Maple sap, as it comes from the tree is a clear, slightly sweet liquid. The sugar content rages from one to four percent. During the "First Run" the sap will drip into a bucket or slowly start to flow down the tubing system towards a collection tank. The sap must be evaporated as soon as possible because the freshest sap makes the best quality syrup. The sap is collected from each tree by workers using large gathering pails. These pails are dumped into the gathering tank, which is then taken to a large sap storage tank at the sugarhouse, where it will soon be boiled down into pure maple syrup. It takes about forty gallons of this slightly sweet sap, boiled down, to make one gallon of pure maple syrup. After filtering, the syrup is bottled and is ready for sale or ready for a fresh pile of warm pancakes.

MassDevelopment/Strolling of the Heifers Small Farm Loan Program will accept prequalified applications through March 19th for loans ranging from $3,000 to $15,000. These funds will help farmers finance capital investments and meet operating costs. The program is open to farmers throughout Massachusetts. MassDevelopment and The Carrot Project will jointly administer the program. For more information, please go to www.thecarrotproject.org or contact Dorothy Suput at 617-666-9637 or at dsuput@thecarrotproject.org