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

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!

Brownie Troop 71874 from North Reading

March 12, 2009
4:00 pmto5:00 pm
4:00 pm

Nancy Vadala will be bringing a group of approximately a dozen brownies with their siblings and parents for a fun filled tour!

Brownie Troop 71174 from Medford

March 18, 2009
4:00 pmto5:00 pm

Dawn deSouza is bringing a small group of first geade brownies, their siblings and some parents for a sweet tour!

Preschool Children

March 20, 2009
1:15 pmto2:15 pm

We are working with Gina Downs to arrange for her to come with a group of preschool children.

Cub Scouts Pack 54 Den 7 from Billerica

March 15, 2009
3:30 pmto4:30 pm

Diane Walker will be bringing a group of 7 and 8 year old cub scouts along with some of their parents.

Daisy Troop 62102 from North Andover

March 20, 2009
11:30 amto12:30 pm

Deborah Falcone will be bringing a group of twelve 5 and 6 year old Daisies along with approximately 5 siblings and a dozen parents.

Parents of Tots

March 7, 2009
3:30 pmto4:30 pm

Gia Leach will be coming with a group of parents and tots for a tour.

Weblos Pack 77 from Chelmsford

March 13, 2009
3:30 pmto5:00 pm

Kathleen Duffy will be bringing a group of about a dozen Weblos ages 10-11 along with their siblings and parents for a tour.

Daisies from Tyngsboro

March 25, 2009
4:00 pmto5:30 pm

Heather McGaffigan is bringing a group of 6-7 year old Daisies for a tour, along with their siblings and parents.

Brownie Troop 60414 from Lynnfield

March 18, 2009
4:00 pmto5:30 pm

Michele Myers-Mellor and the 7-8 year old girls from Lynnfield will be coming along with their parents and siblings for a sweet tour!