Campus Involvement

Green Living

Shopping Guide - Brunswick Area

Rescue the planet! Start with your shopping cart:

  • Buy items with little or no packaging to reduce unnecessary waste.
  • Buy local goods to reduce transportation-generated costs, pollution and waste.
  • Buy local and organic meat and produce to minimize land degradation, support the local economy, maximize the nutrient content of your food, and avoid the pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones found in conventionally grown products.
  • Buy second hand goods to cut waste and decrease the strain on natural resources by reducing the demand for new products, and save money, too!
  • Buying energy efficient products reduces electric bills and lessens your contribution to global warming!

The following businesses have products or initiatives to reduce waste and energy consumption. These include discounts for bringing your own mug, environmentally friendly soaps and detergents, local and organic foods, and second hand shops. If you have any additions or advice for this list, please email the sustainable office, cpayson@bowdoin.edu.

For a quick list of environmentally friendly "Back to School" shopping ideas visit the Center for a New American Dream's Back to School Shopping Check List [pdf]. It has ideas on everything from bath towels to light bulbs - many of which can be purchased at the local Brunswick stores listed below.

Groceries, Goods
Sporting Goods
Cafes and Restaurants
Clothing, Appliances, Goods

Groceries, Goods

Cotes Ice Cream
Maine Street (Just beyond Scarlet Begonias on your way to Hannaford) Enjoy Maine made ice cream during the summer months.

The Farmers Market

  • Crystal Spring Farm - Saturdays 8-12, May through October
  • The Town Quad - Tuesdays and Fridays, May through November
    • Purchase local, (often organic) produce from farms in the Brunswick area
    • Apples, squashes, greens, root vegetables, free-range turkey products, homemade dumplings and goat cheese, local wool, baked goods, etc.

F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies 56 Maine Street, Brunswick (729-4050)

  • Sells energy efficient appliances, recycled goods, composting supplies, home/room decorations, rugs, lamps etc.
  • Check out their page with a more complete list of products.

Morning Glory Natural Foods 60 Maine Street (729-0546)

  • Offers organic and natural foods, fresh baked goods, many vegetarian and vegan options
  • Local goods, jewelry, gifts
  • Organic beauty and bath products
  • Herbal teas, supplements, organic and fair trade coffee
  • bulk items

Hannaford

  • Bring your own bag, or an old Hannafords bag, and you receive a discount off your purchase
  • Drop off your used plastic bags either at the bin located in the front entrance of the store, or by Bowdoin's Bookstore
  • Make use of their recycling center for your bottles and cans

Sporting Goods

Play it Again Sports
124 Maine Street, Brunswick
729-3900

  • Used sporting goods

Cafes and Restaurants

Backstreet Bistro 11 Town Hall Place (725-4060)(next to the Fire House, behind Grand Variety off Maine Street)

  • Offers free-range Maine chicken, some local seafood and other local or organic produce

Bohemian Coffee House Located in front of Hannafords (725-9095)

  • Take your laptop, utilize the wireless internet, and let them know you will be staying so you can get a mug, and a discount on your refill.
  • $1.07 to fill up your travel mug. Offers one organic coffee blend.

El Camino Cushing Street (Go down Maine Street, take a left onto Rt. 1, then another left on Cushing) (725-8228)

  • Offers local and organic food whenever possible, including free-range chicken, Maine shrimp, homemade tortillas.

Harraseeket Inn 162 Main, Freeport (865-9377)

  • Their Growers and Raisers list is posted in their mission statement in the menu, so not only do they exclusively serve local and organic foods, but you can also find out exactly what farm it came from.

Henry and Marty's 61 Maine Street (721-9141)

  • Tuesday-Saturday nights, opening at 5:00.
  • Vegan entrée daily, offers Wolfneck Farm's locally raised beef.

Little Dog Coffee Shop 87 Maine Street (721-9500)

  • Take advantage of the comfortable chairs, and ask for a mug to enjoy your coffee in house. If you bring your own travel mug, you receive a discount, and can fill up for only $1.20
  • Generally offers one or more Organic/Fair trade blends
  • Offers free wireless internet

O' Naturals 240 US Route 1 (the Shops at Falmouth Village), Falmouth (781-8889) 83 Exchange Street, Portland (321-2050)

  • Offers organic and natural foods, sandwiches, salads and flatbreads with free range grown, hormone and antibiotic free meats
  • If you are in a rush, call for take-out, or sit in while enjoying quick, affordable service. Many vegan and vegetarian options.

Scarlet Begonias 212 Maine Street (721-0403)

  • Offers Carrabasset Coffee, roasted in Bowdoinham.
  • Buys some local farmer's produce and herbs when possible.

Sweet Leaves Teahouse 22 Pleasant Street, (next to Post Office) Jessica Gorton, proprietor, cell (207) 522-5536

www.sweetleaves.com
  • Restaurant serving healthy, simple meals with a focus on locally grown foods.
  • Vegetarian and vegan soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and desserts, and wheat free choices.
  • Fair trade teas, coffee, herbal tisanes are also served.

Wild Oats Bakery and Café 149 Maine Street (725-6287)

  • 95 Cents to fill up your travel mug.
  • Offers Carabasset coffee, roasted locally in Bowdoinham.
  • Offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian sandwiches and salads.

The Station Maine Street, next to Dominos.

  • Coffee roasted on-site.
  • Homebaked goods.
  • Small, community-oriented atmosphere.

Clothing, Appliances, Goods

Salvation Army 127 Pleasant Street, Brunswick

  • Offers clothing, shoes, appliances, music, books, belts, bags, jewelry and kitchen supplies

Second Hand Rose Consignment Shop 53 Maine Street (729-9761)

  • Small second hand shop, many unique clothing options, great for costumes as well, variety of "recycled, fabulous fashions."

Estilo 10 Pleasant Street (729-4091)

  • Fine consigment for women
  • Owner happily helps you find your style and "shops" for you
  • Good prices, quality used clothing