Turtle Lane Maple Farm

Actually, it is here! Only problem, we aren’t ready.

In all the past years, earliest we have had sap running is February 27th, and so that is what we prepare for. Imagine our surprise late last week when we figured out, OMG the season is passing us by. We have been working every spare minute on getting ready. Hanging lines for 500+ taps all around town, including a brand new run of 100 taps that replaces nearly the same amount in trees cut down last season on Johnson and Salem Streets. Cleaning the sugar house, the pans, the pumps, the tanks, and anything else we can put hot water to. And for the first time since December, now the website. There will be more coming soon. As in past years, we will post boiling schedules daily so keep checking back. Kathy is also working on a comprehensive tour schedule, sorry to all of you that have been waiting.

We should be ready to go by the end of this week. Then the question will be, will the sap run? The last week has been perfect, to our shagrin, and now it looks like the next 4 days will be miserable. Our boiling this weekend will be purely dependent on whether mother nature will have some pity on Turtle Lane Maple Farm. Cross your fingers, do a dance, and check back daily as we get closer to the weekend.

For those of you on Facebook, we have been enjoying sharing information via our Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/turtlelanemaplefarm and on twitter at http://twitter.com/turtlelanemaple

Thanks for supporting local agriculture!

Although the sugaring season is long been over for 2009, we have still been busy. There seems to be no end of cleaning, wood chopping and more cleaning. Throw in some re-bottling, candy and cream making for good measure, followed up by more cleaning.

As is the tradition of Turtle Lane Maple Farm, we will be making Holiday Baskets again this year. This weekend we re-bottled syrup from bulk containers which we filled back in March during season, into glass maple bottles which make beautiful gifts. Over the next couple days we will be making maple cream and maple candy. Then during the weekend after Thanksgiving (we hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!) we will be assembling the baskets.

A sample of baskets

Holiday Basket

If you are interested in purchasing a basket, or have any special requests, please email info@turtlelanemaplefarm.com

And don’t forget, if you are giving gifts and want to give something with a local flavor, our bottles of pure local maple syrup make an extra special gift.