Explore the Winter 2022-23 edition
Editor’s note
WINTER is my favorite season. Something about fresh snow and a crisp, blue sky spurs a child-like anticipation deep inside of snow adventures to come. So, I am particularly excited to present a feature on Winter in Aroostook County in this issue. Starting in Sherman Mills and traveling to Fort Kent and back, we highlight things to do, places to stay, restaurants and cafes you won’t want to miss and plenty of adventures along the way. From Nordic skiing to snow shoeing, biathlons to sled dog races, the County offers enough snowy adventures to make (almost) anyone a fan of winter.
Back on the coast, we dive into how Maine seaweed farmers and food producers are finding a growing market with this nutrient-packed sea vegetable. With a steady demand for both value-added products like pasta sauces, teas and seasonings, along with whole-leaf and flaked products, Maine has gained a reputation as the “seaweed breadbasket—or the kelp basket—for half the country,” according to Micah Woodcock of Atlantic Holdfast, a seaweed harvesting company based in Deer Isle.
In Net zero cannabis we head to Oxford County to look at another crop and how local cultivator Upward Organics is on track to become Maine’s first carbon-neutral licensed medical grower.
If winter has your skin needing a little extra love, check out From Beeswax to Botanicals. This roundup of natural skincare products made in Maine showcases local producers with a commitment to responsible sourcing and, in many cases, organic ingredients.
Winter also means more time spent indoors with the windows closed, making it important to consider the air quality in our homes when we’re cooking. This issue’s Indoor air corner shares what you need to know about the importance of proper ventilation.
We’ve all experienced the healing properties of time spent in nature, so, you may not be surprised to hear of a new mental health discipline that takes therapy sessions outdoors. In A dose of nature, we look at the small but growing practice of ecotherapy and the benefits it offers.
Planning a special event next year? You’re in luck, as we’ve rounded up an extensive list of catering options in Farm-to-table catering.
And finally, as electric vehicle use continues to grow in Maine and across the country, The EV transition shares what’s changed and what Mainers can expect in the coming year.
Find all of this and more in this issue.
As always, thank you for supporting our magazine with your subscriptions and gift subscriptions. If you like what you find here, please stay in touch by signing up for our monthly e-newsletter. And if you have a story that you’d like us to cover, please drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you!
Heather Chandler
Editor & Publisher
On the cover
Mushers and their dog teams on the course of the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog race, an annual event based in Fort Kent, Maine.
Photo: Paul Cyr
THE FIRST SATURDAY OF MARCH is a big deal in Fort Kent, Maine. The small border town hosts the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, the largest sled dog event east of the Mississippi River and a qualifying event for the Iditarod. Mushers and teams of up to 12 dogs come from all over the United States and Canada. Dozens of teams race past cheering crowds and over groomed trails in the north Maine woods in northwest Aroostook County.
To get a feel for the scenery and what the races are like for mushers, dogs, veterinarians, volunteers and spectators, watch 360 Media Ventures’ 15-minute video featuring footage from the 30th anniversary races in 2022.
Want to watch the race in person? Be in Fort Kent the weekend of March 4, 2023 (with no pets). All three races—30 miles, 100 miles and 250 miles—start downtown Saturday morning. You can see the 30-mile teams return late afternoon, with the 100-milers and 250-milers circling back around 2 a.m. Sunday and Monday or Tuesday, respectively. The 100-miler includes a safety checkpoint in the town of Allagash, and the 250-miler has four checkpoints.
At each of these official stops, the dogs eat and rest for about four hours and many are examined by the team of more than a dozen veterinarians.
“My goal is to keep them healthy,” says Chief Veterinarian Jen Mirecki. “These dogs are living their best life. It’s what they’re meant to do and what they want to do. These are some of the happiest dogs I see, and I see dogs every day.”
Both the 100 and 250 are races of endurance, with the winning team typically determined by a matter of seconds. Last year’s 250-miler had an exciting finish with the top three teams within minutes of each other.
Watch the start of the races Saturday on Main Street in Fort Kent (in front of Key Bank and Subway) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Estimated finishes are late Saturday afternoon for the 30-mile, Sunday 2 a.m. for the 100-miler, and sometime Monday or Tuesday for the 250-miler. Spectators are welcome at the Portage and Allagash checkpoints but are not allowed where the dogs are resting.
