Crafting a Life in Maine | Scott Budde on Art, Farming & Finance

Scott Budde, financial services executive, art collector, and steward of a quietly thriving peony farm in Alna, joins Radio Maine to reflect on the intersections of finance, creativity, agriculture, and place.

After a career in mainstream banking and responsible investing, Budde came to Maine to help launch Maine Harvest Federal Credit Union, a mission-driven institution focused on supporting small farms and food businesses. Alongside this work, he and his wife cultivate hundreds of inherited peony bushes on their property along the Sheepscot River—flowers that eventually make their way into local CSAs and community spaces across Maine.

In this conversation, Budde also shares how Maine’s accessibility and creative culture shaped his unexpected journey into art collecting and commissioning. From encaustic paintings to woven works inspired by blueberry barrens, he reflects on the value of trusting artists, engaging deeply with place, and crafting a life that allows seemingly different passions to coexist.

Join our conversation with Scott Budde today on Radio Maine—and be sure to subscribe to the channel.