At Nova Maple Syrup we’re not just about maple trees, we’re committed to all of the food we produce and consume, plus the overall health of our ecosystem. You may have followed the progress of our cows, Steak, Cheeseburger, and Hot Dog, over the last two years. Two of their journeys have moved on to the next phase now. We feel strongly that when we consume meat we know where it comes from, including how the cows were treated, the feed they consume, and their footprint on the environment. There is more to the equation than just taste (which is amazing by the way) and cost per pound. If you’re reading this you probably feel stronger than most about the food too, real maple syrup obviously costs more than imitation syrup. We thank you for giving thought to the food you eat and encourage you to continue to do so!

• Carhartt coat & bibs – Not only do we need insulation to stay warm in the woods during winter, but tough material that can stand up to pricker-bushes (note the double layer by the knees)
• Utility belt – the many pockets help keep taps and fittings organized and easy to access
• Tool leashes – have you ever dropped a tool in the woods in deep snow?
• DeWalt drill – we use special drill bits to drill holes in our trees, only about 1.5” deep to minimize scarring
• Hammer – we have to make sure the taps are in securely in order to avoid leaks
• One-handed tool – a specialized tool that is used to push fittings tightly into the tubing
• Hat & face/neck warmer – we are often tapping in sub-freezing temperatures

Tapper/model: Kameron Ganje

We started tapping our trees last Saturday. With weather in the 20s we can drill below freezing, maximizing taphole health, then once the weather breaks all of the trees should run hard at once. We’ve never been more prepared or had a better crew than this year’s group. Halfway done after six days while simultaneously working on other projects – we should be finished next week sometime then it’s up to the weather!