LocumVentures: Maine Farms to Farmers Markets

People after often amazed by what I can put together in a small hotel room. Thankfully, over the last 50 years or so, there has been an explosion in what would be considered an Extended Stay Hotel. The brand itself started in 1997, but the concept has been around for a while (from what my 5 second wikipedia search could yield). As I tend to align myself with major hotel brands for point accumulation, I find myself staying at generally one of the following: Residence Inn (Marriott), Homewood Suites (Hilton), or Home2Suites (Hilton). There’s always some variation in the included breakfast and the amenities; however, these three tend to come with a sink, dishwasher, large refrigerator, microwave and a counter-top stove or one that can be rented. Give me a burner, a frying pan and a knife, and I cook about anything. Give me a pot on top of that and i can even boil lobsters in my hotel room (it makes less smells for the neighbors than you’d think!). So, on many of my off days in Maine over my time there, I made sure to take each day as an opportunity to explore farmers markets, farm stands, seafood shops, etc.

In 1971, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association was founded to certify organic food and products throughout the state of Maine. If you go on their website, you can find a nifty map of all of the farms, farmers markets and lots of farm stands as well. From meat, to cheese, to honey, to fruits and vegetables, if you look well enough, you can find everything you need without ever going to a grocery store. There are around 150 farmers markets throughout the state (including summer and winter), 7600 farms, and endless little farm stands (my favorite).

Farm Stands are the best, because while most states will have farms and farmers markets, I have been nowhere else where you can drive down the road and find little sheds built on the front yard of a neighbor’s house selling their fresh produce, chicken eggs or homegrown honey. Everything runs on the honor system and lockboxes are built in to these cute little shacks. There are even tons with COOLERs in them! I love these little shacks so much that I always try to carry cash or my checkbook (YES a checkbook) for when i come across a random little box with duck eggs on the side of the road.