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| Sap collection at Brookside Maple in Delancey. Photo courtesy of Dan Meyers. |
As you drive along the winding mountain roads of Delaware County this time of year, intricate blue lines carrying sap from tree-to-collection grab your eye. Galvanized buckets hang from towering maples and lead to thoughts of what’s inside. If you’re wondering how all that sap becomes syrup, we have some farmers you need to meet!
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| Maple being molded at Kenneth Burger Farm in Margaretville. Photo courtesy of Dan Meyers. |
During New York State’s Maple Weekend, producers across the state welcome guests to their farms to experience first-hand how real maple syrup and related products are made. The events take place over two weekends, March 17-18, and March 24-25, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.
Eight producers throughout Delaware County will open their doors for a sneak peak at boiling sap into syrup! Here a guide to visiting all of them in two days and where to stay while you’re here!
Starting at Vly Creek Maple Farm off Route 28 in Fleishmann’s, enjoy a self-guided walk in the woods, refreshments and demonstrations. Just up the road in Margaretville, you’ll get the inside scoop on making syrup and maple sugar patties at Kenneth Burger Farm. Enjoy a scenic drive around the Pepacton Reservoir to Delancey where Brookside Maple, Dar-View Maple and Catskill Mountain Maple will each be demonstrating the process of making syrup from sap. If you get to Catskill Mountain Maple before 2:00, you’ll enjoy a complimentary pancake, eggs and sausage breakfast!
Make a stay of it with a variety of lodging options, and start in Hobart on Sunday morning with Roxbury Mountain Maple where 150 miles of pipeline and 8000 taps are making numerous maple products with fun for everyone in the family. Next hit Shaver-Hill Maple Farm in Harpersfield for a late breakfast and horse and wagon rides! Wrap up your Maple Weekend at the North Franklin Maple Syrup Co. before heading home with maple syrup for friends, family and, of course, yourself!
Visit www.mapleweekend.com for each farm’s detailed Maple Weekend activities and contact information. Learn more about the Great Western Catskills at www.greatwesterncatskills.com, and enjoy meeting our farmers and experiencing maple production at its best!
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| Inside Catskill Mountain Maple’s sugar house! All photography courtesy of Dan Meyers. |
