Save the Legendary Massachusetts Cranberry
The first and only nonprofit foundation dedicated to saving New England’s culinary heritage.
We help preserve bogs and the future of the iconic Thanksgiving staple.
Who We Are: Saving the Massachusetts Cranberry, One Bog at a Time
Massachusetts cranberry bogs are disappearing. These historic wetlands, once the heart of New England’s identity, are being abandoned, lost to development, or simply withering away due to rising costs and climate challenges. But thanks to donations like yours, the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation stepped in, securing the land and beginning the painstaking process of restoration.
The Massachusetts cranberry—famous for its unmatched flavor and deep ruby-red color—is at risk of fading into history. We are dedicated to stopping this decline. We believe these bogs are more than just farmland—they are living history, a vital ecosystem, and a piece of our state’s identity.
The Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation provides grants to small cranberry farmers, conducts research, and our volunteers work to preserve, restore, and protect Massachusetts cranberry bogs, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the fruit that has been cultivated here for centuries. Our mission is clear: save the bogs, save the legend.
Every donation helps restore another acre, prevent another bog from being lost to development, and ensure that future generations can enjoy the world’s best cranberries—grown right here in New England.
What We Do: Fighting for a Tangy Future
When a cranberry bog is abandoned, it doesn’t take long for nature—and developers—to take over. Once-thriving vines are choked by weeds, irrigation systems collapse, and before you know it, another piece of history is gone forever. We refuse to let that happen.
At Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation, we step in before it’s too late. Our volunteers work with farmers who can no longer maintain their bogs, securing donations of land to preserve them rather than see them destroyed. We clear invasive plants, restore the delicate wetland ecosystem, and rebuild the irrigation networks that keep cranberry vines alive. We also maintain and revive abandoned bogs, bringing them back to life and ensuring they continue producing the legendary Massachusetts cranberry with Gift-A-Bog.
Every bog we save is a victory. But we can’t do it alone. Your support helps us reclaim lost acres, fight back against extinction, and keep Massachusetts cranberries thriving for generations to come. Join us—before these bogs disappear forever. With every dollar donated, we cleared invasive species, rebuilt the water system, and introduced sustainable practices to ensure the bog could thrive once more.
Anticipated Projects: Reviving the Red Gold of Massachusetts
It all starts with a phone call from a worried landowner. A once-thriving family bog in Plymouth, passed down for generations, had become a tangled mess of overgrowth and stagnant water. The irrigation ditches had dried up, and the vines—some of which had been producing cranberries for over a century—were barely clinging to life. Without intervention, this historic bog would be lost forever.
That’s where the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation will step in. Armed with volunteers and a passion for saving these legendary wetlands, we issued a Small Cranberry Farmer Grant. Over the next six months, we cleared invasive species, repaired the water flow system, and introduced sustainable farming techniques to ensure the bog would continue producing the finest Massachusetts cranberries for years to come. Now, this family bog is on the path to revival, producing its first healthy crop in nearly a decade.
At the same time, we’ll be looking to take on another ambitious project: the Lowlands Restoration Initiative, an effort to transform 25 acres of donated, neglected wetlands into a fully functional cranberry bog to save it from development. This project is more than just about cranberry production—it’s about rebuilding a fragile ecosystem. Cranberry bogs naturally support wildlife, help filter water, and protect against flooding. By restoring these bogs, we’re strengthening the environment for future generations.
These are just two of the projects that the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation will be leading, but there are dozens more bogs in desperate need of help. Without action, the Massachusetts cranberry—one of the state’s most treasured agricultural products—could become a thing of the past. We can ensure that these bogs, and the legendary cranberries they produce, remain a vital part of New England’s landscape for generations to come.
Your donation provides grants to small cranberry farmers.
“You have to try this homemade cranberry sauce.” Become a volunteer today.
Without action, these bogs in Massachusetts will disappear, taking jobs, wildlife habitats, and a time-honored New England tradition with them. But with your support, we can fight back.