Maine Calling

It's prime apple-picking season! We’ll talk about growing apples, different varieties, the history of apple orchards in Maine, how much the apple harvest contributes to the economy, and where to go to pick apples. We’ll hear from a few Maine orchard owners, and also discuss John Bunker’s new book “Apples and the Art of Detection,” which explains how to track down, identify and preserve rare apples.

Fewer young people today take part in Maine’s traditional outdoor sports than previous generations. The number of youth hunting licenses, for example, fell 40% from 2002 to 2017. Why is this? We’ll discuss youth hunting, archery, camping and hiking, all of which have a long history and tradition in Maine, as well as what programs are available statewide. Outdoor writer George Smith will call in to share his memories of being a kid experiencing the outdoors and why he feels it matters.

Our panel of Maine editor ial page editors returns to discuss the news that made Maine headlines in September. Issues we may discuss include Maine delegation's reaction to the impeachment inquiry; the Farmington explosion; Gov. Mills speaks out at the United Nations Climate Action Summit; ranked-choice voting; lobsterman and right whales and anti-vaccination petition signatures.

In marking Maine's bicentennial, Maine Calling will look more closely at different aspects of our state's history in the coming year. One such aspect is the history of black people living here in Maine, even from before the state's founding. We'll learn how African Americans in Maine helped create settlements and lay the foundations for the future of the state in various ways, from social to economic to cultural. We'll also hear about the struggles that black residents have faced along the way,

We learn how to prepare your garden for the winter, discuss native and invasive plants, ways to save seeds, and get answers to your questions.

With the arrival of autumn, we turn our attention to another one of the state’s great tourist attractions : fall foliage. We’ll learn about the economic impact leaf-peepers have on Maine and about some of the best places to visit to see spectacular fall colors. We’ll also discuss the makeup of Maine's forests, the physiology of trees, and how Maine’s foliage is affect by climate change.

From the implementation of ranked-choice voting in next year’s Democratic primary, to the transition from a caucus to a primary, we’ll discuss the 2020 campaign, including the departure of Susan Collins’ on ly primary opponent, reaction to the latest debate among the Democratic candidates and why many of them are making stops in Maine .

Gov. Janet Mills has called for a new, concerted state effort to coordinate Maine’s efforts to deal with climate change. The Maine Climate Council launches on Sept. 26. We’ll hear from key members about the goals and challenges for the council. This show is scheduled to coincide with the UN Climate Action Summit, where Mills will address the UN General Assembly.

The Nature Conservancy has a new "Coastal Risk Explorer" tool , which simulates the effects of sea level rise on coastal communities. In developing the tool, the team used a variety of datasets to show homes, roads, and emergency services that would be affected (flooded, blocked, cut off from access) with each additional foot of water. We’ll learn about the how the Nature Conservancy partnered with a Bowdoin College professor to create a “Social Vulnerability Index,” which helps identify areas

The Smithsonian Channel debuts a documentary series about the sinking of the UBoat 56 off the coast of Cape Elizabeth on September 22. Maine Calling explores the discovery of the UBoat with the film's director, a maritime historian, and one of the divers involved in the project. We’ll also discuss other famous shipwrecks off the Maine coast.