From Jam Jars to Sourdough: Maine’s Latest Homemade Obsession

Maine has always gone through phases where a certain homemade craft seems to take over kitchens across the state. For our parents, it was jam making. Every summer meant jars lined up on counters, sticky fingers, and recipes passed between neighbors.

It wasn’t just about preserving fruit, it was about using what you had, filling the pantry, and finding satisfaction in making something yourself. That spirit hasn’t disappeared. It’s just taken a new form.

Now, sourdough bread is having its moment in Maine. Open almost any refrigerator and you’ll find a jar of starter quietly bubbling away. Talk to friends, and chances are they’re either baking loaves themselves or buying them from someone who is.

Many of my friends are making and selling homemade sourdough, and it’s flying off the shelves as soon as it’s baked. In the winter especially, sourdough has become the perfect pastime. It fills long, cold days with purpose, warmth, and the smell of fresh bread, something that feels especially comforting when snow is piling up outside.

Beyond being a hobby, sourdough has also become a small but meaningful way to make an extra buck. But even more than that, it’s about connection and joy. Sharing a loaf feels personal, homemade, and thoughtful.

And really, who doesn’t love homemade sourdough?

In a state like Maine, where traditions quietly evolve instead of disappearing, sourdough feels like the latest chapter in a very familiar story.