Western Mountain Gardening - The Original Irregular Wednesday, April 14, 2010 Pg. 11A
Maple Syrup, An Early Spring Treat
Maine Maple Products at Haulk’s
By Ramona du Houx
In Maine, Maple Sunday is a celebration about tradition and community with sweet tasting treats for all involved. More than 75 maple producers opened their doors March 28 welcoming visitors to participate in syrup and candy sampling, demonstrations of making syrup, sugarbush tours and a variety of other activities.
Native Americans first started tapping trees hundreds of years ago. Now families in Maine continue the tradition from generation to generation. Maine Maple Sunday started in Somerset County at Strawberry Hill Farms where three generations of Mainers are involved in the businesses which ship as far as Japan, and supplies the United Nations in New York City.
Just down the road on Lakewood Road, in Madison, is Haulk’s Maple where a husband and wife team has recently expanded their operations.
Bob Haulk has 800 buckets collecting the sap from a variety of maple trees. Around 40 gallons of sap produces about a gallon of syrup. Haulk hopes to produce about 220 gallons this year.
“The new boiler is hotter with an even heat,” said Haulk. “We’re hoping to produce close to three times as much as we did last year.”
Bruce Rich, a neighbor that volunteers every year to work when the trees are running, stocks the new boiler at Haulk’s Maple in Madison.
Haulk’s new sapping machine also has stovepipes that seem to reach toward the sun. A tall stovepipe ensures that the smoke doesn’t affect the flavor of the syrup.
“Warm days and cold nights, is the recipe for a good maple syrup season,” said Diane Haulk, who along with her husband would like more spring conditions. Different trees produce different tastes and when the weather changes the taste can also change.
The annual harvest is also intensive work, from tapping the trees to minding the boilers. As sap should be turned into syrup the same day, all hands are on deck during the season. Dedicated neighbors and friends help out as a normal part of their lives.
“He helps me when the hay needs cutting, and I help him when the sap is running,” said Bruce Rich, a longtime neighbor of Haulk’s, as he stoked the boiler. The heat in the boiler room is like a sauna.
Jessica Buja and her mother, Michael Geobo, took part in Maine Maple Sunday for the first time. “It’s neat how it’s made,” said Buja who moved to Maine with her husband five years ago. “We love it here,” added Buja, a physical therapist who is expecting her first child.
The Haulks plan to extend their sugarhouse this summer with a new shop.
Licensed producers in Maine made 400,000 gallons of syrup last year. According to the Maine Department of Agriculture, maple sales in 2008 totaled $8.8 million.
Diane and Bob Haulk, owners of Haulk’s Maple in Madison, are enthused about their new maple syrup boiler, which will more than double production. Each year they open their doors to visitors on Maine Maple Sunday. The Haulks sell their maple products year-round. Some of their yummy treats include maple cream, maple syrup, maple jellies, maple sugar, and maple whoopie pies and donuts holes (made to order). The Sugarhouse is also open year-round by chance or by appointment, 474-8047. Diane says they love to give tours!
Maine is the No. 2 syrup producer in the country, just behind Vermont. Somerset County produces the most maple syrup per capita.
The maple syrup Sunday’s seasonal celebrations are annually on the fourth Sunday in March.
The Haulks’ sugarhouse is open year-round by chance or appointment, 474-8047. They give tours and sell a variety of homemade maple products as well. It is located on 882 Lakewood Road in Madison, just above Lakewood Golf Course.
Michael Geobo and her daughter, Jessica Buja, from Solon, listen with interest to Bob Haulk as he explains the maple syrup production process on Maine Maple Sunday.
Maple Syrup, An Early Spring Treat
Maine Maple Products at Haulk’s
By Ramona du Houx
In Maine, Maple Sunday is a celebration about tradition and community with sweet tasting treats for all involved. More than 75 maple producers opened their doors March 28 welcoming visitors to participate in syrup and candy sampling, demonstrations of making syrup, sugarbush tours and a variety of other activities.
Native Americans first started tapping trees hundreds of years ago. Now families in Maine continue the tradition from generation to generation. Maine Maple Sunday started in Somerset County at Strawberry Hill Farms where three generations of Mainers are involved in the businesses which ship as far as Japan, and supplies the United Nations in New York City.
Just down the road on Lakewood Road, in Madison, is Haulk’s Maple where a husband and wife team has recently expanded their operations.
Bob Haulk has 800 buckets collecting the sap from a variety of maple trees. Around 40 gallons of sap produces about a gallon of syrup. Haulk hopes to produce about 220 gallons this year.
“The new boiler is hotter with an even heat,” said Haulk. “We’re hoping to produce close to three times as much as we did last year.”
Bruce Rich, a neighbor that volunteers every year to work when the trees are running, stocks the new boiler at Haulk’s Maple in Madison.
Haulk’s new sapping machine also has stovepipes that seem to reach toward the sun. A tall stovepipe ensures that the smoke doesn’t affect the flavor of the syrup.
“Warm days and cold nights, is the recipe for a good maple syrup season,” said Diane Haulk, who along with her husband would like more spring conditions. Different trees produce different tastes and when the weather changes the taste can also change.
The annual harvest is also intensive work, from tapping the trees to minding the boilers. As sap should be turned into syrup the same day, all hands are on deck during the season. Dedicated neighbors and friends help out as a normal part of their lives.
“He helps me when the hay needs cutting, and I help him when the sap is running,” said Bruce Rich, a longtime neighbor of Haulk’s, as he stoked the boiler. The heat in the boiler room is like a sauna.
Jessica Buja and her mother, Michael Geobo, took part in Maine Maple Sunday for the first time. “It’s neat how it’s made,” said Buja who moved to Maine with her husband five years ago. “We love it here,” added Buja, a physical therapist who is expecting her first child.
The Haulks plan to extend their sugarhouse this summer with a new shop.
Licensed producers in Maine made 400,000 gallons of syrup last year. According to the Maine Department of Agriculture, maple sales in 2008 totaled $8.8 million.
Diane and Bob Haulk, owners of Haulk’s Maple in Madison, are enthused about their new maple syrup boiler, which will more than double production. Each year they open their doors to visitors on Maine Maple Sunday. The Haulks sell their maple products year-round. Some of their yummy treats include maple cream, maple syrup, maple jellies, maple sugar, and maple whoopie pies and donuts holes (made to order). The Sugarhouse is also open year-round by chance or by appointment, 474-8047. Diane says they love to give tours!
Maine is the No. 2 syrup producer in the country, just behind Vermont. Somerset County produces the most maple syrup per capita.
The maple syrup Sunday’s seasonal celebrations are annually on the fourth Sunday in March.
The Haulks’ sugarhouse is open year-round by chance or appointment, 474-8047. They give tours and sell a variety of homemade maple products as well. It is located on 882 Lakewood Road in Madison, just above Lakewood Golf Course.
Michael Geobo and her daughter, Jessica Buja, from Solon, listen with interest to Bob Haulk as he explains the maple syrup production process on Maine Maple Sunday.
