Where Have All the Blueberries Gone?

It’s blueberry season once again in Midcoast Maine, and we’ve been hearing the same question from many visitors: “Where have all the blueberries gone?”

If you’re willing to wander a little farther along the edges of the blueberry barrens at Crystal Spring Farm, you may still find a handful of sweet rewards. But unfortunately this is another year with noticeably fewer berries than many of us remember.

Why are there so few blueberries this year?

There isn’t a single cause. Wild blueberry production depends on a combination of environmental conditions, and several factors appear to have worked against the crop this season.

Last summer and fall, parts of Cumberland County experienced drought conditions, followed by another dry spring. Add in increasingly unpredictable weather, heat waves, and the unique temperature and moisture conditions of each individual site, and blueberry plants can struggle to produce fruit.

Lowbush blueberries also follow a natural two-year growth cycle. During one year, the plants focus on vegetative growth and setting buds for the following season rather than producing berries. When this natural cycle overlaps with stressful weather conditions, berry production can be especially low.

While changing climate patterns are making these fluctuations more common, every season tells a different story.

There’s more here than just blueberries!

Even in years with a light harvest, Crystal Spring Farm’s blueberry barrens remain one of the most remarkable places to explore.

What appears to be a sea of low shrubs is actually part of a globally rare sandplain grassland, an ecosystem listed by the Maine Natural Areas Program as critically imperiled. These open landscapes provide habitat for an extraordinary variety of plants and wildlife.

In the past year alone, birders and biologists have documented Eastern Meadowlarks, Grasshopper Sparrows, Killdeer, Eastern Bluebirds, Ovenbirds, and several rare sedge species using this habitat.

This land isn’t just for picking, it’s for protecting. Your careful use of this space helps preserve its ecological integrity, supports rare wildlife, and continues a legacy of stewardship dating back thousands of years.

Sandplain grasslands have remained open for thousands of years through periodic fire. Many of the plants and animals found here evolved alongside this natural process and depend on it to thrive.

Since 2013, BTLT has partnered with the Maine Forest Service and the Brunswick Fire Department to conduct prescribed burns that help maintain this rare habitat. Weather permitting, the next prescribed burn is planned for fall 2026. We’ll share more information as those plans develop.

Whether you leave with a bucket full of berries or just a few handfuls, we hope you’ll take time to appreciate this unique landscape. Listen for the birds, watch the pollinators at work, and enjoy one of Maine’s rarest ecosystems.

Some years the berries are plentiful. Some years they’re scarce. But the barrens are always worth a visit.

Where & How to Pick

Our public blueberry barren is located south of Pleasant Hill Road. Please park at the Crystal Spring Farm trailhead and follow the East Trail. When you reach the Blueberry Loop, turn right toward the field. The public picking area is clearly marked.

While picking, please:

  • Bring your own containers.
  • Leave berries for wildlife and fellow pickers.
  • Respect other visitors and care for the land.

We’d love to see your adventures! Share your favorite blueberry recipes or photos by emailing lydia@btlt.org or tagging @brunswicktopsham on social media.

Please stay on Land Trust property

  • BTLT owns only a portion of the blueberry barren between Pleasant Hill Road and Brunswick High School.
  • The much larger section south of Crystal Spring Farm is privately owned and leased to Maquoit Wild Blueberries, where local farmer Seth Kroeck manages a commercial organic blueberry operation. This area is not open for public picking.
  • In addition, approximately 1.5 acres of BTLT’s property is leased to Maquoit Wild Blueberries and is also closed to u-pick. Half of the harvest from this area is donated to support local food security.
  • Property boundaries are clearly marked with signs and metal stakes, and the line is also indicated by the lone trees in the middle of the field. Please do not pick beyond these boundaries.

Park safely

We strongly encourage visitors to park at the Crystal Spring Farm trailhead (277 Pleasant Hill Road, Brunswick) and walk to the barrens via the East Trail.

However, if you choose to park along Pleasant Hill Road:

  • Park only on the south side of the road (the same side as the blueberry barrens).
  • Never block the farm road or gate—they serve as active farm access and emergency routes.
  • Watch for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and farm equipment sharing the road.

Questions? Call the BTLT office at (207) 729-7694.

Happy picking—and remember, sometimes the hardest-earned berries are the sweetest!