It has been a whirlwind of getting this store ready. We certainly could not have done it without the many wonderful folks in our life that support us – family, friends, customers, business partners and those who cross all those divides. This weekend is our soft opening (Shop Local Saturday!) and we are excited to invite all and one to come in and visit us. Gardiner has become a great little downtown to get some gifts and enjoy some time traipsing.
In the midst of getting it all together, it finally snowed and the temperatures have stayed semi-stable at the low end – it is Maine in November, after all. We’ve been canning Carrot Jam and Cranberry Jam (both good with toast, and even better with warmed Brie and little toasts, or with cake, or meats), getting foraged teas and bath soaks ready, and the baker has been making a delicious Cranberry Pecan Bread. This is the official last bake of the house – next bakes in the new kitchen!
Onto more shelving, decorating, and putting the final touches on our little store space to welcome you all. Ledgeway Farm soaps and goodies, The Chef’s Cupboard spices, Farm House Coffee Roasters coffee and a couple of highlighted publishers and small presses like the gorgeous handbound poetry collections from Akinoga Press, the exciting titles from 3:A Taos Press, the voices in praxis from Alternative Field, inspiring and activating books from PM Press, creative language from Terrapin Books, foraging goodness from Sam Thayer, stalwart philosopher/homesteader/writer Scott Nearing, hopefully some posters and fun books from the Bread & Puppet theater, new and invigorating work from Emergence Magazine, Greenhorns’ Almanac, Taproot Magazine rounded out by mission driven groups like Chelsea Green Publishing, Akashic Books, AK Press, Poetry Magazine and New Society Books all grace our space or have been ordered. We’re excited!
So, thank you again for all of you who have helped, monetary, time and space, or even just emotionally from afar! It is all welcome and we are grateful.
Rock Bottom Homestead 