Grounded in Maine

Speaking with Kent Scott of Too Long Dogs Homestead just lit me up, because we have so many ideas in common - he's just closer to the dream than I am. I'm so inspired by all the things he's up to, and in such a short time! My very favorite thing so far that I've learned about him is his community involvement, and you know I'm obsessed with Community Sufficiency - taking care of each other and sharing resources for a bigger purpose...

Kent and his family moved to Alberta Canada from Vancouver in 2022 and when they saw their house, he and his spouse could see where things would go, and were already making plans. When they moved, Kent brought a shovel in their vehicle, knowing the moving truck would be a few days, and he could at least dig some holes for the trees that were on their way. No time to waste with a Zone 3b Canadian Permaculture Food forest!

Kent and his spouse both work full time and are raising 2 kids and 2 dogs, so they repurpose and thrift a lot of things and keep their end goal in mind, and do what they can a little at a time to get there. These are Kent's words "You eat an elephant one bite at time, not in one sitting. Make your grand plan and lay it out based on mature tree canopy size. Then you can take little bites, always towards the end goal." So true, Kent. So true.

Kent is really active on Instagram - give a follow, he loves it!
https://www.instagram.com/toolongdogshomestead/

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Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

When I say this conversation was a LONG time in the making, I'm just so glad that Victoria was still available when I got back to her - we decided it was the right time now, and that's why it happened as it did. (so grateful for her cheery outlook)

Victoria lives in Massachusetts and she has been working on outdoor classrooms for many years, and is doing great work for her community and even wider with her awesome podcast Outdoor Classrooms!

I loved these 2 snips from Victoria's guest form:
"It's vital for our mental health and the future of our planet to raise our children outdoors, while also creating communities that understand the value of nature"
and also
"I believe children need to have a relationship with nature in order to become our future advocates for protecting our earth."

I loved talking with Victoria, and all the wonderful things she's doing to expose kids and hopefully their parents and teachers to nature - there's SO much to learn outside - go on, get out there!

Check out Victoria's podcast Outdoor Classrooms wherever you listen to podcasts while you're out there!

Learn more about Outdoor Classrooms here:
https://www.outdoor-classrooms.com/

Victoria is on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/

And she's on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

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Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

Oh my gosh, I just loved this conversation with Monica and Cindy of Rapt Gift Wrap! Their business is fabric wrap, to reduce the paper waste from gift wrapping, and it's so beautiful! I thought the timing of this was perfect; hopefully will give folks time to think about gift waste before the rush.

Monica O'Neil and Cindy Estes are friends who started Rapt in Massachusetts to help reduce the paper waste in gift giving - the amount of paper after the holiday season fills dozens of FOOTBALL FIELDS, and they saw a problem and are doing something to try to fix it!

One of my questions was is it appropriate to take the fabric wrap back to reuse it, or ask if someone will use it, and they have answers to that!

They also do some tutorials on the YouTube podcast episode, so check that out - the link is here: https://youtu.be/mut4rECnUXc I started collecting and saving fabric scraps last year, but then I didn't know what to do with it, so very grateful for the opportunity to see it happen! They also have several tutorials on their website https://www.raptgiftwrap.com/ They teach the ancient Japanese wrap called  Furoshiki and it's so beautiful, and Monica and Cindy say it's much faster than wrapping with paper, even!

You can drool over their beautiful wrapping styles and fabrics on the Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/raptgiftwrap/
And on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/raptgiftwrap

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Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

I'm talking with Nick Bergmann of Peace House Studio- Nick and his spouse Kate are creating children's clothes that can be bought back when outgrown and patched up and passed onto a new child with even more fun personality! (check out the cutie patootie top in the cover, and also in my Instagram promo!)

We talk about the start of Peace House Studio, and the Three Pillars of sustainability: people, planet and profit, and what that means to them. We also discuss Organic vs. sustainability: Does organic always mean better or has it morphed into a marketing term? This is a deep subject, but one Peace House Studio cares deeply about and is working with; should they purchase organic cotton from India and have it travel across the world, or prioritize less travel and work with more local providers in this country? This is the organic conversation they're having.

I loved this conversation with Nick, learning about the clothing startup processes and thought patterns, their trials and goals, and how transparent they are about sustainability.

You can find Peace House Studio at their website https://www.peacehousestudio.com/

They showcase some beautiful clothes on their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/peacehousestudio/

They're also on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/peacehouseME/

*Post recording correction from Nick: The CPSC stands for Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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Like this episode? Send me a message!

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Amy's email newsletter: 

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Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

I was recently approached by Mykhailo and Vlad of Terra Mora on Instagram and was just so impressed with what they're offering that I wanted to feature them on the podcast and learn more about them. These two are both 21 yearrs old, and in the beginning of the current Russia/Ukraine war, lost their homes and just about everything, but they've built themselves back up, and are dedicated to building a sustainable world for the next generation (Mykhailo has a 1 year old son and spouse, so very motivated). Their business is Terra Mora - wooden table ware and serving dishes, etc, and it's all so beautiful!

Mykhailo and Vlad will be shipping their items through a distributer in Washington DC, where they'll be shipping orders. I'll include a few pictures on Instagram, but check out their Instagram page and be very impressed!

Listen to our whole conversation here --

Their website where you can find the most beautiful wooden home goods: https://terra-mora.vercel.app
Instagram link is here: https://www.instagram.com/terra_mora_2024
Facebook link is here: https://www.facebook.com/terramora2024
They're on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@terra_mora_2024
And on X here: https://x.com/terra_mora_2024

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Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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Email me at [email protected]
Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)

Amy's email newsletter: 

How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/

Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

Jr Sparrow and I have been friends for a couple of years, but have talked more since I've moved to his home state - even though he doesn't live here now, he's got lots of memories here (and his mom), so he's sharing all kinds of good tips with me. We talk about soil, critters - cute and less cute, and his first sustainability venture as a young person cleaning up after race track events (there's a pro race track less than 15 minutes from me). He is a real wealth of knowledge!

Jr has 3 (THREE) podcasts: WV Uncommonplace, WV Uncommonplace Interviews and Sessions, and Sparrows Under Review. There's even a 4th, that he's not sure the name of ( it's WV Uncommonplace Presents), and they're all different - don't ask me how he keeps track of what goes where, because I'm overwhelmed sometimes with just one... He has a job, too-

Jr's site for all access to him is here: https://linktr.ee/wvuncommonplace?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid= c7068034-d93c-4437-8946-aebddf0d1b6f

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Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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Amy's email newsletter: 

How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/

Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

Kenya Rothstein is the host of the podcast Thank You For Saying NO, about  things happen in life that feel impossible and hard, but turn out to be the best thing for us. I've been following her for a little while now, and at some point she messaged me and said something like "your podcast is about sustainability - I need to be a guest!" I wasn't going to say no - definitely not to an attorney...

Kenya is an Environmental Attorney in CA - and soon adding Washington DC! She works for the Plaintiff, and gets to support our oceans and air - how cool is that? She has so many ideas that people can get involved in protecting our natural spaces!

My biggest takeaway was for my new area, to talk with restaurants and ask them to advise customers to ASK for a straw or plastic cutlery, and ask the restaurants to make that a new practice, and to talk to them in a way that helps them realize there's a way to help save money AND save waste. I love how simple that sounds, and how doable it can be. I'm totally going to try this!

Hear the full conversation here-

You can find Kenya on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@thankyouforsayingno
She's also on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thankyouforsayingno/

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Support the show

Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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Email me at [email protected]
Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)

Amy's email newsletter: 

How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/

Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

This is a shorty, you guys (you're welcome!) - just thought I'd give a little update, since some huge life shifts have happened for me - some, maybe a lot of you, follow on social media, so you know that I recently moved - short update: it's mostly going well!
Also, as it has been for a while now, menopause was brought up - October is Menopause Awareness Month - as well as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Alzheimers Awareness Month - and the election, and all the tension that accompanies - to which I'm just going to say BE KIND please. Crazy weather and high stress is so hard on everyone, and some of us could be on the brink of a breakdown... we don't always know who needs just a moment of kindness, so please just try. But I'll be posting more menopause stuff as it comes up - in my life, and in my friends' lives, it has been helpful. If you've experienced symptoms, please pay attention! I seriously want to scream what I'm learning from the rooftops, because the new study results are life changing - for real! There are several books and documentaries coming out that are blowing the lid off of the darkness we've been living in, and I'm so ready for acknowledgement and validation and RELIEF!
I said this in the episode, but there are definitely lonely times in my new place, so if you need some time away, give me a heads up, and my door will always be open. This is a beautiful place, southern Virginia. I'll feed you well - I'm in tight with the farmers, and my little food forest is coming along.....

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Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/

Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

Natalie Hodge is my very first Virginia podcast guest since moving here, and I'm so excited to share our conversation with you! She just recently (this year!) started gardening in containers, and she is HOOKED! I love her story of how and why she started, and how excited she gets talking about growing her own food on her balcony - and hearing about her future plans-- "they" say in the homesteading world that chickens are the gateway drug to farming, but growing your own food brings out a very special experience that hooks you in as well! I didn't ask, but I wonder how long until she calls herself a "plant lady" or "plant mom?"

I joined a few Facebook groups before moving to VA, and I happened to see Natalie posting about her Foodscapes program on the local news, and I felt I needed to reach out to her. We learned so much about each other in our first Zoom meeting, and I was just obsessed with her story of not being able to grow anything until she spent time with them - the plant people will understand what we mean--

I couldn't possibly leave out her awesome message that she hopes you'll take away from this conversation - "Keep it simple...small changes matter." LOVE this - it's so true!

Natalie has her own media company called Rudy's Girl Media, and she's been working with a Zero Waste program theough the VA Public Media to produce her Foodscapes segment. She's got new stuff coming out very soon (I think this week?!)!

How to find Natalie:
her website is here: https://www.rudysgirl.com/
She's on Instagram as https://www.instagram.com/nataliekhodge/ and also https://www.instagram.com/rudysgirlmedia/

Her Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/nataliekhodge

Send me a message!

Support the show

Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/

Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...

I was thinking that the title of this episode should be "How on Earth did Amy score The Old Farmer's Almanac on the Podcast?? But it was too many characters... Shall we make it the UNofficial title?

Carol Connare is the 14th editor of The Old Farmer's Almanac, and only the 2nd woman- since 1792! She talks about the beginnings of the Almanac, and about the great topics discussed (besides the weather), like recipes, fun animal stories, lifestyle trends, and so on. She and her team collect a pool of topics and articles, then pick the best of all of those - and they also respond to emails, phone calls and snail mail! Sometimes they have to do research before responding, but they ALWAYS do! Millions of readers, and anyone who writes in gets a response, which seems unheard of, but so very cool.

A couple of listeners, Jenny Boghun and Brenda Simmons (both previous podcast guests!) wrote in questions, and they were all answered inside this conversation, in almost traditional Almanac form. I know for sure that Jenny is going to love this!

Have you checked out the Almanac before? It covers so many articles and topics about gardening and paying attention to Earth's weather patterns, because nature can help provide a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle. And we all want that, right?

The official Almanac website is here: https://www.almanac.com/ (there are cool tools, articles, recipes, etc here!)

You can follow The Old Farmer's Almanac on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theoldfarmersalmanac

Or on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/theoldfarmersalmanac/

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Support the show

Like this episode? Send me a message!

Please follow the podcast on Instagram here
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Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)

Amy's email newsletter: 

How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/

Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects.

Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more here

You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine

Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

Grounded in Maine is curr...