Join Us for the 2026 Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit!
A gathering of wild blueberry growers, scientists, conservationists, policy makers and local, state and federal program partners to address drought, rising costs, and the future of Maine's signature crop.
We are happy to invite you to the Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit on Friday, September 18, 2026 from 9am-4pm.
Hosted by the Hancock and Washington County Soil & Water Conservation Districts in partnership with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), this full-day field event is dedicated to supporting Maine's wild blueberry growers and the land they steward.
Event Details
When: September 18, 2026 | 9am-4pm
Where: Blue Ridge Farms, 1284 Waltham Road, Waltham, Maine
Cost: Free, includes lunch
Door prizes and raffles
Co-Sponsored by:
Hancock County SWCD
Washington County SWCD
USDA/NRCS
Blue Ridge Farms
Raffle Items Generously Donated By:
Koppert Global - 4 Bumblebee Quads ($250 value each)
Hammond Lumber - 2 Amish Chairs
Union Farm Equipment - Weekend Rental of Stand On Compact Loader ($542 value)
Helen’s Restaurant (Ellsworth) - $25 Gift Certificate
The Governors (Ellsworth) - $25 Gift Certificate
The Bald Mouse Forge - Set of hand forged hooks
Home Depot - Planter pots, tool set, welcome mat
Hancock County SWCD - T-shirts & hats
Hancock County SWCD - Copy of Maine Invasive Plants Field Guide (Maine Natural Areas Program, DACF)
Register
Click the orange link below to register:
Presenters for the event include:
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist and Associate Professor of Horticulture - Soil Nutrients and Pest Control
Eric Venturini, Executive Director at Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine - Strategy, Policy & Funding Update
Charles Penney, Hancock County District Conservationist, USDA/NRCS - Rock Removal, Mulching and NRCS Programs
Tom Gordon, Soil & Water Conservation Coordinator, DACF - Farmers Drought Relief
Featured Speakers
Field Walk: Event host Peter Jordan of Blue Ridge Farms and District Conservationist Charles Penney lead a field walk to explore mulching, soil health, biochar strategies and more.
Ashley Burke, Farm Service Agency - Programs for Low Bush Blueberry Farmers
Candace Gilpatric, Ag Engineer - Funded Water Management Plans That Unlock Other Funding Opportunities
John Welton, MOFGA Certification and Quality Specialist - Transitioning to Organic
Steve MacDonald, District Forester - Forest Stewardship Programs for Blueberry Growers
Lisa Hanscom, Owner, Welch Farms - How Agritourism Works
Ron Howard, Owner, Brodis Blueberries - Fresh Pack Forced Air Cooling, and the new Wild Blueberry Growers Association
Tom Horton, Co-Founder, Biocarbon - Biochar as a soil amendment
Lily Kenny, NRDRAP Team, DACF - 2023, 2024 Disaster Relief Funding
Dr. Ling Li, Asst. Professor of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, UMaine - Biochar/mulching
Visit Vendors to Learn About:
Farm and land trusts
Farm worker career supports
Research on bumble bees vs. honey bees
Soil testing
Biochar as a soil amendment
Funding opportunities
Full field and spot mulching, rock removal, and mowing providers
Schedule
9:00 Event Begins
9:15 - Welcome & Intros
9:25 - Video Message from Senator Collins
9:30 - Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Extension - Soil Nutrients and Pest Control
10:00 - Eric Venturini, Wild Blueberry Commission - Strategy, Policy & Funding Update
10:20 - Charles Penney & Ashley Martone, USDA/NRCS- Rock Removal/Mulching Program
10:40 - Scott Speck, Farm Service Agency - Programs for Low Bush Blueberry Farmers
11:00 - Lily Kenny, NRDRAP Team, DACF - 2023, 2024 Disaster Relief Funding
11:20 - Field Walk: Event host Peter Jordan, Penney, Martone, Calderwood - Mulching/biochar
12:00 - Lunch by Sheila’s Catering - Door prizes and raffle items drawn
12:30 - Dr. Ling Li, Asst. UMaine - Mulching/biochar
12:50 - Tom Gordon, DACF - Farmers Drought Resilience Program
1:10 - Candace Gilpatric, Ag Engineer - Water Management Plans
1:30 - Panel Discussion (Penney, Calderwood, Martone, Venturini, Moderator: Peter Jordan)
1:50 - John Welton, MOFGA - Transitioning to Organic
2:10 - Steve MacDonald, Maine Forest Service - Forest Stewardship for Blueberry Growers
2:30 - Tom Horton, Standard Biocarbon - Biochar as a Soil Amendment
2:50 - Mark King, DACF, Compost
3:10 - Lisa Hanscom, Welch Farm - How Agritourism Works
3:30 - Ron Howard, Brodis Blueberries - Fresh Pack Forced Air Cooling, New Growers Association
3:55 Closing remarks
Visit Conservation Vendors to Learn About:
Free pH soil testing
Federal conservation programs
Research on bumble bees
Biochar as a soil amendment
Other partners in conservation
Also included:
Panel Discussion with leading industry experts
Free catered lunch, with refreshments throughout the day
Beautiful expansive views from the heartland of Hancock County’s blueberry barrens