Join Us for the 2026 Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit!

Written By HCSWCD Staff

A gathering of 75–100 wild blueberry growers, conservation agencies, and federal and state program partners to address drought, rising costs, and the future of Maine's signature crop.

We are happy to invite farmers, conservationists, scientists, and neighbors to the Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit on Friday, September 18, 2026.

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 snacks, lunch and door prizes/raffles

Co-Sponsored by:

  • Hancock County SWCD

  • Washington County SWCD

  • USDA/NRCS

  • Blue Ridge Farms

  • Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust

  • Koppel Global

  • Helen’s Restaurant

Register for Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit

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

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

Register for Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit

Door prizes include:

  • 4 Bumblebee Quads (For 2027 grow year, donated by Koppert Global - $250 value each

  • Hand Forged Plant Hanger (Donated by John Sundberg of Bald Mouse Forge Blacksmith Shop)

Many more to come!

Schedule

  • 8:30 - Vendor Set-up

  • 9:00 - Welcome & Intros, HCSWCD Board Chair, Dr. Mark C. Whiting

  • 9:30 - Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist and Associate Professor of Horticulture - Soil Nutrients and Pest Control

  • 10:15 - Eric Venturini, Executive Director at Wild Blueberry Commission - Strategy, Policy & Funding Update

  • 10:45 - USDA/NRCS District Conservationists Charles Penney (Hancock County) and Ashley Martone (Washington County) - Rock Removal and Mulching Program

  • 11:05 - Ashley Burke, Farm Service Agency - Programs for Low Bush Blueberry Farmers

  • 11:20 - Event host Peter Jordan of Blue Ridge Farms, District Conservationists Charles Penney and Ashley Martone, and. Dr. Lily Calderwood lead a field walk to explore mulching and biochar strategies

  • 12:00 - Lunch by Sheila’s Catering

  • 12:45 - Tom Gordon, Soil & Water Conservation Coordinator, DACF - DACF Farmers Drought Resilience Program

  • 1:15 - Candace Gilpatric, Ag Engineer - Funded Water Management Plans That Unlock Other Funding Opportunities 

  • 1:45 - Door prizes and raffle items drawn

  • 2:00 - Panel Discussion (Charles Penney, Lily Calderwood, Ashley Martone, etc.)

  • 2:30 - Breakout Sessions

    • Tent 1

      • 2:30 to 2:50 - Tom Welton, MOFGA Certification and Quality Specialist - Transitioning to Organic

      • 2:50 to 3:10 - Steve MacDonald, District Forester - Forest Stewardship Programs for Blueberry Growers

      • 3:10 to 3:30 - Tom Horton, Co-Founder, Standard Biocarbon - Biochar as a soil amendment

    • Tent 2

      • 2:30 to 2:50 - Anne Marie Coleman, Koppert - Pollination Research on Bumblebees

      • 2:50 to 3:10 - Lisa Hanscom, Owner, Welch Farm - How Agritourism Works

      • 3:10 to 3:30 - Ron Howard, Owner, Brodis Blueberries - Fresh Pack Forced Air Cooling, and the new Wild Blueberry Growers Association

  • 3:45 Closing remarks

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

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


HCSWCD Staff
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