Plate The State Podcast

Maine’s established love of “craft quality” has proven itself in the beer industry and is now putting cannabis on the map. Recreational use is now legal and along with that movement sprouted a whole community of growers who elevate with organic methods, creative strains and full-spectrum products to help with anxiety, insomnia and all the fun things the state of the world has put us through. In this Season One Finale episode, we speak with the editor and co-founder of Beer & Weed magazine, Sam Pfeifle; Sasha Lee from Wild Folk Farm shares their range of products and what to use for some common complaints–including for pets–and finally, The Beer Mama shares her “beer for non-beer drinkers” picks. Beer and Weed magazineCo-founder and editor Sam Pfeifle talks about launching a new magazine during Covid and all of the wonderful aspects of sharing the craft beer and weed community with Mainers and beyond. Learn more and subscribe to Beer & Weed magazine. Wild Folk FarmSasha Lee invites us into the magic that is Wild Folk Farm. The team uses organic methods to grow and harvest incredible plants that are turned into a range of full spectrum medicines, even for our fur families. Maggie runs through some common “state of the world” maladies to see what she recommends to help soothe. Beer MamaAshlee shares her picks for beer for non-beer drinkers. Even with the incredible selection of craft beers in Maine, there are some wine lovers/beer hatahs that need some guidance on how to slip into the beer world. Follow Ashlee on Insta at @thebeermama Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam WorkmanA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

EPISODE 9: Gluten Free Living & ME Whether you choose to eat GF due to more serious medical concerns or because you’re trying to spend less hours in a carb-coma, this episode will inspire you to explore some of Maine’s trend-setters in the gluten-free space. We highlight Mrs. Gee Free Living, a mom with celiac disease who gives inspiration, recipes and support to her community; two of the co-founders of Lucky Pigeon Brewing, which is a 100% GF brewery in Biddeford and the founder of Maine Crisps, a company creating delicious crisps that are found in restaurants across the country. Mrs. GeeFree Living Founder Kaitlin Gee was diagnosed with Celiac Disease seven years ago. As a foodie, she was determined to create recipes and support for others who had the same restrictions. Jump to today, her Gee Free Living community loves receiving her inspiration and knowledge through on-line wisdom and in-person events at places such as Portland’s Sur Lie.Lucky Pigeon Brewing We are joined by two of the four co-founders of Lucky Pigeon Brewing. Pidge was a passionate home-brewer. In 2010, she removed gluten from her diet…and sorely missed enjoying beer. Using her science background, she created a GF beer that was so good, it needed a dedicated brewery, thus began the journey to start Maine’s first GF dedicated brewery. Bev, the “Gratitude Ambassador,” says she loves when a new customer exclaims, “Wait?? THIS is gluten-free?!”Maine CrispIf you have enjoyed a charcuterie board in a Maine restaurant, chances are it came with a stack of Maine Crisp. A chef-favorite because of the tasty flavor combinations, locally-sourced buckwheat and organic ingredients, most people have no idea they are gluten-free. Founder Karen shares the story of how she got started and what’s ahead…including a move into a new building that will include a retail shop! Written & Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam WorkmanA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

We chose to highlight these guests because they all work to extend empathy, support and compassion to fellow stewards of the land. Farming is both one of the most important and hardest jobs there is. David, Yannick and Clara share how their organizations develop an extra level of care and relationship with farmers. Wolfe’s Neck FarmExecutive Director David Herring primes listeners for the summer with updates on all of the incredible ways both children and adults can immerse themselves in the extraordinary Freeport farm via learning, camping and exploring. Visiting the farm is always free of charge and there are ample opportunities to become empowered to connect with the future of food. Their site is also a wonderful wealth of information. Cultivating Community Yannick Bizimana and Brenda Peluso share the incredible programming and support provided through Cultivating Community. Though there are many community gardens and school programs offered, we focus on the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project, where immigrant farmers gain support to transfer farming skills from their country of origin to Maine. These farmers gain land access and food security while providing sustainably grown food to their communities–and they provide chances for Mainers to try new foods such as African eggplants, okra and amaranth. Watch our TV episode with Yannick and many of the wonderful Cultivating Community members here from Summer 2021. Farms Who CareClara Coleman recognized that most farmers, while dedicated to caring for others through the food they cultivate, don’t spend time caring for themselves. She began Real Farmer Care right before the pandemic hit to support farmer’s self care needs with monetary gifts because self-care is expensive and hardly made a priority. Recipients have gone to dinner, gotten massages and one even bought a hammock. Fifty-percent of Real Farmer Care recipients are BIPOC farmers and Clara works hard to make a space to center and prioritize their needs. Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam WorkmanA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

No matter what side of the Coffee vs Tea debate you fall on, give a listen to the founders of Moonday Coffee and Tea Maineia as they share their stories around the rituals that define how we wake up or relax. As the “sweet ending,” Krystina from The Messy Cookie offers inspiring words for anyone looking to take a leap and start a new business, even with no experience. Moonday CoffeeDavid Kessel started Moonday Coffee as a cart that served as a wonderful respite for al fresco coffee drinkers during the pandemic. This past winter, he moved into the Black Box shops on Washington Ave, where he continues to explore the intimate relationships people have with their daily ritual. Tea MaineiaDan and Debbie Holmes talk to us from their welcoming shop and lounge, Tea Maineia, in Westport. They offer more loose tea options than any other shop in Maine…and lots of passion as well. They share how their business came to be, the health benefits of tea and which one of the pair never “cheats” with coffee.The Messy CookieKrystina Fischer shares the steps she made to leave the marketing world and start The Messy Cookie…with no baking experience. She now runs virtual and in-person “icing parties” and uses her creativity to inspire everyone’s inner cookie artist from corporate groups to baby showers. Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam WorkmanA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

EPISODE 6: Made in Maine:  Maine has a vibrant makers and artist community. In this episode we celebrate some of the unique people in the maker and food space. Tammy Knight from Maine Made shares her enthusiasm for supporting makers through this online community for Maine-certified retailers to share their goods under one (virtual) roof. We have hosted several makers and artists on our Maine Made segment on the TV show, and they are truly some of the kindest people we get to work with. Heather Kerner, founder of The Good Crust takes us on a tour of her Skowhegan bakery, where the team produces (delicious, really)  handmade, frozen pizza dough from stone-milled Maine grains. And you can feel extra good supporting them because their mission is to also provide good paying jobs for Mainers with unique needs. Matt Groff and Weston Shepherd from Mast Landing Brewing join us from their Freeport tasting room to spotlight their new beer, Otter’s Daughter, which is a kelp beer that was made in collaboration with Akua. They also share some behind-the-scenes stories into how they create their beer.  Watch our TV episode here where we visit the kelp farm with Akua and Mast Landing and learn more about their mission to make seaweed a staple in sustainable eating (and drinking).Closing Credits:Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam WorkmanA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

Maine is the second state to have passed legislation that school breakfasts and lunches will be free for all students starting Fall 2022. We speak with some of the dedicated people behind the movement to eradicate food insecurity in Maine. Our Plate the State TV episode 201 expands on the significant part Full Plates Full Potential played in getting this passed as well as what is being done to feed kids during the summer. Renee Page is the Executive Director of Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, which includes the Maine Farm to School Networks. She talks about the increase in food insecurity in Maine children and the hard work that passed the Universal Free School Meals legislation. She expands on how special Maine is in incorporating gardening, farm visits and harvest meals into the nutrition programs.Native Maine Produce & Speciality Foods is a food distributor that puts huge emphasis on partnering with farms to get their seconds into local school meals. We speak with Melissa Motejunas who is a passionate advocate for eradicating food insecurity in Maine. She talks to us about what Native Maine does to work towards this mission as well as some future plans to add a processing plant to increase usability and distribution of healthy foods to students. Students are not the only ones who suffer from food insecurity in Maine. Senior Citizens are also a vulnerable population. We speak with Nancy Ames, owner of Sullivan House Bakery in Gorham who donates a loaf of fresh bread to a hungry senior for each loaf sold. She averages about five loaves of donated bread a day. She also makes it a priority to support local artists with rotating gallery walls and inspires with her story of how “she wore the hat” of owning a bakery and where that took her. Closing Credits:Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam WorkmanA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

You likely have heard about PFAS or “forever chemicals” that have been used in manufacturing products since the 1940’s…and they never break down. Scientists are realizing the toxic levels of these microplastics found in water, soil and even our bodies. In this episode, we speak with those working for healthy soil and supporting sustainable aquaculture in Maine. Sarah Alexander is the executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). She speaks with us about PFAS chemicals, what that means for farmers and what is being done to protect the soil and water from these toxic forever chemicals. Keper Connell is the owner (and the everything) behind Gulf of Maine Conservas. He is bringing sexy back to tinned fish. It is not the cans of tuna you grew up with, we promise. Using sustainable fishing practices, Keper wants to expand how people access and enjoy fish while directly supporting the fisherman. He currently offers tinned bluefin tuna, mackerel, lobster and shares how he likes to enjoy them.  Slacktide Seasalt was born during lockdown when Lauren and her family started hand-harvesting deep ocean water in York and drying it in solar-powered greenhouses. The result is a chef-favorite flake that comes in several flavor combinations. Lauren shows us her new flavors for summer including Sugar Kelp and Blueberry. Watch our full TV episode with Slacktide Seasalt here.  THANK YOU for Subscribing to our podcast & sharing with your friends. Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam Workman & Ramshackle StudiosA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett. Download the song at www.moniquebarrett.comOriginal Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

We open with Betsy Bullard, the owner and operator of Brigeen Farms in Turner, a family dairy farm with some of the happiest Holstein cows around. She also is opening Canty Cow Creamery – a frozen custard shop right on the farm, using their naturally delicious milk. She shares the new custard flavors coming for warmer weather and how she tests the flavors. The Beer Mama (@thebeermama on Instagram) joins the second segment to share her Maine picks for summer beer. She is focused on sours and lighter styles, but that doesn’t mean they are light in flavor Ashlee’s wisdom is recognized nationwide, and we are excited to have her as a regular contributor on the podcast. Chef Derek Bissonette is a renowned food photographer and cookbook author. In the third segment, he shares his newest cookbook all about Mediterranean cuisine that is being published from Cider Mill Press. He shares his creative process on how he writes his recipes and his new photography studio in Biddeford, Maine. Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam Workman & Ramshackle StudiosA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

Eating seaweed is becoming more popular with home cooks and chefs, and while for some landlubbers it is still a hard sell, we share the health and environmental benefits behind going green. In this episode’s first segment, we speak with the founder of Maine Seaweed Week, Josh Rogers. The festival is back from April 24-May 2, 2022 with a record number of Maine restaurants and bars involved. For those who are “kelp curious,” this is a great opportunity to try seaweed in a variety of dishes while supporting local businesses.The second segment is with the executive director of Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Ben Martens about the work their organization does to support Maine’s fishing industry and water quality. Their new ready-to-eat Monkfish Stew is also helping feed hungry Mainers while using a non-traditional fish.Now that seaweed is becoming more popular on menus, a question remains: What wine to pair? Cat Oster, our show’s wine stylist and owner of So Po Wine Co, talks us through a couple of picks for the kelp curious as well as her picks and wine trends for the summer ahead. Watch all of our TV episodes to see Cat’s weekly wine pairings and find So Po Wines at independant merchants all throughout Maine. They only sell what they will drink! Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam Workman & Ramshackle StudiosA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing! 

EPISODE 1: Earth Month: The snow is gone and it is time to start thinking about gardens. Starting veggie and herb seeds inside can be intimidating, but we break it down into easy steps and share some wonderful native plants to attract pollinators. We also meet Patrick Breeding,  the founder of Marin Skincare that uses marine glycoproteins found in lobsters to significantly help skin affected with eczema, psoriasis and more. In this episode, we open with Farmer Steph the founder of Maine’s Farm to Table Kids. She shares her passion for teaching kids from a young age how to plant, grow, care for and eat veggies. She shares tips on how to start seeds inside, some kid-favorite things to plant and her all-around incredible energy for “getting hands in the soil.” The second segment stars Kate Shay, who is an organic gardener and writer for Beer and Weed magazine. She talks about the importance of using natural methods of fertilizing and pest control; plants to attract pollinators and why walking barefoot in your gardens is good for the soul. We close this episode with Patrick Breeding the co-founder of Marin Skincare. Using patented marine glycoproteins found in Maine lobsters, he has created a cream that truly helps alleviate dry, aggravated skin, including eczema and psoriasis…seriously, just look at the before and after pictures on their site. It is time to heal our cracked, winter skin and get it ready for long sunny days outside playing and working.Hosted by Maggie KnowlesProduced by: Sam Workman & Ramshackle StudiosA Muse Global Group Production with Ramshackle StudiosOriginal Music, “Stay Awhile” by Monique Barrett Original Animation: No Umbrella Media For all TV and Podcast episodes, visit www.platethestate.comThank you for listening, sharing & subscribing!