| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Oct 08 2011 : 11:59:25 AM
Hi, I'm Lorie and I live in Washington County Maine, also known as the Sunrise County. My husband and I live live very rurally. We are blueberry and hay growers. My husband cuts wood in the winter time and sells a popular brand of chainsaw. I work at a nationally recognized donut shop. We do have veggie gardens, but are not organic growers, however, I don't thumb my nose at organic people either. I have a busy 4 yo son and a german shorthaired pointer. Some type of horse is on the long range goal list for me. Our house has no electricity. The pole lines end about a mile from my house. Our water is gravity fed into our basement and there is enough pressure to run the sinks, shower, flush and washer. We have propane lights, fridge and stove. We heat with wood. We run a generator for laundry and vaccuumming (sp?). I hope to "meet" a few people on here and hopefully get a few pointers and give a few myself. Take Care! |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Nov 03 2011 : 09:50:04 AM
Well, if you ever plan to come to downeast Maine, let me know! Maybe meet for lunch! |
| ClaireSky |
Posted - Nov 01 2011 : 05:52:10 AM
Welcome to the Farm, Lorie! You sound like you live in a very interesting part of the country. I would love to visit!
Julie
Farmgirl Sister #399
West-Central WI Farmgirls
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." Herman Cain |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Oct 15 2011 : 06:48:16 AM
It was at one time. I haven't seen the lobster roll ads up lately though. I don't even think they use Maine lobster anyway. It's probably rock lobster like you get at Red Lobster (we don't have those in Maine either). Come during fair time around the end of July through Columbus Day weekend. There are plenty of Agricultural fairs (along with carnival rides). I grew up going to the Blue Hill Fair, but have also been to Fryeburg Fair, Cumberland Fair and Springfield Fair. If you go to Mt. Desert (pronounced dessert) Island, you will get to see Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. In Winter Harbor, there is the other part of Acadia which is less crowded but just as scenic. If you choose to go further downeast (near me) there are plenty of natural wonders (reversing falls, highest tides in the world). There is also the Roosevelt summer camp on Campobello Island, NB Canada. However, you need a passport to cross the border. In August, there is the Blueberry Festival and a Pirates Festival in Eastport. If you ever come here, there is plenty of things to do and see if you're adventurous.
Lorie |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Oct 15 2011 : 05:04:45 AM
Hi Lorena, Welcome to MJF's. You are lucky you don't have electricity. I just opened my bill and it was for $429.00! My DH has always wanted to go to Maine for a vacation. We will probably be doing that in the near future! Someone told him that you can order Lobster through thr drive thru at McDonald's. Is that true? He so funny!!!He wants to do that! Anyways welcome aboard......
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| beekeepersgirl |
Posted - Oct 15 2011 : 03:22:12 AM
We have the very same problem here in Northeast PA. We are becoming a commuter suburb for New Jersey and New York City. Things are changing here rapidly. Everyone wants to move to the country, so the city problems come here also. It's a sad situation, but progress, I guess????????
Hugs!
Luanne
beekeepersgirl #691
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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| queenmushroom |
Posted - Oct 14 2011 : 5:32:59 PM
Luanne, also glad to hear that you do have maine roots.
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| queenmushroom |
Posted - Oct 14 2011 : 5:30:37 PM
Luanne, it's a Maine "ism". Many people move to So. Maine to get away from Mass or other areas in So. New Eng. Close enough to keep up with family, far enough away from the hubbub, though. Unfortunately, like many people that move here, they love Maine, but want to change it "for the better" instead of leaving well enough alone. Due to the population density, So. Maine rules the rest of the state. It is often thought that there is 2 Maines. Sadly, in politics, there seems to be. Just wanted to clarify.
Lorie |
| beekeepersgirl |
Posted - Oct 14 2011 : 10:16:09 AM
Hi Lorena -
I never knew Wells was considered part of MA!!!!!!!!! I love any part of Maine. Actually, my Uncle came from up around Houlton and they had a potato farm, so I'm a little familiar with other parts of Maine besides the coast. I had forgotten that the blueberries there grew on vines - thanks for the reminder!
Hugs,
Luanne
beekeepersgirl #691
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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| queenmushroom |
Posted - Oct 14 2011 : 10:10:20 AM
You haven't been to the real MAINE until you have come to Washington County and Aroostook County. Us 'downeasters' consider everything south of Augusta part of Mass. But, Luanne, I'm glad you and your mom enjoyed your stay. As far as my everyday life, it's really not much different than anyone else's. It's just that I don't have regular access to electricity or highspeed internet. I do canning when my garden is bountiful and give away excess. I help my dh with haying, blueberries (when they are in season). BTW, blueberries here in Maine grow low lying "vines" and not on bushes or shrubs like you see in other parts of the country. The fields are raked with metal hand rakes or mechanical harvesters. We burn or mow acres of fields because berries fruit every other year. Burning or mowing prunes the vines back (burning puts ash back into the soil) which produces a stronger vine and more berries. It is alot of work, but I wouldn't have it anyother way. |
| NixKat |
Posted - Oct 12 2011 : 4:44:41 PM
Hi Lorie and welcome from CT. I lived in Maine for a couple of years back in the late 80's. I had a big old house in Phillips, not sure which county it's in, that was built in 1880 and still had the original wood burner heating system (a small wood/coal burning stove surrounded by brick layed about 6' around it, the heat would rise through a huge floor register into the living, and through another heat register on the second floor in the master bedroom).
You will enjoy it here.
{{{hugs}}}
Kathleen...... Farmgirl Sister #3447 |
| beekeepersgirl |
Posted - Oct 10 2011 : 10:18:25 AM
Hi Lorena!
Welcome from a former New Englander (Vermont). In fact, I just got back from a trip to Vermont and Maine. My Mom and I spent 3 days down at Wells enjoying the beach and the food! We go up there every October for a few days. My Mom still lives in Vermont, and I go up to visit as often as I can.
I hope you enjoy the company here on MJF as much as I do!
Hugs,
Luanne
beekeepersgirl #691
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Oct 09 2011 : 6:50:41 PM
Lorena, us farmgirls would LOVE to hear more about how you live day-to-day. We eat that stuff up! I went power without two weeks once, and that was difficult, but worth it. We grow a lot of our own food and meat, and we heat with wood, get our water from rain, etc., but we do have electricity, thankfully. Many people wonder how we do it out here, and I always wonder how those without power all the time do it! I can't wait to hear more!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| Tapestry |
Posted - Oct 09 2011 : 5:40:52 PM
Hi Lorie and welcome to Mary Jane's. I think your life sounds wonderfully uncomplicated. It reminds me of my favorite childhood home in the country that my folks rented for $25 a month. We lived there for 4 years from the time I was 7 until I was 11. We had a hand pump with sink in the pantry and a sink in the kitchen but that was it for running water. Mom heated water on the gas stove fueled by propane and we kids bathed in a big tub in the living room in front of the fuel oil stove that heated our house. Once I was drying off and bumped my elbow on it and the outside was HOT. I'm now 54 and I can still find the scar from the burn I got. One night a week we'd go into town to my grandmother's and share bathwater (4 kids) to have a real bath in her tub. We walked clear out back to use the outhouse during the day and had a chamber pot in our room to use at night. I hated the chore of dumping that smelly thing in the mornings. We did have electricity. Milk was delivered into our asbestos lined milk keeper that sat at our back door once or twice a week by the milkman. My happiest childhood memories of are that home and the things we did. I also don't mind when the electricity goes off as I light the candles and lamps and enjoy their soft light. Not sure I'd want to do it long term though. I've grown soft in my old age..LOL.
I know you'll love it here at Mary Jane's. Lots of wonderfully kind hearted and generous souls here. If you have any questions, holler, someone will answer.
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles
http://www.Tapestry2u.Etsy.com
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Oct 09 2011 : 12:44:07 PM
Laurie and all,
Sometimes, I feel like I live like Laura Ingalls Wilder too. It is truly amazing what you can live with out. Most people can't live with out modern gadgetry. I love the simplicity of it all, though it can be a struggle and frustrating too at times. The internet is actually at my mother in laws. So, I'm not totally with out the extras. Unfortunately, it's dial up. High speed is not offered down here and that too is frustrating. But thank you all for the warm welcome and we'll chat again soon!
Lorie |
| laurentany |
Posted - Oct 08 2011 : 8:32:07 PM
Welcome Lorie from another Laurie here on the NorthEast Coast- Long Island,NY! Your home sounds lovely and interesting all at once. Does it seem strange to go to work with all of the modern gadgets and then go home to a more primitive style of living? I would love to experiment and see if we could actually live without electricity...I'm the crazy one who gets excited when there is a threat of a storm and the possibility of losing power....LOL. My friends tease me and call me "Laura" from Little house on the Prairie...my husband tells me I was born in the wrong century ( and I think he is right!)
Welcome and enjoy all of the wonderful farmgirl sisters here.
Smiles,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| Acelady02 |
Posted - Oct 08 2011 : 12:56:59 PM
Hi Lorena from the state of Georgia, I use to live in TN for 4 yrs in a house with no electricity and water feed from the spring above the house. We had a full size gas operated refrigerator, heated with wood, used kerosene lamps. Our stove was gas and so was our water heater. I used a generator for an old wringer style washing machine. I really enjoyed my life there. Then I got divorced and sold my part of the house to my ex. He still has it but doesn't live in it any more. Our house was over a mile from the main road.
(((((Hugs All)))))Penny
Farmgirl Sister #3343
God gives Miracles to those who Believe, Courage to those with Faith, Hope to those who Dream, Love to those who Accept, & Forgiveness to those who Ask... |
| jan49829 |
Posted - Oct 08 2011 : 12:31:39 PM
Hi Lorena, welcome!!!! I am fairly new also, since the end of July. I would love to live the way you do with no electricity, etc. I am not sure my hubby could, but I sure would like to. There is alot of wonderful gals on here and I am sure you will fit right in. Again, welcome
Jan
Farmgirl Sister #3340
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