Current Boiling Schedule

Updated: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 10:24pm

We are getting excited about the upcoming weekend (although we are bummed that it will be the last weekend), the weather is supposed to be beautiful and the sap flowed today.  Is there any better way to end a lack-luster season!!

In addition to our standard 6 samples (maple sap, mid-boil, maple syrup, maple cream, maple candy & maple sugar) we will have a special extra sample this weekend thanks to Mad Maggie's Ice Cream... we gave people a taste of their newest flavor Maple Bacon Ice Cream. Over 90% of those that tried it think it is delish! Thanks Steve!

And There's More: All weekend at Joe Fish and The Loft they will be serving up special maple dishes.  Stay tuned, and we will announce what they are as soon as we know.  Every day during maple season they serve a special maple dish using our syrup.  They support local agriculture, so thank them by trying one of their specials.  As an additional treat, The Loft has created a new dessert special; Brownie Bite Sundae: Deep fried brownie bites surround 2 scoops of Mad Maggie's Maple Bacon Ice Cream.  MMMMmmmmm!!!

This week we have various tour groups through out the week, but looking at how little sap we are getting, the tour times will be limited.  We are hoping something changes and we get some cold nights, otherwise we might not have much of a season. 

Thursday, March 18:  10:30am - 12:00noon, Seniors from Essex Agricultural High School, drop in visitors are welcome.

Friday, March 19:  10:00am - 11:30pm, Newburyport Mother's Group, drop in visitors are welcome.

Friday, March 19:  11:30am - 1:00pm, French Association Boston Accueil, drop in visitors are welcome.

Saturday, March 20:  9:00am - 11:00am, North Andover Town Appreciation Day, drop in visitors welcome.

Sunday, March 21:  9:00am - 4:00pm, drop in visitors are welcome.

Sunday, March 21:  4:00pm - 5:30pm, Lowell Association for the Blind, drop in visitors are welcome but have patience with us.

Feel free to swing by, reservations are not necessary. Park on the street not in the driveway (and please don't block any of our neighbor's driveways). You can walk up the driveway and go around the left side of the house (follow the path). You will see the lights of the sugar house. You may want to bring your boots as there will be mud on the way back to the sugar house. If the sign is up at the end of the street, we are boiling because the first and last thing we do is put up and take down the sign.

We will update this schedule every couple of days, so check back often for the latest!

Also check us out at: www.facebook.com/turtlelanemaplefarm (our goal is 500 fans by end of season)

Follow us on:www.twitter.com/turtlelanemaple

2010 Season is Fast Approaching

February 23rd, 2010 at 2:21 am (Facebook, News)

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!

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Preparing for the 2009 season

February 7th, 2009 at 10:27 am (News)

Sorry to everyone that has come to the site so far this year and found terribly outdated content.  We have been busy with life as well as getting ready for the season.  Sometimes it seems we are stretched a bit too thin.  But we are very excited for the upcoming season!

We are in the process of cleaning the sugarhouse, repairing the equipment, and getting ready to run tubing (we are always looking for volunteers).  We expect to run tubing during the last two weeks of February. Most likely in the last week of February we will be tapping the trees in expectation that the beginning of March will kickoff the beginning of the season.  The perfect weather for set flow is daytime temperatures in the 40’s and overnight below freezing.  Although the groundhog says that there is many more weeks of winter we believe that the beginning of spring is right around the corner.

We are hoping for a plentiful season of sap flow, because all indications are that we are sure to have a successful season in terms of visitors. We have already booked 28 groups for tours, not to mention all of the drop-in visitors we are expecting.  Last year we had 1,750 visitors for free tours (a new record), not sure if we will beat that this year.  We’re getting antsy for the season to begin, and look forward to the upcoming weeks in March!

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