Spring Open House 2024

Preparing Your Woods for a Successful Season | Dan Crocker
Many producers do not realize that maintenance done during the “off season” can make all the difference in the success of the coming season. It all starts with maintenance on your vacuum pump and releaser at seasons end. In this class, Dan will explain what should be done to your vacuum pump and releaser, and other tips to set yourself up for a successful season.

Filtering and Bottling | Reg Charbonneau
Do you struggle with filtering, or do you end up with sugar crystals in the bottom of your containers? Reg started out with 100 taps and over the years has grown to 11,000 taps. It doesn’t matter if you are using cone filters, flat filters, or a filter press, Reg will share some tips that any producer can benefit from. Come find out how to avoid some common filtering and bottling mistakes.

Making Maple Candy | Katy Hurd
Katy started out making maple candy with very little training. Over the years she has learned some lessons and now makes some very good candy. Katy will demonstrate how she makes her maple candies, discuss different packaging options, and share some marketing strategies. If you are lucky you may even get to taste some of her amazing maple candies.

Hobby RO's and the Basics | Kevin Lawyer

This past season many producers experienced low sugar content in their sap. Maybe you are thinking of a Reverse Osmosis Machine (RO) to cut down on your fuel consumption or you just want to spend less time in the sugar house. The RO can be a real game changer for any producer and often has a rapid payback. This class will talk about some of the basics of an RO: selecting the right RO, basic operation, and what else may be needed to go along with it.

UVM Extension Maple Program/Proctor Maple Research Center Update | Mark Isselhardt
Mark will share some results from different projects he has been working on as a part of the UVM Extension Program. He will also give an update on various studies currently going on at the Proctor Maple Research Center. Some of the results and studies may surprise you.

Boiling Tips | Kevin Lawyer
Years ago operating an evaporator was simple: add sap, throw wood in, and you get syrup coming out. Over the years’ evaporators have changed, and there are all kinds of enhancements that can be put on them. In this class Kevin will cover some of the basics of operating an evaporator and getting the most out of it. There are tips to  ring an evaporator, pan depths, using defoamer, and what can be
added to get more out of your evaporator.

Modern Approaches to Sugarbush Management | Mark Isselhardt
Maximizing your sap yield starts with a well-managed sugarbush. Mark will share some guidelines on thinning a woods, tapping, and other tips to grow healthy trees for a better producing sugarbush.

Maple Coated Nuts | Katy Hurd
Is there a better smell than maple coated nuts? Watch as Katy makes some maple coated nuts, and
explains how you could make your own. She will also share some different packaging options for
various nuts and what works best for her. Don’t forget to sample the finished product before you
leave.