where it all takes root
Every great family business has its heart — ours just happens to have four legs and snort a little. Our three Frenchies are the real bosses around here, keeping spirits high and reminding us to slow down and enjoy the simple things. They’re the heart and soul of Earth Keeper, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
THE HEART & SOUL
Earth Keeper Cannabis is a family-grown business built on respect for the plant, the planet, and the people of Maine. Founded by the Black family, we’ve spent more than a decade dedicated to growing clean, sustainable cannabis the way nature intended — from living soil, with care and intention in every step.
Long before legalization, John Black was part of the Legalize Maine team that helped make cannabis legal in our state. As pioneers in Maine’s medical cannabis movement, our family has always believed in education, transparency, and raising the standard for what cannabis can and should be.
We’re proud to be the only company in Maine to be organically certified for ten consecutive years, a reflection of our unwavering commitment to purity and sustainability. From raising our own worms for castings to crafting living soil by hand, everything we do stays true to our roots — literally.
Earth Keeper Cannabis isn’t just a name. It’s a promise — to the earth, to our community, and to the values that started it all.
We are earth keeper
EK Cultivation team exceeds 100 pounds of premium cannabis in one month and marks the moment we became fully self-sustaining, no longer needing to source flower from outside suppliers. A testament to our team’s dedication and commitment to organic cultivation practices.
June 2025
EK Wilton store gets full remodel. Our flagship Wilton location underwent a full remodel in May 2025, transforming the space into a brighter, more welcoming environment that reflects the Earth Keeper spirit. The updated design honors our roots while creating a warm, comfortable space for our community to connect and learn.
May 2025
EK earned its 1st Dispensary license for the 10,000 sq ft. cultivation facility.
September 2024
Started the EK recycling program with large bins in each store to collect cannabis packaging/single use plastics. The items are burned in the Wilton outdoor furnace to heat the facilities. The furnace has a regasification feature that burns with zero emissions.
April 2024
Dixfield Retail store opens. EK’s 3rd medical store.
March 2023
Winthrop Retail store opens. EK’s 2nd medical store.
February 2022
John Black serves on the Workgroup at the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy. Supporting the medical cannabis industry on a state level.
January 2022
Plant Tissue Culture Lab Established; Earth Keeper built an in-house plant tissue culture lab to preserve and restore the genetic integrity of our cannabis strains. This advanced process allows our cultivation team to rejuvenate plant lines, maintain consistent quality, and protect the unique characteristics that define each strain we grow.
March 2021
Wilton Retail store opens. EK’s 1st medical store.
September 2020
The Marijuana Legalization Act, which was to take effect within 40 days of November 8, 2016 permits adults who are not participating in the state's medical cannabis program to legally grow and to possess personal use quantities of cannabis while also licensing commercial cannabis production and retail sales. John Black, one of the co-authors of this act.
November 2016
The Certified Clean Cannabis program, launched by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and now in a yearlong trial phase, is the first of its kind on the East Coast and one of the only programs in the country to set standards for growing medical marijuana without harmful chemicals.
The program, launched in late August, verifies that medical cannabis is grown to standards that correspond to the national organic standards used for food crops. Five growers from across the state have been certified as part of the trial phase. John Black helped create the certifying process and was one of the 1st to gain certification.
