Who lives in Maine and wants to answer some questions...

mpillow · #21 07/22/13, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billooo2

I used to live in Thorndike........about 45 minutes from 3 towns......45 minutes from Bangor, from Waterville, from Belfast........

What I disliked the most was the month of April!!!!! Maine does not have a spring like they have in the midwest.......they have the MUD season!!!!!

I have heard people describe the climate in northern Maine as '9 months of winter and 3 months of preparing for winter.'

Otherwise, I loved Maine.....but my wife did not love Maine.

Our homestead is not too far From Thorndike. Our cabin is in the mountains near Eustis and Sugarloaf.

Nursing field has jobs and gas workers are needed across the state. Maine is the "oldest" by age of its residents...so you have old people on pensions, old people on SS with welfare supplement and you have lots of people of working age on disability and welfare and some on generational welfare. I would bet for every one person working and making a decent living at say $50k a year ---9 more are on the dole. And they tend to vote for those that will give more welfare.

Climate: I have lived here my entire life 40 plus years and I'd say too that winters are milder(more prone to ice issues) and the hot humid spells of summer are longer and more frequent. About 10 years ago there was a "dry" spell here in Maine...peoples wells went dry but that's RARE. Too much water is likely to be the problem. My gardens are really productive (lot of goat poo) and I almost never have to water! The soil differs from region to region ---clay to sand.

Bugs: Mosqitoes, black flies, deer flies and MOOSE flies...bite like crazy...and the pesky no-see-ums....fun fun!

Winter heat...wood oil gas....its expensive and/or hard work. It keeps the faint of heart at bay!

I don't love April but I do love the distinct 4 seasons Maine offers...so I'll deal with it!

Don't let the cheap real estate prices fool you! (there is always a catch)

http://www.prudentialnortheastproperties.com/

BigHenTinyBrain · #22 07/23/13, 07:08 AM

We still get plenty of -20 nights in the winter, but honestly once it gets below zero it doesn't much matter how far below it is... it's gonna be cold!

People have always told me "Oh, weather is so unpredictable here!" and I didn't understand until I lived Away... how can you enjoy weather that is similar every day for a whole season? BORING! Today is rainy and about 60, yesterday was sunny and in the 80's, the entire week before was above 90 and humid. If it's raining and cool in the morning it might still be crazy-hot and muggy in 3 hours. You cannot expect to know what the weather will do this afternoon until this afternoon arrives.
Spring is Mud Season, Summer is Humidity Season, Fall is Perfect and Winter is Very Long and Cold. And we have bugs for 3 of those seasons.

Our growing season is short- last frost is mid-June and first frost is early September.

woodsy · #23 07/23/13, 06:15 PM

Make sure you come with a sense of humor

OHmama · #24 07/24/13, 04:52 PM

The weather sounds like Ohio but much colder!We are in southern Ohio and the weather changes several times a day!lol

The only thing I'm hearing and not liking is bugs!!uck

With the real estate,I've been browsing(just to see what kind of land is available where)and I'm definitely one of those people that think if it seems too good to be true it probably is..so when I see something super low for a ton of acres,I know there's a catch lol

What would the job prospects be for a welder?(a pretty good one,I must say)

stanb999 · #25 07/25/13, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OHmama

The weather sounds like Ohio but much colder!We are in southern Ohio and the weather changes several times a day!lol

The only thing I'm hearing and not liking is bugs!!uck

With the real estate,I've been browsing(just to see what kind of land is available where)and I'm definitely one of those people that think if it seems too good to be true it probably is..so when I see something super low for a ton of acres,I know there's a catch lol

What would the job prospects be for a welder?(a pretty good one,I must say)

Jobs in Maine are scarce, pay little to nothing, and cost of living is high. That is the reason land/housing prices are low.

When they say it's getting warmer... They mean you don't need a parka at 7PM in July. Just a light coat or sweater. I'd suggest for the first few years you will still need a coat most evenings in summer. Maybe even heat.

The growing season inland is short and cold. Heat loving crops like Tomatoes won't do well or likely produce at all. On the coastal plain gardening can be accomplished. But even here heat lovers are mostly out.

Winter in northern Maine is not just cold. It's dark. Long dark nights are the rule. With sun angles the "dark nights" (You know short days in winter.) Will last several weeks longer than you are used to.

Cost of living...
Groceries/food are very expensive for the most part. This is due to the small number and long distances traveled to get it to the store. This is the big reason for the "small farm" movement. Florida and California are on the opposite sides of the country, and there isn't any population centers past them.. So they aren't on the way anywhere to cheapen shipping. You will find the the small local stores over charge, have a poor selection, and poor service because they can because where else will you go? 100 miles to Augusta!

If you don't have to work and have a moderate income or wealth. IMHO it's the best state in the Union. If the above isn't true. YMMV

P.S. Yes land is that cheap. But be sure to check it in the spring. When flooding in low land is common.

ET1 SS · #26 07/25/13, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanb999

Jobs in Maine are scarce, pay little to nothing, and cost of living is high. That is the reason land/housing prices are low.

I am not aware of any jobs that pay nothing.

There is a shortage of jobs in Maine, and most jobs are minimum-wage.

If two people both work two 20-hour/week jobs for minimum-wage, that roughly equals two full/time jobs. Which is interestingly very close to the average household income in this area.

A lot of Maine households have two adults working, part/time, minimum-wage, and many of those are seasonal jobs.

As for the cost-of-living being high. I have lived in a lot of other places before I settled in rural Maine. I have personally never seen such a low cost-of-living, as compared to rural Maine. But of course I have not lived 'everywhere', so it is possible to search internet stats and find a cheaper place to live.

Urban Maine and the tourist regions are a lot more expensive.

You are entirely correct in saying that low wages keep land/housing prices low. They do.

Any place that has lots of high-paying jobs, simply does not have low priced homes. High wages drive up the cost-of-living.

Today in Maine a couple can raise a family on minimum-wage incomes. If you are going to live on minimum-wage, your best to do it in a low cost / depressed region.

I am on a fixed income. My pension about equals minimum-wage. As a retired US servicemember, I look around and I see a lot of military retirees in this area. In the current political push to raise the minimum-wage, many voters are refusing to acknowledge the link between minimum-wage and home prices. If the minimum-wage goes up, many retirees will instantly be left behind.

Quote:

... Heat loving crops like Tomatoes won't do well or likely produce at all. On the coastal plain gardening can be accomplished. But even here heat lovers are mostly out.

I know a number of market gardeners [whose primary source of income is marketing veggies]. Tomatoes are best done in a greenhouse. You can get a lot of green tomatoes, but they refuse to ripen if they grow outdoors.

Fortunately this is a climate that does allow for small-scale farming to thrive.

Quote:

... If you don't have to work and have a moderate income or wealth. IMHO it's the best state in the Union. If the above isn't true. YMMV

JoePa · #27 07/25/13, 09:59 AM

Man - everybodies talking about how nice Maine is - but then when you hear about the short growing season, the bugs etc. you wonder why - I live in Pa. - the weather is just about a nice as you can expect - sure there are hot days in the summer but not that many and the winters are cold but not that cold - if you want to plant a garden you have a long growing season and can plant just about anything - bugs are around but not to the point that they become unbearable - if you want to get away from the crowd there is a lot of places in the central and northern regions that are not crowded - one other thing to remember as you get older it is nice to have good medical care available not too far away - I personally think Maine is over rated - if it was that good there would be more people there -

mpillow · #28 07/25/13, 10:31 AM

I find that indeed.com is the best for job hunting....as a welder you should be able to get on at Bath Iron Works....its union and some of the best jobs around (pay and bennies) However, if you want to live within 30 min of Bath...housing prices will reflect that location factor. Lots of people do take vans from Waterville to get down to BIW daily. General Dynamics is the parent company.
Stanb ----I grow tomatoes...loads of them...I can 100q each year practically! I don't use a greenhouse, I do use seedlings, and I don't use black plastic either. I grow lots of varieties but Brandywines are the house favorite. My parents are near Kingfield and they also grow buckets of tomatoes in raised bed fashion (Zone 3/4). There soil is almost pure sand-- hence the raised beds....There is a wonderful old woman up near our cabin in the mountains that always has a great garden,too (despite all the deer in the yard!)

mpillow · #29 07/25/13, 03:44 PM

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/C...html?pagenum=1

story about the couple and their deer

stanb999 · #30 07/26/13, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpillow

Stanb ----I grow tomatoes...loads of them...I can 100q each year practically! I don't use a greenhouse, I do use seedlings, and I don't use black plastic either. I grow lots of varieties but Brandywines are the house favorite. My parents are near Kingfield and they also grow buckets of tomatoes in raised bed fashion (Zone 3/4). There soil is almost pure sand-- hence the raised beds....There is a wonderful old woman up near our cabin in the mountains that always has a great garden,too (despite all the deer in the yard!)

You live on the coastal plain, are fairly south, and less than an hour from the ocean.
I'm sure your parents do things to make a tomato crop.

In Maine warm weather crops are an issue. Root crops, cabbages, and other cool season crops explode with growth and production. In my youth we ate sweet and tender carrots 12" long and 2" wide. Potatoes easily topped a pound each. Asparagus bigger than your thumb. Sweet peas in huge abundance. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant. Not so much. Just the small tomato patch under the windows in the front of the house, started in a cold frame... Not abundant but enough for a salad or two.

P.S. Where the OP is they just plant them in the ground. Their hi temps often exceed 100 their summer lows are in the 80's. Is this just like you. Or is it like 90 (really 86) from 1-2 PM on the strangely hot day like twice a year. With average highs near 75 and night time temps in the low 50's?

ET1 SS · #31 07/26/13, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePa

Man - everybodies talking about how nice Maine is - but then when you hear about the short growing season, the bugs etc.

The biggest factor in length of growing season is angle of sunlight and hours of sunlight. Our natural growing season is the same as anywhere else at this Latitude.

It is also easily extended by using high-tunnels, how-tunnels or greenhouses.

Quote:

... one other thing to remember as you get older it is nice to have good medical care available not too far away ...

Yes, that is also a nice thing to have

mpillow · #32 07/26/13, 10:09 AM

1/2 an hour to the ocean and amoungst lots of lakes....it all helps!

Other than raised beds my parents dont do anything...they will pick unripened tomatoes and "finish" them in the garage when frost is due. Not as tasty but still worth doing.

ET1 SS · #33 07/26/13, 10:38 AM

Tropical fruits like tomatoes are a challenge up here.

However there are local farmers who do really well with peaches.

I am trying olives and lemons. I have been producing figs.

mpillow · #34 07/26/13, 03:37 PM

We jst put in an elberta peach this year...my sis 20 miles away has one and gets loads!

Do tell about the figs! What type? mini indoor?

ET1 SS · #35 07/26/13, 03:52 PM

Our figs are 'Chicago Hardy' and 'Violette de Bordeaux' in containers.

mpillow · #36 07/26/13, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET1 SS

Our figs are 'Chicago Hardy' and 'Violette de Bordeaux' in containers.

Thanks...off to research....how big of a container?

ET1 SS · #37 07/26/13, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpillow

Thanks...off to research....how big of a container?

I do a lot of things in 5-gallon buckets.

Somethings I bring inside for winter, somethings I do not. There are a few things that I need to winter inside for their first year. But will hopefully do okay outside after that.

My lemons come inside for winter, as do me figs.

My green tea bushes died their first year outside. So my next effort will be tea indoors for winter until they are better established.

Olives: half died their first year outside. Ginkgo also.

Cash · #38 07/27/13, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanb999

When they say it's getting warmer... They mean you don't need a parka at 7PM in July. Just a light coat or sweater. I'd suggest for the first few years you will still need a coat most evenings in summer. Maybe even heat.

Where are you located in Maine, Stan? I've been all over the state and don't recall anyplace that routinely gets that cold in July. Or are you just trying to scare off another ferriner? ;-)

Quote:

The growing season inland is short and cold. Heat loving crops like Tomatoes won't do well or likely produce at all. On the coastal plain gardening can be accomplished. But even here heat lovers are mostly out.

Now, now, Stan. I know plenty of folks in Aroostook County who successfully grow tomatoes and other heat-loving crops either on plastic or in tunnels. And the rest of the state from, say, Bangor south usually doesn't even need that.

BTW, OHmama, it's always a good idea to check out any land that has lots of acres but a low price. Chances are it's been clearcut and/or has wetland/flooding issues or has access problems.

stanb999 · #39 07/28/13, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cash

Where are you located in Maine, Stan? I've been all over the state and don't recall anyplace that routinely gets that cold in July. Or are you just trying to scare off another ferriner? ;-)

Now, now, Stan. I know plenty of folks in Aroostook County who successfully grow tomatoes and other heat-loving crops either on plastic or in tunnels. And the rest of the state from, say, Bangor south usually doesn't even need that.

BTW, OHmama, it's always a good idea to check out any land that has lots of acres but a low price. Chances are it's been clearcut and/or has wetland/flooding issues or has access problems.

Growing up spent much of my youth in Maine. I'd love to live there but I need to have a job. Tis' what it is.

Bangor average weather... To a Mainer 50's is warm. Not to the rest of the nation. Bangor is a "city" and on the coast. Move inland and those figures change fast.

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcli...graph/USME0017

They grow tomatoes outside... The only people growing them on plastic outside are on the coastal plain. Most everyone has them covered and protected.

The areas south of Bangor and not in the mountains is an exceeding small portion of the state.

P.S. I didn't even bring up the leech filled ponds or the bugs...

BigHenTinyBrain · #40 07/28/13, 08:38 AM

Bangor is on the coast?! Must be a different Bangor...
I'm in the mountains. I have great tomatoes in an open high tunnel, and a decent crop from out in the open. I'm picking eggplant this week, also from the tunnel. Of course its not going to be comparable to a southern state, it's Zone 4 after all!
The costs of land nd the cost of living, s well as the availability of some work, vary dramatically between the coast and inland. A welder would probably find good work on the coast, but it costs to live there. You may find work inland, but there is a pretty high unemployment rate.
Of course, if you choose a rural location you can expect a longer commute, fewer stores and a higher cost for everything, but that applies to any state.
Some land is cheap because it floods, or is inaccessible, or steep... and some land is just cheap. Taxes may appear very low on some properties- they are likely in "tree growth", a status that cuts the tax to almost nothing but does not allow improvements. If you built a house you would need to remove a portion of the property from that status, raising your taxes to some extent. Just something to keep in mind when you look at land online.
I don't know where you could go that doesn't have bugs at all... but Maine is beautiful. It's not for everyone, but if it interests you then visit in the summer AND in the winter. You might find a perfect place here.