History
A Celebration of Culture, History, and Nature
🌿 Our History
The Wild Blueberry Heritage Center was founded in 2001 when Dell and Marie Emerson started Wild Blueberry Farms. it all started with a bright-blue dome along Route 1 in Columbia Falls, Maine. It was just a small farmstand and bakery, but it quickly grew into a homely but lively operation. Often going there, you will find many people either checking out the barons or on the other side checking out the history and bakery side of the operation.
In 2016, Marie Emerson founded a nonprofit Heritage Center in the hopes of sharing a deeper story of Maine blueberries. As well as share the rich history of the Wabanaki people and their very ingenious and innovative practices used since the beginning of wild Maine blueberries to today.
By 2023, the Wild Blueberry Heritage Center had fully transitioned into its active form. It has interactive exhibits, educational programs, and a focus on preservation of cultural heritage. To this day, the iconic dome welcomes many visitors from everywhere in order to continue the history and practices of Maine wild blueberries.
🪶 The Wabanaki and the Wild Blueberry
For over 10,000 years, the Wabanaki Confederacy: the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Nations have lived in Maine cultivating and curating blueberries for all type of uses.
Blueberries have a long-standing sacred food for the Wabanaki people. However, they used blueberries not only for nourishment, but also for medicine and ceremony. In general, Maine blueberries come solely from the Indigenous groups of Maine. Everything we know about blueberries today stemmed from their practices.
A large part of the Wabanaki’s practices is controlled burnings. Controlled burnings are used to clear the underbrush of blueberry plants. It is mostly used after harvest to get much needed nutrients back into the ground, It is also used to stimulate blueberry growth, as well as control pests and diseases.
Today, we honor and preserve the Wabanaki’s traditions and practices. As well as help people understand where it all came from, and how amazing they are.
🫐 Wild Blueberry Heritage Today
Actively, the Wild Blueberry Heritage Center stands as a strong cornerstone of Columbia Falls, Maine, preserving the unique legacy of Maine wild blueberries. A main focus for the Wild Blueberry Heritage Center is: Their Educational Exhibits, their Virtual Museum, and their Seasonal Events & Tours.
We look forward to continuing to serve and educate the people far and wide about Maine wild blueberries for years to come.
