Nathan's Sugarbush Journal
JANE and NATHAN's PHOTOS OF THE NEW COOKHOUSE BEING BUILT
March 15, 2011
Things have been so busy at Dumfries Maples. We completed the cedar log cookhouse and will be open for business tomorrow.
On March 11, we installed approximately 3000 ft of mainline tubing in the sugarbush. This will be part of a gravity fed collection system. The weather was favorable so on March 13 we started tapping and hanging cans. We hung 450 cans on Sunday and on Monday we had a really good day, completing another 1200 taps. We should finish tapping by the end of the day if all goes well. This year's tap count: 2300 taps.
With the current weather forecast, my hope is to begin boiling sap later in the week with new products available before the weekend.
The cookhouse will be open daily serving maple meals and we'll be serving taffy on the snow every weekend.
Hope to see you at Dumfries Maples!
- Nathan
March 8, 2011
Making the news! Click on our latest article in the Daily Gleaner:
Hoping for a sweet season - Maple syrup Producers prepare for sap harvest
January, 2011
Jane and I would like to thank everyone who has visited Dumfries Maples or purchased our products. We look forward to serving you again in 2011.
It has been a busy time at Dumfries Maples. The highlights of what has been happening at Dumfries Maples since the spring include:
- A bountiful sap season finished the first week of April.
- In June, the New Brunswick Maple Producers Association held two one week courses on Sugarbush Management in Fredericton. As part of the field portion of the curriculum the participants were bused to Dumfries Maples for two days each week. At the sugarbush the participants helped us install 100 taps on a gravity pipeline system using new tubing technology that has just come out.
- Throughout the summer an employee was kept busy in the Sugarbush cleaning underbrush with a thinning saw. The removal of the underbrush is to prepare the bush for the installation of a sap pipeline system in 2011.
- Throughout the summer we were also continuing to make plans to construct a log structure to be used as a pancake cookhouse and gathering spot throughout the maple season. In 2009 my father and I cut Eastern white cedar logs on a property we own in Tay Creek. The logs were milled with a portable bandsaw mill to a 6 X 7 timber.
- It was nearing Thanksgiving before we were completely ready to begin construction. First a concrete slab was poured and once hardened log construction could begin. It took about 12 days to raise the walls, install the roof trusses, and put on the Dumfries Maples’ red roof. Before the building could be completed fully on the outside we were called away to prepare for the upcoming Christmas tree season.
- With Christmas finished we are now back in full construction mode. We will install the windows and doors before the New Year than it will be 2 months of inside work to be ready for the upcoming season. If all goes as planned Dumfries Maples will be open and offering expanded services in March 2011.
- Continue to check out the journal for construction progress and other upcoming events.
March 31, 2010
So far, it's been a great spring at the sugarbush. We are working everyday gathering sap and boiling it down to syrup. We are watching the weather more closely and suspect that a week of rainy weather may result in the end of the sugaring season. Although we're still hopeful for more sap.
On March 17th we hosted our first international group tour. A fashion school from Brazil joined the NB College of Craft and Design to come out to our sugarbush for taffy on the snow and other maple treats, walk through our sugarbush, and learn how maple syrup is made.
We're also happy visitors are stopping in to buy maple butter and syrup on a daily basis. On March 22 we had our first article in the Daily Gleaner.
Easter Weekend we're looking forward to serving Maple Snow Cones and Maple Butter Cones!
- Nathan
March 15, 2010
It has been very busy the last week at Dumfries Maples. The sap began flowing on March 6 and we have been busy gathering and boiling 8 of the last 9 days.
On the weekend we opened our sugarhouse to the public. We served taffy on the snow and had fresh maple syrup and butter for sale. The weather was beautiful both days and our visitors had a great time.
Being a new endeavour for both Jane and I, we were very encouraged and pleased with all the positive feedback and smiling faces.
- Nathan
March 4, 2010
We've started our tapping today. This is the earliest date we've tapped at Dumfries Maples.
Traditionally our season does not start until mid-March; however the weekend weather forecast is favourable for the sap to run so we had to change our plans and get tapping.
It will take about 3 days to put on the majority of our 2,100 taps. If the weather and temperatures hold we should be making syrup by Monday.
- Nathan
March 1, 2010
The extended forecast looks like there will be sap days later in the week so we're busy putting the finishing touches on new sugarhouse and preparing to go tapping.
- Nathan
January to February 2010
We have been working on the sugarhouse, installing the production equipment, and in the sugarbush preparing for the upcoming season. We try to keep the trail system, used for gathering sap, plowed out all winter. Fortunately there has not been a lot of snow this winter making this an easier job.
Work has also been taking place in an area of the sugarbush that we have not previously tapped. In this area we have been busy clearing out underbrush and competition from around the maple trees we plan to tap this spring.
For the 2010 season we will have approximately 1900 taps on a bucket collection system and 200 taps on a gravity pipeline system.
- Nathan
August to December 2009
After a wet start to the summer we were able to begin site excavation for construction of a new sugarhouse. At the end of October we had the 24 X 32 ft building up and boarded in and the red metal roof was put on. Due to commitments with our Christmas tree and wreath business in November and December no further work could be done on the building.
- Nathan