It’s perfect timing, I just realized this morning. Kristin Dillon’s art show just opened last night. She’s a photographer of many things, one of which is the Sheepscot General Store in Whitefield, Maine, where I live and work, and have done for I don’t know, maybe 8 years? I’ve been here in Whitefield since 2004, eating Austin Moore’s hot cereal, shopping at his daughter Rebecca Haines’ store, bringing my kids to story time.

I was committed to this, our small town local market. People need a gathering place, whether it’s a corner bodega, the little gas station, or a general store. When the ownership changed and many of the regulars stopped going, I kept on. It was one of the more disappointing things I have seen. I honestly do not know how the store was able to stay open so long, several years, with so few customers. This was our community market, and I was invested in it. In a way, I felt that we all owned it. It didn’t matter who ran it especially, as long as it was there for us. Of course it matters who owns and runs a business, but there might be some larger purpose that a business might serve in the world.

When I heard about Ben and Taryn’s interest in the store, it felt right. I went to their house to talk with them. I’d been thinking about starting a small bakery of some kind. I wanted it to be in their store, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. They didn’t even really know how what they wanted would play out. But as it turns out, it was a continuation of Austin Moore’s dreams and work: creative, cutting-edge management of the farmland and a dedication to the community.

It’s a place, Ben said once in an early interview. That it is. It’s a place and it is people. So much goes on here. It was noted by one potential insurance provider that this is the most complicated operation they’d ever had to consider. Well, for starters, it’s a farm, Ben farms. Every summer organic pick-your-own strawberries are on offer, maple syrup is tapped in the spring, hemp was a big crop this year, and the fields are mowed for hay. There’s a moderate-sized vegetable operation with a variety of produce that is sold in the store and at the summertime Hallowell Farmers Market. A shiny new produce cooler has been purchased, and we augment our own crops with other farms’ produce. I’m impressed with how our produce is frequently fresher and cheaper than that at grocery stores.

Sheepscot General has aspects of a community center: the Retired Old Men Eating Out (ROMEOs) meets here each Thursday, a new parent/baby group meets once a month, there’s Open Mic, Summer Concert Series, Drum Circle, Community Singing Circle, monthly art exhibits, community meeting room for birthday parties and meetings.

There are people who work here, a special breed who can basically do everything (eventually); it’s not a simple occupation working at this General Store.

I don’t know if anyone knows how much we in the kitchen care about the food. We talk about a lot of things, but every day we talk about what we make here. We care where the ingredients come from, how the specials coexist together or compliment each other.

Over 120 vendors sell their wares in this general store. Everything you see was designed by someone. Much of the stuff here was made by someone nearby, with purpose.

I remember attending an early pre-store gathering where two young women were talking, and one of them was going to be making cookies for the store. I was beside myself. I wanted it to be me providing the cookies. Long story short: now I do.

This is what this blog is for: to tell the stories of Sheepscot General. Nerding out, I might call this. Nerding out on flour, pickles, people, fruit, vegetables, cookies, plants…

Kristin Dillon’s nerding out on Sheepscot General Store. As I stand on the edge of the SG rabbit hole preparing to dive in, I notice Kristin beat me to it. What better introduction to observation and fascination than through the lens of a photographer? Happy for me, I can just grab her hand and in we go. So exciting!

And that’s what I want to tell you about. All The Things. We are really going to nerd out here.