The Maple Bug

We call it the maple bug, and I guess it’s been brewing in me for many years now. It all started around 1975, when my best friend Jerry and I decided to try our hand at sugaring. We used to hang sap buckets around our hometown of Schenevus, New York which is a quaint hamlet nestled within the scenic landscapes of upstate New York. In the spring, we would gather sap, assemble cinder-block arches and start a roaring fire. I remember boiling the sap until it was almost to the point of syrup, then packing up our operation and heading to Jerry’s parent’s kitchen where we were able to finish the process. We would have never thought that something so simple could turn out to be so delicious.

I spent most of my free time working on a local dairy farm throughout high school. This dairy farm also produced and sold around 200 gallons of maple syrup annually, and all by word of mouth!

My wife and I raised our children in the suburbs, but always dreamed of fresh air and land. In 2013 we were blessed enough to purchase a new property- one that happened to be filled with maple trees. I remember walking through the woods with my wife and children (and one grandchild) and thinking of ways we could make use of all the beautiful sugar maples that stood tall and proud on this land. Life got busy, and a few years went by. Until one day my son and daughter in law showed up with sap buckets and taps. I guess you can say the rest is history.

This coming spring will be our 5th year tapping trees and boiling sap. We are looking forward to another year of providing maple syrup for our family, friends, community and you.