Crooked Pines Farm is gearing up for our annual Maple Sugaring Open House and Pancake Breakfast – a celebration of the sweet, syrupy goodness straight from the trees on our property. As spring approaches, our maple trees awaken from their winter slumber, and the sap begins to flow. This precious liquid is carefully collected, boiled, and transformed into the delectable maple products we all know and love.
Maple Sugaring Operations
Our maple sugaring journey begins in late February, when our team taps the maple trees and sets up the network of tubing to collect the sap. This delicate process requires precision and patience, as the trees must be tapped at just the right time to capture the optimal sap flow. Once collected, the sap is transported to our on-site sugar house, where the real magic happens.
Maple Syrup Production
In the sugar house, the sap is carefully boiled down in our large evaporator, slowly transforming into the rich, golden maple syrup. This process can take hours, as the sap must be reduced by about 40 to 1 to achieve the perfect syrup consistency. Our farm manager, Jenna, monitors the temperature and sugar content closely, ensuring each batch meets our high standards.
Maple Sugar Production
While maple syrup is the star of the show, we also produce wonderfully versatile maple sugar on the farm. After the syrup has been boiled down even further, the remaining sugar crystals are dried and packaged for sale. Maple sugar can be used in baking, sprinkled on oatmeal, or enjoyed on its own as a sweet treat.
Maple Candy Production
In addition to syrup and sugar, we also craft delectable maple candy using our homemade maple syrup. These bite-sized confections are made by slowly cooking the syrup until it reaches the perfect hard-crack stage, then pouring it into molds to cool and harden. The result is a rich, intense maple flavor in a handy portable form.
Maple Sugaring Open House
On March 26th and 27th, we invite the public to join us for our Maple Sugaring Open House, where you can see all aspects of our maple production in action. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the maple sugaring process, sample our products, and get immersed in the sweet scents of spring on the farm.
Event Schedule
Throughout the weekend, we’ll be offering guided tours of our sugar house and maple tree stands, so you can see firsthand how sap is collected and transformed. There will also be live demonstrations of maple syrup, sugar, and candy making, allowing visitors to observe the art and science behind these beloved treats.
Demonstrations and Exhibits
In addition to the maple production demos, we’ll have various educational exhibits set up to teach guests about the history and ecology of maple sugaring. Kids can even try their hand at tapping a tree and explore the vital role these maples play in our forest ecosystem.
Maple Product Sales
Of course, no Maple Sugaring Open House would be complete without the chance to purchase our freshly made maple products. We’ll have our full line of syrups, sugars, and candies available for sampling and sale, so you can stock up on these local, small-batch delights.
Pancake Breakfast
To fuel all the maple-themed fun, we’ll be hosting a delicious Pancake Breakfast both Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 am to 12 pm. Indulge in fluffy pancakes smothered in our own maple syrup, accompanied by maple-cured bacon, maple-glazed sausage, and other farm-fresh breakfast favorites.
Menu Items
In addition to the classic pancakes, our chefs will be whipping up an array of maple-infused breakfast dishes, including maple-walnut granola, maple baked beans, and maple-sweetened yogurt parfaits. Of course, no meal is complete without a selection of freshly brewed coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to sip on.
Maple Syrup Tasting
To truly appreciate the nuanced flavors of our maple syrup, we’ll be offering a maple syrup tasting station. Guests can sample our different grades and blends, comparing the subtle notes and learning how factors like tree variety and weather conditions impact the final product.
Dining Atmosphere
The breakfast will be served in our cozy, rustic barn, where you can soak in the charming ambiance of the farm. Warm wood beams, twinkling string lights, and the sweet maple aroma will transport you to a quintessential New England springtime celebration.
Farm Activities
In between indulging in maple-inspired delights, visitors can explore the rest of our working farm. Our team will be offering guided farm tours, allowing guests to get up close with our friendly horses, chickens, and other resident animals. You can also wander our nature trails and observe the first signs of spring emerging in the fields and forests.
Guided Farm Tours
Led by our knowledgeable farm educators, these tours will take you behind the scenes to see how we cultivate our diverse array of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Learn about our sustainable growing practices, like companion planting and cover cropping, and how we work in harmony with the land.
Children’s Activities
For the youngest visitors, we’ve planned a variety of maple-themed crafts and educational exhibits. Kids can make their own maple leaf rubbings, decorate maple syrup bottle labels, and explore an interactive display on the lifecycle of a maple tree. It’s a fun, hands-on way for them to engage with the magic of maple sugaring.
Visitor Information
To accommodate the influx of guests, we’ve made ample parking available on-site, and our farm is fully accessible for visitors of all abilities. You can find us at 123 Crooked Pine Road, just a short drive from the town center. Our Maple Sugaring Open House and Pancake Breakfast will run from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday, March 26th, and Sunday, March 27th.
Community Engagement
As a family-owned and operated farm, giving back to our local community is of the utmost importance to us. That’s why we’ve partnered with several regional organizations to make this event both educational and charitable.
Local Partnerships
The Maple Producers Association of New Hampshire has provided invaluable guidance on our maple sugaring practices, and we’re proud to showcase their expertise during our open house. We’ve also collaborated with the New Roots Nutrition Center to develop some delicious, maple-centric recipes for our pancake breakfast menu.
Educational Outreach
In the weeks leading up to the event, our farm educators will be visiting nearby schools to teach students about the science and history of maple sugaring. We believe it’s crucial to inspire the next generation of farmers, naturalists, and maple enthusiasts.
Charitable Initiatives
A portion of the proceeds from our Maple Sugaring Open House will be donated to the Maple Street Biscuits Community Fund, which supports food security initiatives in our region. We’re proud to use this celebratory event as a way to give back and strengthen the bonds within our local community.
Whether you’re a maple syrup connoisseur or simply seeking a fun, family-friendly springtime outing, we invite you to join us at Crooked Pines Farm for our Maple Sugaring Open House and Pancake Breakfast. It’s a weekend filled with sweetness, education, and the magic of the changing seasons. We can’t wait to share our maple-tastic traditions with you!
