Hale Farm and Village just celebrated the age-old tradition of making maple syrup. Throughout the month of March, the farm offered demonstrations for tree tapping, as well as the process of turning sap into syrup. To learn more about the farm, visit their web site.
Hale Farm began producing maple syrup in the 1800s. Three generations of Hales made maple syrup into the early 20th century. (Photo: Shane Wynn)
With over 90 acres, the farm produces one to four gallons of maple syrup each year. The Hale Farm maple syrup educational programs began in the late ’60s, early ’70s. (Photo: Shane Wynn)
The white building is known as the “sugar shack.” This is where the syrup is reduced. (Photo: Shane Wynn)
Different colors of syrup indicate different grades or qualities. (Photo: Shane Wynn)
Farmers use branches to determine if a tree is a maple for possible tapping. The upside-down cone shaped bud indicates a maple branch. (Photos: Shane Wynn)
Here, a farmer demonstrates the tapping process on a dead tree. The holes they drill allow the sugar to seep from the tree into collection buckets. (Photo: Shane Wynn)
