The beginning of a family tradition

[lindseyr1980]

We moved to the country from small town city living, and began sugaring in 2013. The land where we bought our house is LOADED with sugar maple (I have 40 taps in the front yard alone. I never had any intentions of producing maple syrup, for our own use or to sell, but back in 2013 my brother pointed out that I could do it. So I tapped 6 trees, using Bic pen tubs as my spiels, and empty glass beer growlers to collect the sap. I still use the beer growlers, because I like the way they look on the trees. We decided that we want to continue on a larger scale, so this summer we are converting a small old barn into a sugar shack. My 5 year old son loves to help collect sap and stir the pot. Hoping to keep the tradition going for many, many years to come!

2013- 6 taps, 1 quart of syrup
2014- 25 taps, 2 1/2 gallons syrup
2015- 45 taps, well over 200 gallons of sap collected so far, and over 2 gallons of syrup plus some maple sugar!
Later this year- adding a sugar shack and evaporator

[crazyjackcsa]

That's awesome. My son and daughter, aged 7 and 5, like to check the sap on the trees, help haul it in and then lose interest in the boil. They'll stop by every once and a while and "test" the sap as it boils down.

[grimmreaper]

Some call it a family tradition,but it reality "it a family addiction".once you start ,you only want to make more,buy more,and sell more! And of your like my family"its not about the money you make,its putting that smile on peoples faces weather you make money or not!

[optionguru]

We've noticed an influx of relatives that live a couple hours away coming to visit during Maple season, a few came this weekend to hang out and sample the maple nuts and maple candy. Everyone is out right now getting supplies (beer & hot dogs) to start boiling in an hour or so. I love when 10 or 15 friends and family hang around the evaporator. Can't wait for my sugar shack to be built next year. Have fun!

[little bettah flavah]

it all started with my grandfather letting me use 9 buckets i enjoy my grandparents family and friends come down to see how my operation has grown it is an addiction because every year i want to get bigger

2012 9 buckets and a turkey cooker
2013 50 taps 9 buckets a 24"by 36" flat pan on an oil barrel
2014 85 taps
2015 100 taps a snowmobile for collecting
2016 200-300 taps 2'x 5' four pass pan with float box a wood fired arch with blower motor 350 gallon storage tank

[Sugarmaker]

A good tradition to hand down!
I remember many things as a kid making syrup. Next thing you know 55 years have gone by! Don't blink!
Regards,
Chris

[sap retreiver]

my avatar is when he started watching now he helps tap. Fun doesn't explain it! 1245412455

[n8hutch]

Great photos & stories. I too got hooked pretty young. And Hope my kids do too. My daughter has already had a taste of Maple syrup and she is only 6 months old. She loves the stuff. My wife is not so impressed.

Congratulations to all who keep the tradition alive.

[Klonce]

It was a Wednesday morning my wife and I were walking the property to pick out a location to build a tree fort for my son who is 7 years old. We noticed the abundance of sugar maples on our property. We went on YouTube and found how to build a sugar shack and the plans changed from tree fort to full blow sugar shack. Last year we produced 8 ounces of maple syrup 2015. This year 2016 we have 20 taps and a 30 gallon storage drum for our sap storage. My son and wife, dog nephew, and myself enjoy the tradition and plan to keep it going.

Regards,
Kevin Lonce
84 maple works

[slammer3364]

We started our addiction in 2008, wish it would have been sooner,my granddaughter and me first started now the whole family looks forward to the work. Maybe if everyone did this the world would be a better place.