Maple Syrup
THE OLD FASHIONED WAY
Many sugar maples grow on the eastern-facing slopes of Mountain Falls Farm. A few years ago, we were approached by a sizable Massachusetts maple syrup producer interested in leasing our sugar bush. Alternatively, however, we made an arrangement with two local brothers to tap our trees –– our “lease” compensation being a share of the bottled maple syrup.
Did you Know?
It takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup!
Tree Tapping
STAYING WARM IN THE SUGAR SHACK
The Midwood brothers tap about 100 Mountain Falls Farm maple trees as a sap source for making maple syrup. Plastic flow lines connect the trees to a 500 gallon storage tank from whence the sap is collected for processing at Tom Midwood’s house in nearby Amenia, New York. Warmer winters have moved the initial seasonal sap flow into late January instead of late February. Night time freezing and daytime thaw drives the sap cycle of the maple trees. By mid-to-late March, when daytime temperatures reach 50-70 degrees, the sap slows to a trickle and the sugaring season comes to an end.