Welcome back to the Porpo's Almanac, and today we're talking about wild blueberries.

We're joined by our guest, Rachel

Chapman, a researcher in wild blueberries at the University of Maine. Rachel shares her experiences

from working as a vegetable farmer to becoming an authority in wild blueberry production,

highlighting the ecological significance of these tiny but very mighty berries.

As we navigate through the lush landscapes, Rachel provides invaluable insights into her climate change research,

revealing how different genotypes of wild blueberries may adapt to evolving environmental conditions.

We also explore the innovative farming techniques being adopted in

wild blueberry cultivation from prescribed fires, which may not be happening as much as I'd like,

to other more eco-friendly mowing methods. Rachel shed some light on challenges of water management

faced by farmers and the divide between large, well-arrigated farms

and smaller operations.

As we dive into the broader implications of food security and sovereignty, Rachel offers

a thought-provoking perspective on how wild food practices, such as foraging and home gardening,

have surged during the COVID pandemic.

We discussed the barriers to accessing public food and public lands and the complexities

of land rights, focusing on Maine's pioneering path toward right-to-food legislation.

I think this is a great conversation and dives into a lot of the big picture stuff we're

always talking about within the context of

this wild food. So I think you guys are going to really like this episode. So tune in. Let us know

what you think. Rachel, thanks so much for joining us. I'm really excited to talk about

blueberries as a New Englander who grew up around blueberries

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