Wishing you all the joys of this magical season!

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Maine is the largest producer of lowbush, or wild, blueberries. And Michigan is the largest producer of highbush. There is a kind of ‘culture war’ between the two varieties, not unlike preferences in caviar.

The wild, or lowbush blueberries, are the very tiny ones that Mainers insist have far superior flavor. While the high bush is the plumper, more common variety.

On September 15, the Lounders were winding down their wild blueberry stand in Ellsworth. Due to a very soggy summer, the blueberry season was much later than usual this year.

This was their last day of of picking through the berries, and packing them in baskets that are just the perfect color of aqua.

They even offer large ‘freezer packs’ which are great for just popping into the freezer.

When it comes to blueberries, we’ll take the ‘low’ road. It’s just too bad we’ll have to wait till next season to get some more.

Lounder Blueberries, Route One, just south of the town of Ellsworth — 207-667-2141.

Those who come to Maine for world class sailing, also come for world class boat builders. Benjamin Loveless came for both.

Although the seeds were there, his lust for boats came later in his life, than for some. But now, like so many souls who have salt in their blood, he loves anything, and everything to do with boats.

Lucky to have his first boat building job with a gifted boatsmith, he’s keen to hone his skills and test his grit, on the long trek to mastery.

There is currently a strong resurgence of fine wooden boat building in Maine. Ben might be in just the right spot to catch a steady breeze.

Are you from here or away?
I am from away, born in England, grew up in South Carolina and have been in Maine since Spring of 2002, hoping to never have to leave.

Where do you live?
As of late, it has been Northport, Maine, renting seasonal cottages and condos.

What do you like most / least about living here?
The land is beautiful, the water even more so and I feel that everyone has something going on and move with purpose.

Where do you work?
Artisian Boatworks. I have worked there for over a year now.

What are your responsibilities?
Assisting in the construction, maintenance, care and finishing of our customers’ boats.

What is it’s history?
Alec Brainerd of Rockport, Maine, started the business about five or six years ago. While a new small business, Alec’s taste in yachts and professional manner have brought Artisan Boatworks into a competitive and successful niche market, where I believe his successes will continue to grow.

Were you always interested in boats?
I spent time in my very young days in Dover, England with my grandparents who both worked on the ferries crossing the English channel. Inevitably, I would end up on them from time to time. I used to love watching the hovercrafts come in with my Grandad.

There was a little time in my early twenties working on a trawler and a longliner in the Bering Sea out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska as well as high speed catamarans than ran between Seattle and Victoria Island, British Columbia.

I had always wanted to learn how to sail and eventually sought a berth on the Maine Windjammer Cruises fleet owned by Captain Ray Williamson. I had four great years with them . . . a time that will never be forgotten. No one ever told me in high school that I could be a sailor, captain, or boatbuilder, which I believe to be a shame. My interest was always there, even in the wonderful blur of adolescence.

Do you have one?
I do! Her name is Mary Ellen and she is a Concordia 31. There are only ten hulls of this design in the world and she is the third, built by Bud McIntosh in 1961. Currently, she sits in winter storage awaiting some maintenance.

These photos are of Ben and the Artisan Boat Works crew, working on a one-off, full keel version of Herreshoff’s Buzzard’s Bay 15. The gorgeous boat has just been sanded, and will be ready to debut at the Maine Boatbuilders Show in Portland, March 20-22. Time to celebrate!

To read the full interview, go to this page. To see more photos in a slide show, go to this page.

As the wise bumper sticker says — ‘Life is too short to sail an ugly boat!’