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Oyster harvesting on the Damariscotta River

Just down river from the little town of Damariscotta, some of the best oysters in the world are heading for dinner tables around the globe.

Along the Coast of Maine: There is a state of mind that is uniquely found in the State of Maine. There is more coastline in this state (3500 miles) than the entire West Coast of the USA. Here is the largest area in the country of unspoiled virgin forest (17 million acres). Over 90% of the 1M person population lives in the lowest one-third of the state. It takes nine hours to drive from Kittery (in the South) to the northernmost region above Caribou.

The people here have become quite self-sufficient.

Summers are ever wistful... winter is always coming!  Autumn's spectacular, winters long and bone-chillingly cold, and a spring that predictably defines "mud season." It makes for a tenacious, resourceful personality that somehow enjoys the temperature of the ocean waters (so cold the lobsters are the sweetest on earth). People settle in and become "Mainers" and going "Down East" always means returning home.

In this episode of the show we meet eleven business owners who would rather live in Maine than anywhere else in the world. They are seasoned travelers who, after touring the world, decided to stay in the state they call home and build their legacy.

Hardly parochial, these people see the world as their marketplace. They see beyond the horizon; they know no boundaries and no borders; the world's people are their family. Plus, every person in this episode is committed to their community. They are active in their local Chamber and they are driven to make their community and our world a better place. 
 
These are the quiet heroes. Many are new pioneers. They charter new waters and break new grounds. They all create unique products and services. They are volunteers, value creators, the movers, the shakers, the doers, and the lovers of life. We can learn a lot from these hardworking, decent folks.

All the key ideas and videos from this episode...   In the NYT