LOU SIDELL
With a career in planning and flood mitigation starting in Illinois, Lou married a native Mainer and moved to Maine where he and his wife bought a wild blueberry farm. Following his retirement he focused on working Perseverance Wild Blueberry Farm. He and his wife live in Guilford, Maine. He has written a book, Wild Perseverance, about the history of his blueberry farm and explains the process of growing and harvesting the Maine wild low bush blueberries. Lou has led an amazing life with lots of travel experiences and establishing a broad network of friends across the country.
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WILD PERSEVERANCE
This story begins when Lou, a young man from Illinois, meets Nancy, a young woman from Maine who wanted to have a blueberry farm like her Mom and Dad, and her sister and brother-in-law. Before Lou knew it, he and Nancy became blueberry farmers in the beautiful, remote area of Maine known as Kingsbury Plantation, population three at the time.
Over the next several decades, Lou and Nancy built a thriving blueberry business. While juggling their professional careers, they improved the wild blueberry acres. They acquired equipment, added structures, and navigated the many challenges of running a remote farm, which turned out to be an incredible and educational journey.
Along the way, Lou and Nancy made many wonderful friends who enriched their lives. Their success came not just from their own hard work, but from the dedication of their employees and customers, and the invaluable guidance of Nancy's parents.
Throughout this book, Lou shares the process of blueberry farming, including pictures that bring the farm to life. He warmly invites readers to discover what blueberry farming is really like-the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Through it all, Lou and Nancy persevered, and 40 years later, they continue to work the land all while gaining new stories, friends, and experiences.