MSSD - Maine Self Sustainability Database

Constantly updating community contributed information for self-sustainability, low cost living, and mutual aid

About

I live in Lewiston and have always been vaguely interested in sustainability and simple living but never looked seriously into it, I also want to help my community and am passionate about mutual aid. Times are getting tougher, and I wanted to do something to combat feelings of helplessness. I was inspired to create a hub for teaching myself and fellow Mainers to grow their own food, reuse and repurpose so as to buy less, help our environment on an individual level, and compile community resources. If they won't do it for us, we'll do it for us. We're in this together.All info is and always will be free and public. Submissions of info or requests for certain content added is always welcome! I want anyone and everyone in Maine to be able to contribute:[email protected]Full Disclaimer: I'm not an expert in any of these subjects. I will always link sources and do my best to fact check. If there is anything inaccurate or if you have feedback about info on here, please don't hesitate to contact me.

!!Help Wanted!!

- Foraging
- General info about solar, generators, etc.
- Car maintenance/repair
- Chickens or other livestock

Food Pantry and Community Gardens

Local Farmers

Database to find local farmers and farm stands, including pick-your-own farms.

Food Waste

Food Rescue Maine provides a tutorial how to create a home compost as well as a directory to locations in Maine where you can drop off your compost for transfer or for recycling/donation.

An interactive map that shows stores in Maine who sell heavily discounted food due to close to expiration date, overstock, etc.

An app that allows retailers, such as stores or restaurants, to sell food that is still safe but nearing best-by dates for heavily discounted prices when they'd otherwise be thrown away. Currently, only Circle K does this in Maine- Reach out to your local businesses (preferred) or use the in-app recommendations tab to encourage more to join!

Grew too much food and don't know what to do with it? Donate it!

Individual/Lifestyle

Note: PLEASE research before planting anything outside, as some plants can be invasive and spread. When in doubt, plant in a container off the ground/floor or indoors!!

Recycling, upcycling, and donating

Ecomaine has a search bar to enter a materials in order to find out how to properly recycle them. It also has educative media on how to properly recycle and its impacts, maps of local resources (such as Christmas tree recycling), and offers commercial recycling services.

Like Ecomaine but for food scraps. Based in Portland.

The Tom's of Maine brand has fully recyclable packaging. Through this program, they will print you a free label to ship your empty products of theirs to them for proper recycling.

Free website that helps you figure out where you can recycle electronics, monitors, pcs, CFLs etc locally in your area

No Buy and DIY

People giving away items they no longer need instead of trashing them, always free. There is an official website and App, however, there are often external groups on websites like Facebook. Try searching "[your town buy nothing group" to find one near you.

Provides free books for families with children regardless of income. If this is of no use to you, consider donating the books you could get or start a free mini library!

Repair Cafes

Repair Cafes are gatherings where volunteers with repair items such as electronics, clothing, bikes, etc. for free. They don't tend to have a set location, but tend to be hosted in public spaces such as libraries. Look up ones coming to your area!

Self-Sustainability

Tutorials, recipes, information, etc.
Has both public free articles as well as a paid membership.

Foraging and Supporting Native Plants and Species

Foraging

Interactive map where users list edible plants they've found with names and yield ratings. Please pay attention to whether something is public or private land + use caution when harvesting or eating any wild plants.

Individual/Lifestyle

No Lawn:

No Lawn is a movement to replace the flat, monoculture lawns commonplace in the U.S. with diverse, sustainable yards consisting of native plants that support insects and biodiversity.Wild Ones helps provide information and seeds, and has two Maine chapters:

Canning and Preservation

Note: PLEASE be careful with canning as improperly doing so can create foodborne illnesses. If experienced canners have vetted websites please submit, otherwise this list is short for this reason.

Livestock

Brand and Product Recommendations

Compost plastic-alterative products, sold at Shaws. They have compost safe trash bags and food scrap bags you could use in your own compost/garden.