one of the Maine State Ferries and head to an island.

 

Along the mid-coast of Maine there are thousands of islands - off the coast and within the bays. Penobscott Bay is where most of the "midcoast Maine" islands are found. Some are quite large while others only big enough for a tiny shack. There are mansions worth tens of millions of dollars to homes for sale at a mere $50,000! What one soon discovers is the economic diversity of island dwellers. The salty fisherman trapping and selling lobsters, hermits escaping the world, wealthy businesspersons, and Hollywood celebrities inhabit Maine's islands. Homes like that of John Travolta/Kelly Preston can be seen online at Architectural Digest magazine. Or homes for sale like that of Kirstie Alley can be viewed on www.realator.com.

 

The best reason to hop to an island is the ride itself - passing sailboats, fishermen, buoys and lighthouses, a 15 min to 1.5 hour ferry ride makes it all possible for a reasonable cost.

 

If you elect to "Island Hop" be sure to check the Maine State Ferry schedule in advance. During busy summer season, tickets may be harder to come by especially during popular times of the day. Reservations can be made for those desiring to take a car to/from an island at busy times. If you don't need to have your car along, just park it at the ferry terminal and hop on the ferry (ticket in hand). Bring a bike, bring your dog, bring your sense of adventure, but most of all bring your camera!

 

Each island has it's own character and features. Most have lighthouses. Many have shops and restaurants. Some have trails. Some have villages close-by where the ferry docks though some do not (making hiking, biking, or bringing the car more important).

 

Where to catch a ferry to island hop?

 

Midcoast Maine:
Port Clyde - Penobscot Bay and Altantic Ocean - ferry or mail boat to Monhegan Island (see Monhegan Boat Lines). Monhegan Boat Lines also has nice day trips and 2-hour trips to island-watch for amazing nature (birds, puffins, seals, dolphins). Overnight lodging is available but reservations are essential (with some places booking up years in advance!).

 

Rockland - Penobscot Bay - two options - ferry to Vinalhaven and ferry to North Haven. For day-trippers who wish to walk (versus hike), go to Vinalhaven. Vinalhaven has small shops, restaurants, and galleries in town close to the ferry dock. For the more "outdoorsy" folks - try North Haven. Overnight lodging available on each island but reservations are essential.

Lincolnville - Penobscot Bay - ferry to Islesboro. Take a bike, a car, or plan to hike (there are no sidewalks or trails so you are "on the road" throughout the island). Overnight lodging is unavailable so plan ahead.

Stonington - Penobscot Bay - mail boat to Isle au Haut (half of which is in Acadia National Park). Plan to walk/hike or take a bike along. Much of the island is unpaved roads and trails. There are a couple of shops. Overnight lodging is typically unavailable - plan ahead!

 

Southern Maine:
Portland - Casco Bay - Block Island, Bailey Island, and others - some reached by Maine State Ferry services and others by Casco Bay Lines and the local "mail boat" - another great option! Each island has different options so it's best to check for lodging/restaurants/shops/galleries in advance.

 

Remember that medical services, food, fuel, and other resources are limited on the islands. Plan ahead and plan for changing weather. Do your homework, get the ferry/boat schedule, make reservations, and have tons of fun!!

 

 

 

Cycling Around Mid-Coast Maine

Whether you like to join an organized bike ride like Pedal to the Port (shown above) or Lobster Ride and Roll, mid-coast Maine is a good destination for road bikers and trail bikers. If you don't wish to bring your bike along and decide to cycle once you get here, there are bike rentals available in Belfast, Camden and Rockland. Rent by the hour or by the day (or longer) with touring and trekking bikes available.

 

Mid-coast places (or nearby destinations/daytrips) to cycle or trek:

Camden Hills State Park (trails)

Acadia National Park (carriage roads or Cadillac Mtn. or Schoodic Peninsula)

Islesboro Island

Vinalhaven Island

St. Georges Peninsula

Blue Hill Peninsula

Camden-Rockport Harbors

Rockland working waterfront

Belfast downtown and ecovillage

Winery to Winery (there are 5 in the area)

Thomaston to Friendship (and back)

Country Roads - Lincolnville to Liberty, Lincolnville to Belfast, Lincolnville to Hope (or Appleton or Union)

Lighthouse to Lighthouse (Rockland Breakwater-Owl's Head-Marshall Point)

 

 

 

 

Chinese Homestyle Cooking Class

Imagine if you could cook excellent Chinese food at home - food that tastes just like it would in the home of a Chinese family. You can learn to do this at Bay Leaf Bistro this summer with their hands-on cooking classes that feature regional cuisines - cold dishes, hot dishes, spicy dishes, soups, dumplings and more! See www.bayleafcottages.com/bistro for more info. Call 207-706-7929 to register.
Sunday Evenings 5-7 p.m.
Adults: $12 pp
Children Ages 9-16: $6 pp
Dates: June 3^rd, July 22^nd, August 12^th

Cold Dishes:

Pickled Cabbage (Pol Cai)
Garlic Cucumbers (Pai Huang Gua)
Sichuan Sesame & Chili Noodles
Sliced Tomatoes with Sugar
Chicken Breast with Soy & Garlic Sauce
BBQ Pork Tenderloin (Char Sui Rou)

Hot Dishes:

Tomatoes and Eggs with Oyster Sauce
Tofu with Ground Beef and Chili (Ma Po Dou Fu)
Green Beans with Ground Pork, Onions (Gan Bian Si Qi Dou)
Roasted Chicken Wings (with soy, garlic, brown sugar marinade)
Cabbage with Chinese-style Bacon and Fermented Black Beans (La Rou)
Eggplant with Green Peppers
Chicken with Leeks and Peanuts  (Kung Pao Ji Ding)

Rice-Pasta Course:
Crab Fried Rice (Yangzhou Fried Rice)
Dumplings (Jiaozi) – with carrot filling

Soup:
Beef Noodle Soup (Tang Mian)