Maine has a literary tradition that is well-known, spans centuries, and is diverse in genre. A part of that tradition is steeped in and connected to farming (E. B. White, Robert Tristram Coffin, Kate Douglas Wiggin, et al.), and it includes not just the pastoral abundance of spring and summer but also the challenges and inwardness of the winter months. We wanted a feature that focused on a Bowdoin alumnus or alumna who farms in Maine, seeking to capture the sense of “cozy hardship” that the state's winters can bring to a farming life. We also wanted to look up close at farmers' lives and choices and their complicated connections to people and animals. We chose Amy Burchstead and her Buckwheat Blossom Farm, and we got a story with even more layers than we expected.
From the Judges
Strikingly detailed, rich story. The judges appreciated the evocative imagery and snapshot of the land and the life of the subject. Well done.
