As of this writing (April 21, 2024), another successful sugaring season has recently ended. Leading up to this season, we were fortunate to be the recipients of a competitive grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) that enabled us to upgrade both our Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) machine and vacuum pump, two components that are the heart of any modern commercial sugarhouse. Another significant change this year is our working partnership with the owners of Ridge Hill Farm in nearby Buckland, Mass. Our three partners, Ru Oarcea, Jasmine Atsalis-Gogel and Daniel Waters, are part of a new generation of maple sugar makers that have worked in the maple industry for many years. Collectively and individually they bring a strong skill set and advanced expertise to the relationship. Their knowledge and strong work ethic, combined with the MDAR grant, enabled us to conduct a major renewal of our sugaring tubing system that dramatically increased our syrup yield even with fewer taps than previously. We look forward to many years of fruitful cooperation. The vegetable gardens that we share with guests will shortly be in the ground, and  we are anticipating an excellent yield of 1st cutting hay in the barn if the weather cooperates, and we await bloom time of our high-bush blueberries. Now, with COVID-19 having become endemic, the farm has returned to normal operations. Guests will be again be able to observe and interact with us, our dairy goats, and Norwegian Fjord horses free of Covid constraints. As it was before Covid, access to interiors of the barn and maple sugar house will be by arrangement.

The farm is 130 acres, so there’s plenty of space to explore. As was the case before Covid, no other guests will have been in your accommodations for at least 24 hours before your arrival, and the house itself and all linens and towels will  be thoroughly cleaned before your arrival. In addition, we will still provide hand sanitizer and chlorine spray solutions for your use when here. In season, we will be happy to share produce from our gardens and provide you with a 1/2 dozen to a dozen farm fresh eggs from our hens.