Good to hear a WCNY success story. You’re in good company with a lot of folks in the area producing lots of great agricultural products. I wish I was around there more often (from the little A town to the west; and have spent a lot time around there, especially hiking around Merck). Good luck!
Maple syrup has become quite pricey up here in Canada (like everything). But man, that amber-colored, velvety richness of maple syrup is something to be had every once and while.
Actually when I was a kid (50's-60's) Log Cabin was still something like 3% maple syrup (per the label) and you could taste it. Now I won't touch anything but the real stuff.
I find the FP literally indispensable for getting “real news,” as by now I pretty much don’t trust any other outlets. But I love pieces like this. They’re a breath of fresh air, balm for the soul. More, please!
We moved from Manhattan to six acres in Connecticut last year. I’ve been dreaming of tapping our many sugar maples. I’ve read some books on sugaring and watched videos on how to build my own evaporator outside. The timing of this essay feels like a sign. Can’t wait for late winter!
The author says he's "hoping to finance a vacuum system that sucks sap out of the trees with enough force to dislodge a brick." I know I'm ignorant when it comes to "sugaring," but this vacuum system doesn't sound healthy for the trees.
It doesn't suck the sap out. It just sucks it all into one place after it drips out, the same way it would with a bucket. That way you don't have to go around and collect each bucket.
How fascinating!
Now I am wondering whether it's possible to grow sugar maples Down Under... And harvest my own syrup...
Good to hear a WCNY success story. You’re in good company with a lot of folks in the area producing lots of great agricultural products. I wish I was around there more often (from the little A town to the west; and have spent a lot time around there, especially hiking around Merck). Good luck!
Hey Peter. We have sugar maples on part our 25 acres in Sutton QC. Know anyone who might want to tap them?
Maple syrup has become quite pricey up here in Canada (like everything). But man, that amber-colored, velvety richness of maple syrup is something to be had every once and while.
Great read!
guy a few doors down make maple syrup to bad the maple syrup mafia ruins it for most of the producers
https://glissade.ca/en/cabane/
My neighbor taps my trees and gives me 4 gallons in return. I get them in pints so I can pass them out to family and friends.
If you go to the Log Cabin Syrup website, you will notice the word "maple" is never used.
Actually when I was a kid (50's-60's) Log Cabin was still something like 3% maple syrup (per the label) and you could taste it. Now I won't touch anything but the real stuff.
I have a friend who moved to New York and then somehow syrup making entered into his posts on FB. Now I understand.
My maple syrup jokes were well timed.
Maybe you could write a book - title it “Zen and the Art of Maple Sugaring”?
What an amazing story. Makes me want to come over with my teens as an apprentice. We can broom the floors I don’t know, wash windows… or cook. 🤓
What a palate cleanser, literally and figuratively.
More like this please!
Love reading pieces like this.
I find the FP literally indispensable for getting “real news,” as by now I pretty much don’t trust any other outlets. But I love pieces like this. They’re a breath of fresh air, balm for the soul. More, please!
We moved from Manhattan to six acres in Connecticut last year. I’ve been dreaming of tapping our many sugar maples. I’ve read some books on sugaring and watched videos on how to build my own evaporator outside. The timing of this essay feels like a sign. Can’t wait for late winter!
I stopped buying maple syrup years ago as it has become ridiculously expensive.
The author says he's "hoping to finance a vacuum system that sucks sap out of the trees with enough force to dislodge a brick." I know I'm ignorant when it comes to "sugaring," but this vacuum system doesn't sound healthy for the trees.
It doesn't suck the sap out. It just sucks it all into one place after it drips out, the same way it would with a bucket. That way you don't have to go around and collect each bucket.
Thank you, Zach, for your clarification of this technology. You've put my mind at rest. : )