We are thankful for the visitors requiring our lodging and leaving us with good thoughts of Acadia and Bar Harbor. Somehow when the wind starts to blow the yellow and russet leaves off the trees, I’m comforted by the thought of the bounty of food and local products that are tucked away for winter in New England.

I’ve also just returned from a Halloween wedding, and a new baby in the family. Times to remember with handmade gifts from New England. If you are like me, I search while on trips for something special to remember the places I’ve been. Sometimes it’s from nature, like the osage oranges on my counter. Often it’s a handmade gift from Maine. I was fortunate to find a handmade baby blanket for my new grandneice at Swans Island Blanket in Northport Maine. Something that will be treasured and handed down for generations. The sheep are raised on islands just off MDI and the wool processed right here. Hand loomed in Northport, with natural colors and dyes, the blankets remind me that you too may be interested in what you can bring back from your visit to New England.

New England, famous for its work ethic and pride in craftsmanship has many treasures for you to find and take back home with you. Swell company in Parsonsfield Maine makes wool stockings, beeswax candles from 2 Note Botanical Perfumery in Portland, Linen towels from Hallowell Maine, Brahms/Mount Towels, a classic shave set from Prospect Harbor Soap Co.

But what really makes the season special and a local secret is the many many local craft shows that happen each and every weekend. Local folks, selling handmade goods for the holidays. It fills the day with small delights. While some might prefer a shopping expedition to the big city for the holidays, I like visits to out of the way halls and gyms to search for handmade items that can be enjoyed just because they are unique. Last year I found a local knitter at the Lamoine craft fair to knit a special replacement hat for someone who lost their favorite. There is a Maine Craft Fair in Bangor this weekend, one of the many to follow. In Ellsworth next weekend— The Gifted Hand Fine Art, Craft and Gift Show is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Holiday Inn in Ellsworth.

This is the first year we have opened our lodging during the winter months, and we have 4 groups of folks coming so far. Whether for family, business or just a quiet get-a-way, you can have a good time around the fire in any season here in Maine.

Maine Blueberries can be found growing wild in and around Bar Harbor.   It’s one of my favorite snacks while biking along Acadia National Park’s carriage trails.  Wild berries are a free treat.  However, they can be found in many value added products as well.

New companies are springing up promoting the health effects of our natural nutrition filled small local fruit.    You can find blueberry syrups, jams and jellies, but that’s just the beginning.   Frozen in your grocery case, blueberries can be available all year round for your breakfast and baking adventures.

In addition, try some of the dried berry products.   Maine Munchies has a new process where they minimize the extra corn syrup added to many dried blueberry products.  Begun by Mount Desert Island’s Otter Creek residents, Maine Munchies now has a production facility in Ellsworth, and  their products are featured at many businesses in downtown Bar Harbor.

Blueberry dog biscuits are another unique and interesting development.   Called Bite O’Blue the natural, organic dog biscuit has been a hit in the dog treat world.   Produced by Peaked Mountain Farm in Dedham Maine.

Looking for good food near Acadia National Park in Maine?

Featuring local foods is a specialty for many of Bar Harbor restaurants. Havana, Red Sky, Mache, Asticou Inn all feature local foods on their menu.  Local food is a great option: fresh taste, high nutrition, low carbon footprint.   All good for the planet and you.

If you are camping out or staying where you can cook your own meals you can find great local foods at farmers markets, local food markets such as the Blue Hill Coop, Alternative Market in Bar Harbor,  John Edwards Market in Ellsworth, A&B Naturals in Bar Harbor, Sawyers Market in Southwest Harbor and  Pine Tree Market in Northeast Harbor.    Local food is affordable and fresh.   Seek food in season for the best bargains. And don’t forget the many fresh seafood markets!

Maine schools have joined together with local farmers to supply schools with local foods.   Mount Desert Elementary, MDI High School, Lamoine Consolidated School, Deer Isle Stonington High School,  and the College of the Atlantic all get food from nearby growers.

Take home some local foods like jams and jellies to help you remember your vacation all winter long.

Chuck Weber moved to Lamoine from Pennsylvania to escape the heat, too-long growing season and real estate developers.  Here he has become our local grower and purveyor of organic produce, which is certified by MOFGA, the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association.  His favorite word about what he does is respect. Respect for the environment and the consumer.

This doesn’t mean Chuck can’t get a little riled, like July of ’09 when he suffered through a month of rain only to have a moose get tangled in his electric fence, and a bear tear through his struggling strawberry patch on the same night.  Four greenhouses help to extend the season and manage the weather uncertainty, so he usually has greens when there’s snow on the ground.  He’s the guy to get your non-big box vegetable plantings from in the spring and his potted flowers sell out quickly.  I know Chuck always has something interesting growing like Czech black peppers or dinosaur kale, but he’s reluctant to give a detailed list of what he grows; it’s always changing. He almost always has heirloom tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers in the summer, strawberries in the late spring,  broccoli, beets and Brussels sprouts in the fall.  Leeks are a passion, and greens are almost always growing.

Chuck hasn’t time to sit in front of the computer, so if you want to buy his produce, call in an order. He often parks a farm wagon at the Grange Hall parking lot at Lamoine Corner (where Rt. 184 makes a sharp turn) where he sells produce on the honor system.  Chuck’s veggies can also be found right in Bar Harbor at the Reel Pizza parking lot, 33 Kennebec Place.  There you will find the Bar Harbor Green Market on Wednesdays from 9 am to 1 pm from May 21st to October 29th. He welcomes calls at (207) 667-7081, and will prepare your order for pick up.

Today the Common Ground Fair starts, and the big news is there will be organic coffee.   Well known for featuring only Maine food, the fair has forbidden coffee being served at the fair because – well, you cannot grow coffee in Maine.    However, this year, they have bowed to the pressure of the crowd, and it will be available.    Also new  they will not be selling bottled water.   The water at the fair is great to drink – so bring your own container!!!

As always, the fair strives to totally recycle as much as possible, so, be prepared to minimize your footprint on the planet – bring your own bags to carry your new treasures and enjoy the wonderful handmade crafts, exhibits and organic products made on Maine Farms.   My favorite is the fiber goods, warm hats and mittens for the next season. See the Lama and Alpaca and cashmere goats. The fair website is the best place to check out the schedule. This is a wonderful event for all age groups.

Don’t forget the animals – poultry, rabbits, sheep, horses, goats, cows and of course the “boarder collie sheep herding” competition.   Our daughter grew up attending this fair and it sparked an interest in how things are made.   She ended up learning how to spin yarn, knit and crochet even though we lacked those skills.  The fiber producers at this fair are amazing.   It’s part of growing up in Maine and it’s part of the creative economy.

How does the lobster get to your plate? It takes dedicated lobstermen and lobsterwomen and many lobster pots to make a living.    Right in front of SeaCat’s Rest there are lobster floats from at least 5 fishing folks.   It’s a daily ritual as they go by, checking their traps and putting out new bait to catch this tasty seafood.

Locally in Maine you can get the soft shell  lobsters at a good affordable price.  This summer, roadside sellers were charging under $4/lb!  These are lobsters with new shells and they don’t ship well, so we eat them here at home.    Many seafood places around here will cook them for you.

If you are here at SeaCats’ Rest, we have a giant pot so that you can bring home the live lobsters and have a homemade feast. Throw in some seaweed from the shore for extra flavor – just like local restaurants do.   Add mussels and clams from the local water and you have a seafood feast.    Ask us how and we will be glad to teach you.