FARMINGTON – Sappers across the state are well into the sweet season of spring, keeping fires stoked for entire weekends beneath gallons of the sugary liquid. For many, the process is a business. Maple syrup brings in roughly $48.7 million to the state’s economy over the course of a year, and for a lot of local farms the breakfast staple helps keep their doors open.
But drive down any back road around this time of year and count the number of sugaring setups- it becomes obvious that the tradition is not just about revenue anymore.
“We mostly give it to friends and family. We sell some of it,” Shawn Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s setup is slightly above average than most backyard boilers. He and his dad decided to upgrade to a bonafide sugar shack a couple of years ago, escaping the cold March weather. The shack wasn’t the only thing they upgraded. Mitchell now collects roughly 1,000 gallons of sap from 175 taps, which boils down to roughly 30 gallons of syrup each year. Mitchell and his family took a hiatus last season to welcome Blaine, the newest member of their family, but are back at it this year with Blaine in tow.
“We started out small. A neighbor was getting rid of their boiling stuff. But it just went on from there,” Mitchell said.
The Mitchells hope to eventually get licensed and sell their family-made product, but for now it fits the bill: an opportunity to spend time with friends and family around a warm fire.
“We are making memories for our kids that will last a lifetime,” Mitchell’s wife Tabatha said.
Maine Maple Sunday will be happening this coming Sunday, March 25. See details below on where to celebrate.
Day Mountain Maple
399 Farmington Rd
Strong
Watch as we make pure Maine maple syrup using a 4×10 wood fired evaporator without steam hoods. Tours of the sugarbush on a tractor drawn sled. Samples of maple products and refreshments. Find us on Rte 4, 2 miles south of strong, 7/10 mile north of Tyler’s Body Shop. Watch for signs. Sugarbush & Farm Tours available. restrooms – yes Hours: March 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact daymtnmaple@yahoo.com or 778-2716 for more information.
Maple Hill Farm
390 Titcomb Hill Road
Farmington
Self- guided sugarbush tour and boiling demonstration in the sugarhouse. Maple syrup & products for sale along with a gift table. Call for Description of Events. Open March 24 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and March 25 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 778-4506 for more information.
Jackson Mountain Farm
Orchard Hill Road
Temple
Boiling sap and syrup to taste. Maple goodies. Hot coffee and hot chocolate. Sugarbush and Farm Tours Hours: March 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact jhodgkins5@myfairpoint.net or 846-4570 for more information.
Long Drive Acres Maple Farm
319 Temple Road
Wilton
We will be boiling sap in our new 20×54 Timber Frame sap house. We produce pure maple syrup from about 2,000 taps on a 3 x 12 wood fired evaporator. We will have maple cream demonstrations along with sap house tours. The farm store will be open with samples of a variety of maple products as for sale. Offered: Farm & Sugarbush tours. Restroom facilities and handicapped accessible Open March 25, 2018 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact longdriveacres@gmail.com for more information.
Maple Valley Farm Inc
1304 Franklin Rd
Jay
Maple Syrup, Taffy and Candy for sale. Complimentary Ice Cream w/syrup, coffee, maple coated peanuts and maple taffy on snow. Farm tours, restrooms, handicapped accessible, bus and school tours. Hours: March 25 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information email icouture@roadrunner.com or call 645-2328.
Plaisted Farm Maple Products
132 Borough Rd
Jay
Boiling demonstrations, free samples of ice cream with syrup, coffee,donuts and hot chocolate. Handicapped accessible, bus and school tours. Hours March 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact plaisted.farm@gmail.com or call 578-0713 for more information.
Hall Farms Maple Products
985 U.S. Highway 2
Dixfield
For more information visit hallfarms.com, email rodney@hallfarms.com or call 645-2862.
Bowley Brook Maple
91 Masterman Rd
Weld
Tour of sap lines and sap house. Demonstrations on syrup making. Free samples of maple goodes. Sugarbush tours, restrooms, handicapped accessible, bus and school tours Hours: March 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information email miguel.ibarguen@cdlusa.net or call 578-0411.
Nice story about your family Shawn and Tabatha.
Black Acres Farm will also be open from 9-4 on Sunday. Come tour our new sap house and high-efficiency wood-fired evaporator. We will have all the goodies including Suzie’s famous baked beans, cotton candy, ice cream with syrup, baked goods. Our Sugar Shack will also be fully stocked with our all natural products raised on the farm, including beef, pork, eggs, and honey. Bring the kids and tour the farm as well and see our newborn calves and pigs. Feel free to contact us at -blackacresbeef@gmail.com (207-491-5443)
Maine Maple Sunday was started in 1983, with several area producers being pioneers. BTW, this year there is also Maine Maple Saturday too.