Sap season slow to start, but hope springs eternal in the sugar bush

Mar 18, 2015

First ever Maple Weekend coming to Central Frontenac

As of early this week, and the forecast for this weekend into early next week indicates nothing will change too much in the very near future, the sap has been slow to come from the maples in Frontenac and Lanark County.

However, George Conboy, whose family has been making syrup for generations at their farm on the Bell Line Road north of Sharbot Lake, said that a few mild days and nights and perhaps a bit of rainy weather will soon change that.

“As the tree roots start thawing out, the sap will start running and I am guessing that come Easter weekend we should be in full production.”

The timing of the run might be late in comparison to recent years when a late February - early March season has become common, but it will be ideal for a new initiative that is coming to Central Frontenac and Lanark Highlands.

Local maple producers will be opening up their farms to maple syrup enthusiasts and consumers on Easter weekend for the first time ever Maple Weekend event.

The free event is similar to a typical back road studio tour and its goal is to celebrate, educate and share the bounty of one of nature's sweetest and most delicious treats. Locals and visitors to the area are invited to experience first hand the art of maple syrup production.

The idea for the Maple Weekend was inspired by a similar event that has been taking place in New York State for a number of years, and which has proved to be very successful. The event is being put on by the Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers Association with support from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, Valley Heartland CFDC, and the Lanark County Tourist Association

Maple Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5 from 10AM- 4PM and will include tours at 17 different locations in Lanark, Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville and the City of Ottawa.

Both George and Darlene Conboy, 2559 Bell Line Road, and Mel and Joyce Conboy, 2379 Bell Line Road, Sharbot Lake, will be giving educational tours of their facilities, which have state of the art machinery. They will show visitors how maple syrup production has changed drastically in the last few decades. Visitors will be able to experience the entire process from start to finish as well as taste free samples of the finished products.

Similarly, three producers located in McDonalds Corners: Heritage Maple Products (623 Dalhousie Concession 9A), Hali and Andrew Mackey's Sugarbush (255 Ferguson Side Road) and Wheelers Pancake House and Sugar Camp (1001 Highland Line) will also be welcoming visitors and giving tours and free samples of their products.

At Wheelers, visitors will also be able to explore their Maple Heritage Museum, which holds the Guinness World Record of having the world's largest collection of maple-related artifacts. Other related activities on the tours, depending on the location, will include horse-sleigh wagon rides, taffy-on-snow, trail hikes, and free samples of maple syrup and other related products and confections. As to be expected, the participants will also have a wide variety of syrup and other maple products for sale.

For those who have not yet toured the operations of some of these syrup-producing facilities, there is much to see and learn, and Easter weekend will the perfect opportunity for families and their visitors to tour the local back roads and learn about maple syrup making in the 21st century. Since farms tend to be muddy in the spring time, visitors are advised that boots are the recommended foot wear. For more information about Maple Weekend and for a detailed list and map of all of the participating producers, visit www.mapleweekend.ca