2019 Springtime in Maine & Maine Maple Sunday

2

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

S T A T E O F M A IN E

OFFIC E

OF THE

GOVERNOR

1 STATE HOUSE STATIO N A U G U S T A , M A IN E 04333-0001

A Message from Governor Janet T. Mills Spring in Maine is a time of renewed optimism and anticipation. Nothing says “home” to Mainers more than the smell of freshly boiled maple syrup and the scents of our early spring flowers.

On March 24th, we will celebrate one of our earliest signs of spring with Maine Maple Sunday®. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. More than 70 sugarhouses across Maine will host events showcasing a wide variety of syrups and sweets. Maine maple producers emphasize the quality of their product.

Maine maple syrup is graded for color and flavor. Whether you prefer dark and rich or pale gold and delicate, there’s a syrup for everyone’s taste. Our maple syrup producers take great pride in the uniqueness of their product and are happy to show off their sugaring operations. Maine produces over half a million gallons of maple syrup per year, which ranks us third in the nation with 13% percent of the U.S. production in 2018.

Another highlight of early spring is the anticipation of gardening. Maine’s horticulture industry is growing rapidly. I am particularly impressed by the “Plant Something” campaign of the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MELNA), which is attempting to instill a lifelong love of gardening and landscaping in our children through K-12 education programs. We can all enrich our health and the environment, as well as our homes and communities, by getting our hands in the dirt, planting vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, and trees.

My administration strongly supports the growth of our natural resource economy and are working hard to grow Maine’s food production, processing, and marketing.

So, over the next few weeks, whether it’s maple syrup or working in the dirt, please take the time to visit our sugarhouses, nurseries and garden centers, our farmers’ markets. Enjoy the best spring has to offer!

Sincerely,

Janet T. Mills Governor PHONE: (207) 287-3531 (Voice)

888-577-6690 (TTY) www.maine.gov

FAX: (207) 287-1034

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

3

A Walk in Maine : Annual Maine Flower Show Returns to Portland COURTESY OF THE MAINE LANDSCAPE & NURSERY ASSOCIATION

S

pring is fast approaching! The milder temperatures and longer days are reminders that winter will soon be ending.

In anticipation of the third annual Maine Flower Show taking place March 28-31 at Thompson’s Point in Portland, producers across Maine are working to “force grow” many of the plants and bulbs that will be used to bring the “A Walk in Maine”-themed display gardens to life.

Forcing plants and flowers to bloom and leaf out in the depth of winter is a tricky science, involving much more work than people may realize. To explain the process, the Maine Landscape & Nursery Association visited Cozy Acres Greenhouses in Yarmouth, Maine, and spoke with Jeffrey Marstaller as he prepared for the show.

Walking into a heated greenhouse, Marstaller explained some of the plants being force grown ahead of the Maine

Flower Show and the start of the spring sales season.

“We have a number of woody plants here—some birches, spruce, apples, and a number of other things like blueberries,” said Marstaller.

According to Marstaller, the plants start to break bud at one to three weeks depending on conditions.

“Some plants flower, some don’t,” said Marstaller, “so different plants are different, as far as how easy they are to work for forcing for the show. The woody plants we have, some have been in since Christmas, some we got in two weeks ago.”

The plants are monitored throughout their stay in the heated greenhouse until they reach a ready point ahead of the show.

“Except for day length and light intensity, which are out

of our control, the plants feel they’re in growing season so they start to bud and break flower,” said Marstaller.

Once the plants reach a point at which they are ready enough for the show, the growers will move the plants into a “cold house” typically set at 60 degrees Fahrenheit to slow down the process.

At plantsomethingmaine.org, you can watch Jeff’s full tour and buy tickets to see the process come full circle at the Maine Flower Show. We hope to see you there!

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLANT SOMETHING! MAINE

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED ZELINKSY

Jeffrey Marstaller of Cozy Acres Greenhouses in Yarmouth explains the layout of a “cold greenhouse,” used to slow down the force growing process. Four sodium vapor lights give plants that need extra light the equivalent of full sun for four hours each night, leading up to the Maine Flower Show and the start of the spring sales season.

4

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Visit the following to enjoy quality Maine syrup from Maine’s licensed maple syrup producers, Key Accessible Restrooms Breakfast Bus Tours

Ricker Hill Orchards / Maple

Nezinscot Farm & Store

Doak’s Maple Ridge Farms

Info & hours: Buffet style breakfast, including crepes, french toast, bacon etc. Live boiling demonstrations with maple taffy. Maple hard cider, maple donuts, maple ice cream and much more. We will be open for Maine Maple Weekend March 23 & 24 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Farm & school tours available.

Info & hours: Maine Maple Sunday will feature homemade breakfast featuring organic Maine maple syrup from the Hall Farm on our famous pancakes, waffles, and crepes. Our farm barnyard will be open for farm animal viewing.

Maple Sunday will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Info & hours: Come and experience how maple syrup is produced from tree to bottle! Our farm store will be opened daily from 9 to 4 with a guided tour of the sugar bush and other maple syrup events. See how sap is boiled down and taste the finished syrup as well as some of our other wholesome products produced right here on the farm. We offer jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, cranberry sauces, fruit vinegars, farm fresh eggs, all cuts of lamb, and chemical free hay. The Doak Family welcomes you! DURING MAPLE WEEKENDS, WE WILL OFFERING FRENCH BEIGNETS AT A SPECIAL PRICE. M-M-M- GOOD!!! Open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Maine Maple Sunday®.

Contact: 295 Buckfield Road, Turner 207-225-5552 • Apples@RickerHill.com www.RickerHill.com

West Minot Sugarhouse

ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY Blais Maple Syrup

Info & hours: Basic sugar shack tour and explanation of syrup production.

March 23 and 24 8-4.

Contact: 4 Ledgeview Road, Greene 207-576-4354 • mario.blais@yahoo.com blaismaplesyrup.net

Jillson’s Farm Sugarhouse Info & hours: Breakfast served from 8:00 a.m.–2 p.m. Barn visits, sugarhouse demonstrations, taffy on snow all day, free ice cream and maple syrup. Sunday, March 24, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Farm, sugarbush, and school tours available.

Contact: 143 Jordan Bridge Road, Sabattus 207-375-4486 • Info@JillsonFarm.com www.JillsonFarm.com

Maple Hill Enterprises Info & hours: Come visit us at Maple Hill Enterprises on Saturday. Tour our sugarhouse and see how maple syrup is made. FREE samples of pure maple syrup over ice cream.

There will be maple syrup, maple candy, maple cream, and maple cotton candy available to purchase. WE WILL NOT BE OPEN SUNDAY. Saturday, March 23.

Contact: 748 Newell Brook Road, Durham 207-576-8997 • Buchertribe@yahoo.com

Sunday March 24, 2019!

Info & hours: Join us March 23 & 24 for Maple weekend. Pancake breakfast, demos at the Sugarhouse & Horse drawn wagon rides both days. All events, these and others to be announced will be held both days. Please check our Facebook page for times & prices. Farm tours available. March 23 & 24. Breakfast 7-11 a.m. Sugarhouse open 8 a.m-3p.m.

Contact: Woodman Hill Road, Minot 207-966-3643 • slattbake2001@yahoo.com

Russell Farm Maple Products Info & hours: The sugarhouse will be boiling our sap, we will be selling our maple syrup, maple nuts, maple granola, maple whoopie pies, maple cookies, and other treats. We give sample of ice cream with syrup. Also serving french toast casserole, pancakes, sausage, bacon, coffee, juice, and milk. March 23 12-5 & March 24 9-5. Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 46 Russell Road, Poland 207-415-7767 • TheBeckerCo@aol.com www.RussellFarmMapleBackery.com

Maple Rush Sugar House Info & hours: Free Samples, Maple Kettle Corn, Confections Homemade Crafts, Live boil & syrup process explanation. March 23 & 24, 9am - 4pm both days.

Contact: 123 Webster Corner Road, Sabattus 207-212-8415 MapleRushSugarHouse@gmail.com

Contact: 284 Turner Center Road. Rt 117, Turner (207)225-3231

Pep’s Pure Maple Syrup Info & hours: Come enjoy our famous Maple Glazed donuts (with or without bacon) in our expanded warm sitting room. We will have ice cream samples topped with our syrup, taste testing, boiling / bottling demonstrations and more! March 23 & March 24 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 291 Margison Road, Woodland 207-227-6173 or 207-227-0318. pandjdoak@live.comAroostook

Contact: 170 Lisbon Road, Sabattus 207-240-1741 Tom.Edgecomb@yahoo.com

Goughan Michaud Farm

AROOSTOOK COUNTY

The Maple Moose

Bradburry Maple Farm Info & hours: Guided tours of a modern maple syrup operation with a family history. Watch sap being collected from the trees and the sweet conversion to maple syrup. Pure Maple Syrup products, free Maple Taffy on the snow.

Sugarbush & Farm tours available. Tours Group and School tours welcome. Open from March 23 to April 14th. Farm Tours available.

Contact: 202 Bootfoot Road, Bridgewater 207-551-5227 • BradburryMaple@yahoo.com www.BradburryMaple.com

Sunny Crest Maple Farm Info & hours: Come to our open house and enjoy the smell and taste of maple syrup. Free samples are available to all. Maple products are also available for purchase. Located on route #171 halfway between us Route 1 & 2A and the railroad tracks in reed plantation. Map coordinates: 45.682655, 68.119116 Contact: 334 Main Street, Reed, 207-620-6932 • PCushman.Baskco@gmail.com

Contact: 872 Fort Fairfield, Caribou (207)325-1487 • kjmichaud@gmail.com

Info & hours: Free taffy on snow and Maple Moose corn fritters with fresh maple syrup.

Sign up for door prize. Take our “Tap to Table” sugar bush-sugar house tours. Kids activities.

Full line of maple products and maple concessions available. Open March 23, April 14, 1-5 p.m. Group and school tours welcome by appointment; call 768-1062.

Contact: 28 Bowers Road, Easton 207-768-1062 • MapleMoosecjk@gmail.com TheMapleMoose.com

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Balsam Ridge

Info & hours: Balsam Ridge Maine Maple Weekend March 23 & 24 open 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Celebrate Spring with Us! We invite you to our farm on March 23 & 24 to visit our Farm & Sugarhouse. On Maine Maple Sunday® there will be live music, wood carving & blacksmith demonstrations. The Raymond Lion’s Club will provide a Pancake Breakfast from 9-2 both Saturday & Sunday. It wouldn’t be a celebration without the many maple treats available for sale, we hope you can join us. Open weekends the month of March by appointment. Farm, sugarbush & school tours available.

Contact: 140 Egypt Road, Raymond 207-655-4474 • Lloy@Fairpoint.net www.BalsamRidgeChristmas.com

Dorothy’s Sugar House Timothy & Lesley Harlow Info & hours: Timothy & Lesley Harlow Hours: Saturday & Sunday, March 23 & 24 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Join us in our post and beam sugarhouse with a wood-fired evaporator. The Sugar Shed offers our yummy Maple syrup, maple candy, maple whoopie pies, maple cotton candy, maple fudge, maple baked beans, and so much more! Like us on Facebook for updates and additional information. Plenty of parking. Registered Service Dogs only please. School tours available.

Contact: 561 Poland Range Road, Pownal 207-688-4265 • ljharlow@maine.rr.com

Greene Maple Farm Info & hours: Come tour our sugarhouse both Sat and Sun open 8-4. Free samples of maple syrup on ice cream. Maple syrup, maple cream, maple sugar, maple candy, pasteurized pork, grass fed highland beef and more for purchase. throughout the year visit our farm store at 723 Bridgton Road, Sebago, Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

March 23 and 24 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Farm, sugarbush & school tours available.

Contact: 77 Bridgton Road, Sebago 207-232-1196 • PhillipViewFarm@gmail.com

5

The Lockman Plan

Jo’s Sugarhouse/Hartwell Farm

Sweet William’s

Info & hours: James Lockman Maine Maple Sunday®, March 24 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Small batches of maple syrup made by guys and a gal who love this stuff. Our syrup is certified Kosher by the Rabbi of Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh in Portland. We have a simple, small operation that’s only open on Maine Maple Sunday®.

Farm & sugarbush tours available.

Info & hours: Jocelia Hartwell Hours: March 23 and March 24 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Breakfast and Lunch only on Sunday. Tour a post and beam sugarhouse with wood fired evaporator. Syrup making demonstrations all day. Come see our goats and antique tractors. Syrup and maple products available to purchase. Sunday only: Come for breakfast featuring blueberry pancakes and sausage - Lunch is our own grass fed beef burgers. Farm, sugarbush, and school tours available.

Info & hours: Detailed explanation of syrup making process. Sugarbush tours available.

Free samples of our syrup on ice cream, homemade maple baked beans and fried dough bites. Maple treats for sale - maple butter,cotton candy, lollipops, popcorn and more. Maple doughnuts and other maple baked goods while they last. Free balloons and face painting.

Pancake breakfast 8-12 at Crescent Lake Community Hall. Sugarbush & school tours available. Open March 24 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Contact: 443 Sebago Lake Road, Gorham 207-671-2189 • 207-892-3783 jojohartwell@gmail.com • www.hartwellfarm.com

Contact: 66 Spiller Road Casco 207-627-7362 • ssymonds@maine.rr.com

Contact: 274 N. Gorham Road, Gorham 207-892-9342 • james@jameslockman.com facebook.com/thelockmanplace

Nash Valley Farm Info & hours: Richard & Roberta Morrill Hours: Saturday, March 23 NOON - 4PM, Sunday, March 24 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Activities: Come to the country for everything maple! Visit the sugarhouse, sample warm syrup on ice cream. The country store offers cotton candy, many maple treats, and maple baked beans (packed to go or ready to eat).

Visit with the cows. Maple syrup is available selfserve all year.

Contact: 79 Nash Road, Windham 207-892-7019 • nashvalleyfarm@myfairpoint.net

Merrifield Farm Info & hours: Come and join us for Maine Maple Sunday® 36th Anniversary. Watch the boiling process, blacksmith working, antiques on display, 4-H Brass Knob Club giving ox cart rides, music, self- guided barn tour, play area for the children and a 1900’s ice house. Pancake breakfast (outside), maple syrup, candy, maple cotton candy, maple soft serve ice cream, smoked cheese, maple cream and more available to purchase. Portable restrooms. Hours: March 23 & 24, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Open Saturday March 16th and Sunday March 17th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for SALES ONLY During the month of March we also offer school tours.

Contact: 195 North Gorham Road, Gorham 207-415-3001 • MerFarm@aol.com

Phillip View Farm Info & hours: All events are held at Greene Maple Farm, 77 Bridgton Road on Maine Maple Weekend. Throughout the year open saturdays 9-1 at Phillip View Farm, 723 Bridgton Rd. Contact: 77 Bridgton Road, Sebago 207-232-1196 • PhillipViewFarm@gmail.com

Cooper’s Maple Products Info & hours: Maple syrup demonstration all day - see trees tapped with buckets & tubing, sample syrup on ice cream. Walking tour of farm -visit our 28 miniature horses, beef cattle, peacocks, pheasants, and chickens. Maple syrup, candy,maple coated nuts, and maple lollipops for sale. Farm, sugarbush, and school tours available. March 23 & March 24 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact: 81 Chute Road, Windham 207-892-7276 • GMCooper81@gmail.com www.Coopersrhf.com

Parsons Maple Products Info & hours: Sap boiler will be running all day for maple syrup demonstrations. Pancake breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to noon, free samples of syrup over ice cream, heated indoor seating, maple products for sale. - our 27th year!

Sugarbush & school tours available. March 24 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jim’s Sugar House Info & hours: Open house with maple syrup on ice cream. Maple syrup, maple sugar, maple lollipops, and maple nuts. We will also have Maple Cotton Candy. March 23 & 24 Contact: 296 Maple Ridge Road, Harrison 207-449-6511 • JimsSugarHouse@hotmail.com

Contact: 322 Buck Street, Gorham 207-831-4844 • EParsons@unum.com

FRANKLIN COUNTY Black Acres Sugar Shack

Info & hours: Come join Black Acres Farm for our Maine Maple Saturday and Sunday events.

Visit our new Sugar Shack complete with a new wood-fired evaporator and try all our farm made goodies. Visit the farm and enjoy a hay ride to see baby animal and learn about our grass raised animals. Sugar Shack will be fully stocked with beef, pork, honey, syrup and more.

You will not be disappointed! Farm, sugarbush & school tours available. March 23 & 24 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact: 123 Black Road, Wilton 207-491-4667 • BlackAcresBeef@gmail.com BlackAcresFarm@facebook

Bowley Brook Maple Info & hours: Tour of sap lines and sap house.

Demonstrations on syrup making. Free samples of maple goodies. Sugarbush & school tours available. Hours: March 24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Contact: 91 Masterman Road, Weld 207-578-0411 • miguel.ibarguen@cdlusa.net bowleybrookmaple.com

Day Mountain Maple Products Info & hours: Watch as we make pure Maine maple syrup using a 4x10 wood fired evaporator without steam hoods. Tours of the sugarbush on a tractor drawn sled. Samples of maple products and refreshments. Find us on Rte 4, 2 miles south of strong, 7/10 mile north of Tyler’s Body Shop. Watch for signs. March 24, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Contact: 399 Farmington Road, Strong 207-778-2716 • DayMtnMaple@yahoo.com

6

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Dream Maple

Cobbs Hill Sugarhouse

Kinney’s Sugarhouse

Info & hours: Maple syrup and Maple candy available. March 24 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Contact: 125 Temple Road Wilton, Maine 04294 207-320-5510 Claude.Doyon28@gmail.com

Info & hours: Visit one of the prettiest little sugar houses in Maine. Overlooking the Kennebec Highlands, Cobbs Hill Sugarhouse boils over a traditional wood-fired evaporator.

Try our new blends -- bourbon barrel-aged, birch, vanilla and cinnamon. Free ice cream, maple tea, samples, and more. A 100-yard walk to the sugarhouse. March 23 & 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sugarbush & school tours available

Info & hours: We will be boiling maple syrup and offering samples of most of our delicious maple products throughout the weekend. Open Saturday and Sunday March 23 & 24, from 9am to 5pm each day. Farm, sugarbush & school tours available.

Long Drive Acres Maple Farm Info & hours: We will boiling sap on our 3 x 12 wood fired evaporator. Tours of 20 x 50 timber framed sap house, maple cream demonstrations will be on going along with cotton candy production. The farm store will be open sample of a variety of maple products as well as for sale.

Sunday March 24 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Farm & sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 19 Temple Road, Wilton 207-778-9618 • LongDriveAcres@gmail.com

KENNEBEC COUNTY Bacon Farm Maple Products

Info & hours: Tours of sugarhouse and demonstrations of how maple syrup is produced.

Maple cotton candy, maple whoopie pies, and maple syrup for sale. Free samples of ice cream w/ maple syrup. Farm & school tours available.

Hours: March 23 & 24, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Hall Farms Maple Products Info & hours: Visit Hallfarms.com Contact: 985 U.S. Highway 2, Dixfield 207-645-2862 • rodney@hallfarms.com

Maple Hill Farm Info & hours: Self- guided sugarbush tour and boiling demonstration in the sugarhouse. Maple syrup & products for sale along with a gift table.

Call for Description of Events. Open March 23 11-4 & March 24 10-3.

Contact: 390 Titcomb Hill Road, Farmington 207-778-4506

Mystic Valley Maples Info & hours: Old Fashioned wood fired evaporator experience. Free snacks & Ice cream with maple syrup. Tours: Bus & School Tours Available. Hours: March 23 & 24 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Contact: 770 US RT 2- West, Wilton 207-645-4481 • jimharvell@yahoo.com

Plaisted Farm Maple Products Info & hours: Boiling demonstrations, free samples of ice cream with syrup,, coffee,donuts and hot chocolate. School tours available.

Hours: March 24, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Contact: 132 Borough Road, Jay 207-758-0713 • plaisted.farm@gmail.com

Contact: 1427 Pond Road, Sidney 207-547-5053 or 207-314-8289 baconfarm@roadrunner.com www.baconfarmmaple.com

Poulin’s Maple Syrup Info & hours: Sample Syrup over ice cream and other free samples of maple recipes.

Sugarbush tours available. Hours: March 24, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Contact: 319 Windsor Neck Road, Windsor 207-592-9051 • mapleman@roadrunner.com

Wilson Family Maple Syrup Info & hours: Open both Saturday & Sunday.

Maple syrup demonstrations, sugarbush tours, weather permitting. Plenty of Maple Products.

Farm, sugarbush, and school tours available.

Hours: March 23 & 24, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Contact: 652 Benton Road, Albion 207-453-6969 • maplesyrup@roadrunner.com

Battleridge Syrup Info & hours: Horse and wagon rides - Free syrup samples on Gifford’s vanilla ice cream + Cabot cheddar cheese. Bus & School tours available. March 23 and 24 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Contact: 898 Battle Ridge Road, Clinton 802-236-6894 • AndyMiller_09@yahoo.com

Contact: 945 North Road, Mount Vernon 207-620-2326 • HardwoodNectar@gmail.com www.CobbsHillSugarhouse.com

Raider’s Sugarhouse Info & hours: Take a short walk to our “backyard sugarhouse”. Enjoy the sweet aroma of maple being boiled with a wood fired evaporator. Sample Maple Syrup on ice cream!

Maple syrup for sale and hot beverages available. Sunday March 24 10-4 p.m. Sugarbush & school tours available.

Contact: 200 Abbott Road, Knox (207) 568-7576 • info@mapleconfections.com www.mapleconfections.com

Sparkys Honey and Maple Info & hours: Maple syrup boiling process. Lots of maple related goodies for sale. Sugarbush tours available. March 23 and 24 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Contact: 130 High Street, Hope 207-831-5085 • Sparkys@tidewater.net SparkysHoneyAndMaple.com

LINCOLN COUNTY Sweet Woods Farm

Contact: 148 Bog Brook Road China 207-968-2005 • GailTbbtts@yahoo.com

Y’s Farm Info & hours: Come see how Maple Syrup is made in a traditional wood fired evaporator in our backyard sugar shack on Maple Sugar Sunday and enjoy a sample of syrup over vanilla ice cream. Depending on weather and conditions, 2 walking tours will be offered 9-10 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. (tour takes approx. 35 minutes).

Please wear appropriate footwear. Call to ensure walking tour is a go. Syrup will be available for sale 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. March 23 & March 24 9-3. Farm tours available Contact: 447 North Pond Road, Winslow 207-872-6857 • LawnMan432001@yahoo.com

KNOX COUNTY

Blueberry Fields Bed & Breakfast Info & hours: March 23 & 24 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pancake Breakfast SUNDAY ONLY 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Self Guided Tour through sugarbush, demos in sugarhouse. Free samples of syrup on ice cream.

Baked maple products available for purchase.

Farm & school tours available.

Contact: 673 Razorville Road, Washington 207-446-2408 • cydzeig@gmail.com www.blueberryfieldsbandb.com

Info & hours: See the boiling process.

Sugarbush tours available. Enjoy a sample of hot maple syrup over ice cream. Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 144 Lynch Road, Newcastle 207-380-528 • SweetWoodsME@yahoo.com

Tim’s Sugar Shack Info & hours: Welcome to out hobbyist sugarhouse - walk through the sugarbush, watch us make maple syrup using a wood fire enjoy a dish of ice cream with maple syrup and check out our selection of maple products for sale. 2018 Blue Ribbon Maple Syrup. Saturday March 23 & Sunday March 24 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sugarbush & school tours available.

Contact: 23 Grand Army Road, Whitefield 207-549-5016 • MarthaTim@Roadrunner.com www.GrandArmyWeather.com

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

OXFORD COUNTY Ed’s Saphouse

Info & hours: Join us Maine Maple Sunday® for ice cream with maple syrup - sample out candy. maple syrup and candy are available for sale. March 24 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Farm, sugarbush & school tours availble (by appointment).

Contact: 185 West Bethel Road, Bethel 207-357-9504 • RuelSwain@gmail.com

A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm Info & hours: Pancake breakfast 8-11 saturday 3/23 & Sunday 3/24, Demonstrations, samples, tours, with lambs in barn. March 23 & 24 8a-4p.

Farm, sugarbush & school tours availble.

Velvet Hollow Sugarworks and Velvet Farm Info & hours: We will offer a pancake breakfast: Gluten-free Maine blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon, coffee and juice, in our warm sugar house. We operate a dedicated gluten-free bakery. Maple syrup for sale as well as maple gluten-free baked goods, mixes and granola. We’ve been told we have the best view so come and enjoy. We will be boiling sap.

Conditions permitting, snowmobilers can sled up to the sugarhouse. Hours: March 23 and 24, breakfast 8:00 a.m. to Noon, BBQ Maple Turkey Chili and gluten-free cornbread, Noon to 3:00 p.m., both days, and Sugarhouse Demo. 3/23 & 3/24 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Farm & school tours available.

Contact: 106 Black Mountain Road, Sumner 207-212-4058 • ThymeFarm32@gmail.com www.AWrinkleInThymeFarm.com

Contact: 29 Dunham Road, Greenwood 207-665-2967 • dunhamfarm@msn.com

Sap Hound Maple Company

Info & hours: Sample apple crisp or ice cream with maple syrup. Hours: Saturday March 24 Sales only 9:00 - 3:00 -Sunday, March 24 9:00 - 3:00 p.m. Restroom facilities available

Info & hours: Nathan & Corrie St. Saviour Hours: Saturday and Sunday, March 23 & 24 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. We will be open all weekend for tours and treats! Stop by to see our operation in action, sample maple goodies and pick up some maple syrup! We’ll have hot drinks, an assortment of maple baked goods and will answer all of your questions about anything maple related! Come join the fun! Farm, sugarbush and school tours available.

Contact: 414 Center Conway Road, Brownfield 802-558-5385 • corrie@saphoundmaple.com www.saphoundmaple.com

Slattery’s Sugarhouse Info & hours: Joni Slattery Hours: Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24. Pancake Breakfast both days from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Activities: Our sugarhouse will be open with tours and demons from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Horse-drawn wagon rides ($$), free music both days, local vendors at the grange. Sugarbush & school tours available.

Contact: Jct. Route 119 & Route 124, West Minot (207) 966-3643 • slatbake2001@yahoo.com slatterysmaplesupply.com

Rocky M Farm

Contact: 431 Colcord Pond Road, Porter 207-625-8035 • LMetcalf@myfairpoint.net

PENOBSCOT COUNTY Maxwell’s Maple Syrup

Info & hours: See how maple syrup is processed over a wood fired boiler. Sample our maple syrup over ice cream. Saturday & Sunday March 23 & 24 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Farm & sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 3142 Lee Road, Lee 207-794-5465 • AMax69@hotmail.com

Nutkin Knoll Farm and Sugarworks Info & hours: Scenic New England farm setting and antique buildings. Farm animals in barnyard. Maple syrup production demos, boiling if conditions allow. Maple treats, syrup, cotton candy for sale. Free ice cream with fresh syrup. Farm, school, and sugarbush tours & tree tappings. 2005 Maine Tree Farm of the Year. March 23 12-5 / Sunday March 24 9-5

Contact: 269 Chapman Road, Newburgh 207-234-7268 • Nutkin@uninets.net www.Maine-Christmas-Trees.com

7

Cider Hill Maple Farm

Moscow Maple

Info & hours: Information on how Maple Syrup is produced from tree to table. Sugarhouse tour, equipment demonstrations, snacks, Maple Syrup tasting and more. Sugarbush & school tour by appointment. Hours: Maine Maple Sunday® 9:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Info & hours: Please come join us on Maine Maple Sunday® for our 3rd annual open house.

We would love to show you around and have you sample some of out maple syrup. Hope to see you there. March 24 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 247 Cider Hill Road, Exeter 207-270-2130 • ciderhillmaple@yahoo.com

Contact: Old Canada Road, Bingham 207-592-5320 • MoscowMaple@gmail.com Moscowmaple/facebook

Lucerne Maple Products Info & hours: Watch maple syrup being made.

Sample foods made with maine maple syrup.

Hours: March 25 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Contact: 252 Lower Dedham Road, Holden 207-951-3702 Mark • 207-745-0253 Tim lucerenemp@gmail.com

SAGADAHOC COUNTY

Maine-iac Maple Farm Info & hours: Watch maple syrup made the old fashion way on wood fired evaporator, walk the sugar bush and try ice cream with syrup.

Sugarbush tours available. Hours; March 24, 2018 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Contact: 56 Mitchell Road Richmond 207-229-2590 • mcmeagher@gmail.com

Real Good Maple Syrup Info & hours: Maple Syrup and other maple products for sale. Free ice cream cup with warm maple syrup. Quick sugarhouse & sugarbush tours. Hours: Sunday, March 24, 2018 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Contact: 326 Post Road, Bowdoinham 207-666-3343 or 207-449-2654 wwells9@myfairpoint.net

SOMERSET COUNTY Corson Farm

Info & hours: The Corson Family welcomes you to our annual open house. Come see our ever expanding 4,000 tap business and how syrup is made. Take a tour, ask questions, and enjoy some free samples. We will have a variety of treats and syrup for sale as well. Plenty of parking. March 23 & 24 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Farm, sugarbush and school tours available.

Contact: 198 Webb Road, Pittsfield 207-841-5636 • Anthony@CorsonFarm.com www.CorsonFarm.com

Haulk’s Maple Info & hours: Visit our sugarhouse to see demonstrations. See maple syrup being made.

Sample products made with syrup. Products for sale. March 23 & March 24 9-4. Farm & school tours available.

Contact: 882 Lakewood Road, Madison 207-474-8047 • HaulksMaple@gmail.com www.haulksmaple.com

Hay’s Sugar Shack Info & hours: March 23&24 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sugarbush & school tours available.

Contact: Lords Hill Circle, Athens 207-431-1301 • GalHay@tds.net

Luce’s Saphouse Info & hours: Come help us celebrate 37 years of Maine Maine Maple Sunday® saphouse tours, see how maple syrup is made. Maple treats to sample and buy. Maple sausage, ice cream w/ maple syrup and more! March 24 Contact: 3 Fish Road, Anson 207-696-3732 • Info@MaineFarmsBrand.com

Eureka Farms Info & hours: Horse and sleigh rides, We will be boiling.Horse drawn sleigh rides, maple candy, maple popcorn, maple donuts, Gifford’s ice cream w/ maple syrup. Farm, sugarbush & school tours available. March 23 & 24 2018 9-4

Contact: 220 Shy Road Palmyra (207) 944-2186 • info@eurekafarmsmaine.com

8

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

North Star Orchards

Chandler’s Sugar Shack LLC

Info & hours: Maple syrup and apples - a great combination! You will find them both and much more when you visit our post and beam sugar house and farm store. We plan to be boiling sap in our wood-fired evaporator on weekend days throughout the season, including Maine Maple Sunday® . Our store is open year round on Saturday and Sunday from 10-5. Information about boiling times and other activities will be posted on our Facebook page - phone calls welcome. Farm & sugarbush tours available. March 24, 10 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. March 24, 9 a.m. -5:00 p.m.

Info & hours: Please join us for a tour of our sugarhouse and experience the taste of spring produced by our wood- fired evaporator. Free samples will be available. Sugarbush tours will be offered. Maple products will be available for sale. Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 97 Orchard Road, Madison 207-696-5109 • northstarorchards@gmail.com

Smith Brothers Maple Info & hours: Sample ice cream with maple syrup and other maple products. Watch maple syrup being made with oil fired evaporator in the Traditional method. Visitors are welcome anytime we are boiling. Usually end of February thru March. No restroom facilities. Open March 24 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. & Sunday March 24 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Contact: 52 Rowe Road, Skowhegan 207-474-3491 • smithbromaple@gmail.com

Strawberry Hill Farms Info & hours: 10,000+ tap organic maple operation. Outdoor and indoor demonstrations & sampling. Maple Producer Since before 1840.

Farm, Sugarbush & School tours available.

Hours: March 24, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Contact: 163 Rowe Road, Skowhegan 207-431-1481 • mainemaple@aol.com www.puremaple.com

Contact: 1116 US Hwy 6 Kossuth Twp, Madison 207-796-2724 • Bart@Chandlerssugarshack.com www.Chandlerssugarshack.com

WALDO COUNTY Beaver Hill Plantation

Info & hours: This year we will be open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for all Maple Syrup Weekend, March 23 & 24. As always we will have free samples, demonstrations, tours and more. In addition we will also have horse drawn wagon rides through the orchard on both days. Farm, sugarbush, & school tours available.

Contact: 130 Sibley Road, Freedom 207-382-6129 • BeaverHillPlantation@gmail.com www.BeaverHillPlantation.com

Simmons & Daughters Sugarhouse Info & hours: Our rustic sugarhouse with woodfired evaporator is overlooking the Camden Hills. We will be giving cups of ice cream with maple syrup, and selling maple syrup, candy, cotton candy, whoopie pies, and other maple treats. March 23&24 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

School tours available.

Contact: 261 Weymouth Road Morrill 207-342-2444 • Info@SimmonsMaple.com www.SimmonsAndDaughtersSugarhouse.com

WASHINGTON COUNTY Church’s Sugar Shack

Info & hours: Located on Route 1 in Columbia Falls Maine. Come learn the process of making maple syrup from the tap to table. Sugarbush tour, demonstrations of our wood fired evaporator & free sample of maple syrup, syrup on vanilla ice cream. Maple syrup, maple sugar, assorted jams & Jellies available for purchase.

March 23 & 24 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Contact: Harrington Road, Columbia Falls 207-483-2621 • ChurchsSugarShack@gmail.com www.facebook.com/Churchssugaarshak

YORK COUNTY

Clark Cole Family Pure Maple Syrup Info & hours: Clark Cole Hours: SATURDAY, March 23 8:00 a.m. – Noon. Open house at Clark Cole Family Sugar House & Open House at Andy’s Agway - Pony Rides - Pancake breakfast 8 a.m. NOON in the Heated Garage. Pony rides & more!

Contact: 13 Cole Farm Road, Dayton 207-284-5019 • 207-590-3221 • cgcole2@gmail.com

Doustan Maple & Honey Info & hours: Blake & Gail Douston Hours: Sunday, March 24 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Sugarhouse will be open for tours and samples of syrup on ice cream. Syrup will be available for purchase. Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 251 Old Alfred Road, Arundel 207-284-5562 doustanmapleandhoney@hotmail.com

Dunn Family Maple Info & hours: We are open Saturday and Sunday of Maine Maine Maple Sunday® weekend 3/23 and 3/14 from 9-4. A Pancake Breakfast is available from 9-1 both days. Walk into our sugar house step up to our modern wood fired evaporator and smell the sweet aroma of maple in the air. Follow your kids on our Children’s Maple Scavenger Hunt. Walk through our sugar woods on a self-guided tour, or tag along with the sugar maker for what has been regarded as a start to finish “scientific explanation” of the sugar making process. Sample our maple syrup by the different grades, as well as other maple treats, and complementary maple syrup over ice cream for all. We have our Pure Maine Maple Syrup, Maple Whoopie Pies, Maple Candy, Maple Cotton Candy, and other Maple products available to purchase. NOTE Chicopee Road will be one way between Line Rd in Gorham and Gillet Rd in Buxton, you will have to come in from Gorham.

Farm, sugarbush, & school tours available.

Contact: 419 Chicopee Road, Buxton 207-671-4262 • DunnFamilyMaple@gmail.com www.DunnFamilyMaple.com

Hidden Roots Maple Farm Info & hours: March 23 and 24 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

School tours available.

Contact: Tufts Lane, Limington • 207-206-5206 StorerMaple@gmail.com • HiddenRootsMaple.com

High Acres Maple Syrup Info & hours: Art & Sue Melanson Hours: March 23 & 24, 7:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. both days.

Pancake Breakfast in heated barn (can seat 65 at a time). Sugarhouse demonstrations describing our tubing system, reverse osmosis and brand new evaporator pans. Barn Store will be stocked with fresh maple syrup, maple candy and more.

Farm and school tours available.

Contact: 14 Husky Haven South Hiram 207-625-7151 • melanson@oakhillfarm.com www.oakhillfarm.com

Hilltop Boilers Maple Syrup Info & hours: Celebrate spring sales event (March 16th, ) and Maine Maple weekend (March 23-24, ). Visit our NEW maple store.

Sugarhouse tours. On Saturdays, Axe Women Loggers will demonstrate their extreme talents, while Wildlife Encounters will be with us with their amazing exhibits. All days live music, contests, samples, and farm animals. Pigs, baby calves, tractors to play on, and maple cotton candy. FREE admission. March 16th 9-4, March 23-24 9-4, March 30 9-4. Farm, sugarbush, & school tours available.

Contact: 159 Elm Street, Newfield 207-793-8850 • HilltopBoilers@myfairpoint.net www.HilltipBoilers.com

Harris Farm Info & hours: Pancake breakfast made with homemade whole wheat recipe. Maple donuts, candies, syrup, horse drawn wagon/sleigh rides and Dairy store. Sugarhouse open for viewing Farm, sugarbush, & school tours available.

Hours: March 23-24, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Contact: 280 Buzzell Road, Dayton 207-499-2678 Farm • 207-929-4088 (cell) farmmaine@gmail.com

Maple Hill Sugarhouse Info & hours: Sugarbush tours available. Open March 23th & 24, 2018 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Contact: 93 Hicks Road, Newfield 207-793-2773 • leahdgerry@gmail.com

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Morin’s Maple Syrup

Pingree Maple Products

Info & hours: Please join us for ALL DAY Pancake Breakfast indoors. Demonstrations on how Maple Syrup is made. Buy our very own maple syrup, goodies that include maple candies, maple sugar cakes, maple cotton candy and our own maple peanuts. Enjoy a nice tractor ride hosted by the Lions Club of Limerick. Can’t wait to see you there! March 24, 2018 8-4 p.m. Farm tours available

Info & hours: Open Saturday’s and Sunday’s the month of March including Maine Maple Sunday® we will have samples of maple syrup on ice cream and demonstrate how pure maple syrup is produced. We offer Pure Maine Maple Syrup, maple cream, maple candy, maple jelly, granulated maple sugar & other homemade maple items which are for sale the entire year.

We can ship maple products for your convenience around the holidays or any time of year. Sign up for door prizes and sample our maple syrup on ice cream. Farm tours, school tours and restrooms. Hours: Saturday & Maine Maple Sunday® March 23-24, 9 a.m. -3pm or anytime steam is rising. Celebrating our 50th year of maple syrup production!

Contact: 45 Morin Road, Limerick • 207-793-8420

Maple Moon Farm LLC. Info & hours: Visit our sugarhouse Saturday March 23 and Sunday March 24, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Observe the transformation of sap to maple syrup, help stoke our wood-fired evaporator, enjoy a cup of maple tea and a pancake made on our 1920s wood cookstove, tour the sugarbush, help collect sap from old-fashioned buckets, and peruse our collection of antique sugaring tools and equipment. Maple products available for purchase include 100% pure maple syrup, butter, candy, sugar, cream, infused syrups (bourbon barrel, vanilla, cinnamon), and maple sugar kettle corn. Sugarbush tours available.

Contact: 289 Chick Road, Lebanon 978-376-3032 • MapleMoonFarmLLC@gmail.com www.maplemoonfarm.com

Brookline Boilers Info & hours: Syrup making demonstrations on our “new to us” evaporator. Free syrup sample.

French Canadian favorites available along with maple syrup and maple products for sale. sugar on snow demo at noon. Weather permitting.

Please call ahead. We are open other days during sugar seasons. please call first to check availability. March 24, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Contact: 2144 Alfred Road, Lyman 207-490-2957 • RachelCecile@gmail.com

Contact: 90 High Road, Cornish 207-625-8584 • tpingree@myfairpoint.net pingreemapleproducts.com

Thurston & Peters Sugarhouse, LLC Info & hours: “TAPS” (Thurston and Peters Sugarhouse) makes maple syrup the “new fashioned” way (tubing, vacuum, reverse osmosis, oil fired evaporator) With “old fashioned” hospitality. Stop by for a tour and sample out maple syrup and maple soft serve! Candy and maple cream too! March 23 & 24 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Farm, sugarbush, & school tours available.

Contact: 299 Bond Spring Road, Newfield 207-793-8886 • Taps@metrocast.net ThurstonAndPeters.com

Check local listings including www.getrealmaine.com and www.mainemapleproducers.com to find other retailers and participants in Maine Maple Sunday®

9

10

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Old-Fashioned Baked Beans

Wild Blueberry Coconut Yogurt Pops

RECIPE BY MAINE MAPLE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

RECIPE BY: WILD BLUEBERRY ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA.

with Maine Dry Beans and Maple Syrup

I

nstructions: Cover beans with boiling water, soak 1 hour, then drain. (This will remove some gas-causing compounds.) Cover beans with cold water, • 6 cups dried Maine yellow eye bring to a slow boil and cook until skins beans split when the beans are blown on. Drain, • 2/4 to 1 lb lean salt pork or slab saving liquid. bacon on the rind Drop the meat into a pan of boiling • 1 tablespoon dry mustard water, turn off heat and let sit for 5 or 10 • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper minutes to remove excess salt. Drain and • 1/3 cup Maine maple syrup cut in half. Put half of the meat, rind • 1 medium-sized onion, peeled and down, on the bottom of your bean pot. stuck with 2 whole cloves Combine 1 cup bean liquid with the mustard, syrup, and pepper, then mix it into the parboiled beans.

Transfer this to the bean pot and bury the onion right in the middle. Pour in just enough additional bean-liquid or water to barely show through the top layer of beans.

Cap with the remaining meat, set rind side out. Cover and bake 6 to 8 hours in a very slow (250 degree) oven, adding boiling water if necessary to keep beans from drying out. Uncover for last hour so top can get brown and crisp.

Ingredients

with Maine Maple Syrup

Makes eight 3-ounce ice pops

I Not actual photo © Jenifoto / Adobe Stock

Ingredients • 1 ½ cups frozen wild blueberries • ¼ cup pure Maine maple syrup • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 cups coconut flavored yogurt (or 1 ⅔ cups coconut flavored Greek yogurt plus ⅓ cup milk)

nstructions: Stir together the frozen wild blueberries and maple syrup in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring regularly until the wild blueberries defrost and the juices begin to boil. Drop the heat until the liquid is at a high simmer.

Simmer for 8 minutes. Remove from heat, mix in the lemon juice, and leave the berries to cool for at least 20 minutes.

In a medium bowl, whisk the yogurt (or Greek yogurt plus milk) until creamy. Pour the wild blueberries into the bowl and run a rubber spatula through the yogurt a few times so that it looks lightly marbled. You don’t want it completely blended.

Use a small measuring cup to transfer the yogurt mixture into pop molds. Freeze for several hours until completely solid.

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Maple syrup words and trivia In the sugarbush, where trees grow, and the sap flows!

At the sugarhouse,

turning sap to syrup!

For you, a quality food

SUGARBUSH: Woods that have sugar

SUGARHOUSE: A building with tools and supplies to turn maple sap into syrup.

Maine has the third largest syrup industry in the United States, and Somerset County is the largest maple producing county in the country!

HYDROMETER OR REFRACTOMETER:

maples trees that can be tapped for sap. In Maine, sugarbushes are a source of a natural sweetener, wildlife habitat, pulpwood, firewood, jobs, sustainable incomes and sustainable forest management for communities.

SUGAR MAPLE: A species of maple tree

native to hardwood forests of eastern and north central North America. Sugar maples have bright fall foliage. They are the main source of sap to make maple syrup.

Scientific name is Acer saccharum.

RUN: When the sap flows. Maple season

begins when the night temperature is below freezing and the daytime temperatures are 40-45-degrees Fahrenheit.

(Ideal is 40-degrees Fahrenheit in the day and 20-degrees Fahrenheit at night.) The season usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks with about 15 good sap flow days.

SAP: A clear liquid that gives water and

nutrients to plants and trees prior to buds and leaves opening in spring. Sap can spoil, so sugar makers collect it quickly to boil into quality syrup.

SPOUT/SPILE: A tube placed into a tree’s tap hole to drain sap from the tree. Spouts/ Spiles may have a hook to hold a bucket.

BUCKET: Container on the spout to collect sap at the tree.

TAP: The hole put into a tree to extract sap.

Maine has around 1.89-million taps cared for by nearly 500 licensed maple producers.

TUBING: Long tubes attached to spouts

to allow sap to flow from the tap to a storage tank.

made in Maine!

Measurement tools to help sugarmakers precisely identify the maple sugar content of syrup and sap.

GRADE A-VERY DARK COLOR WITH STRONG FLAVOR: Generally, very late

season syrup. It is great in cookies, breads, and baked beans to provide a stronger maple taste.

HOOD: Device above the evaporator to collect steam, connects to the steam stack.

BRIX SCALE AND BRIX: A scale to measure sugar content of foods. Maple syrup is ready when the Brix reading is 66-67 percent sugar content and 7.1 degrees Fahrenheit above the temperature of boiling water. Uniform standards help producers provide reliable, quality maple syrup to their customers.

EVAPORATOR: Large shallow metal pans to boil sap into syrup. In the boiling and filtering, all the nutrients remain in the syrup.

U.S. GRADE A: All Maine maple syrup commercially sold is U.S. Grade A quality.

The syrup is further classified by flavor and color characteristics.

MAPLE SUGAR: Sugar made when sap is

ARCH: Stand that holds evaporator pans.

Heat from the fuel underneath boils the sap.

GRADE A- GOLDEN COLOR WITH DELICATE FLAVOR: A fine pronounced

MAPLE CREAM: A spreadable confection,

STEAM STACK: Chimney-like pipes on the sugarhouse that move steam evaporating from boiled sap out of the sugarhouse.

SAP PAN/FLUE PAN/BACK PAN: Area of the evaporator at the first stage of boiling maple sap to syrup. It usually has deep channels in the bottom to allow more heat to boil the sap.

REVERSE OSMOSIS, “R/O” MACHINE:

A tool that filters maple sap, and reduces water in maple sap by approximately 75-percent before it is boiled into syrup.

SYRUP/FRONT/FINISHING PAN: Part of

the evaporator where final sap evaporation happens. It slowly cooks sap to avoid burning in the final steps.

sweetness with a delicate maple flavor.

This syrup is desirable for pancakes, waffles, French toast, and as an ice cream topping.

GRADE A-AMBER COLOR WITH RICH FLAVOR: A slightly stronger flavor with a

noticeable darker color. This grade has a rich full bodied taste. A popular choice for all-purpose syrup.

GRADE A- DARK COLOR WITH ROBUST FLAVOR: Much darker in color and a stronger, more robust maple flavor.

Preferred in baking and cooking because of its strong flavor. This syrup is great to pour over baked apples or squash or use as a glaze on meats and vegetables.

MAPLE SYRUP: Syrup usually made from

the sap of sugar maple trees. Pure maple syrup is a 100% natural food. It takes approximately 40 gallons of maple sap to make 1 gallon of pure syrup. Pure maple syrup has distinct flavors, and retains all its nutrients in the boiling and filtering process. It is Maine’s official sweetener. boiled longer than syrup. Maple sugar texture is like table sugar. made when syrup is heated to a temperature of 22 to 24-degrees Fahrenheit above the boiling point of water and then cooled and stirred. Approximately one quart (4 cups) of Grade A Golden Color with Delicate Flavor pure maple syrup will make 2 pounds of maple cream. Careful measurements and handling creates a creamy treat with distinct maple flavors.

RECIPE: Set of instructions to prepare a dish, including a list of required ingredients. Maple products can be a recipe ingredient. To substitute maple syrup in a recipe, use ¾ cup of syrup for a cup of sugar and decrease the dominate liquid, milk or water, by 3 tablespoons. Decrease the cooking temperature by 25-degrees Fahrenheit because baked goods brown quicker as syrup caramelizes. You can also use maple sugar to replace table sugar made from sugar cane. Typically, ½ a cup of maple sugar can replace 1 cup of table sugar in baking.

TANK: Equipment used to store sap before it is boiled into syrup.

11

Find recipe suggestions on the Maine Maple Producers website, mainemapleproducers.com.

SOURCES: COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, INTERNATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP INSTITUTE, MAINE MAPLE PRODUCERS, MERRIAM WEBSTER.

12

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Honk and Read

for Maine!

E

ach spring, supporters of Maine agriculture volunteer to read stories to help students learn more about the value of agriculture in our lives.

The annual Read “ME” Agriculture event, organized by Maine Ag in the Classroom and supported by the Maine agricultural specialty license plate, is a memorable program that brings realworld experience to participating Maine classrooms for a day.

Farmers and others working in Maine agriculture volunteer to visit classrooms to read a book, answer questions about farming, and share their insights about the role of Maine farms in rural communities.

This year, participants will learn about Maine’s official sweetener. The theme is maple syrup, and the book, Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse by Laurie Lazarro Knowlton, is illustrated

by Kathryn Mitter. Past themes included wild blueberries, agriculture in Maine, dairying, apples, aquaculture, and agriculture in Maine.

The Read “ME” Agriculture program reaches more than 100,000 pre-k through fourth grade students in more than 700 classrooms across the state since it began in 2008. Classrooms receive the book as a donation, along with lesson plans.

In addition to Read “ME” Agriculture, MAITC provides other agricultural education opportunities for Maine classrooms.

Grants are distributed to educational programs for over $60,000 in four different categories including: school gardens and greenhouses, agricultural awareness and agricultural leadership.

Learn more about the Read “ME” Agriculture program and MAITC, and find volunteer opportunities at agclassroom.org/me.

Save the date!

March 2019

Read “ME” Agriculture—Statewide

March 15-17, 2019 Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show,

University of Maine, Orono, ME

March 20, 2019 UMaine Cooperative Extension,

Best Practices Greenhouse Growers Workshop, Gorham, ME March 24, 2019

Maine Maple Sunday®—Statewide

March 27-31, 2019 Maine Flower Show—

Thompson’s Point, Portland, ME April 22, 2019 April 27, 2019

May 20, 2019 May 16, 2019

July 28, 2019

Earth Day—Statewide Maine School Garden Day, Trenton Elementary School, Trenton, ME Maine Arbor Week—Statewide Northeast Livestock Expo Kids Day— Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME 30th Annual Open Farm Day—Statewide

Find other farm, food and agriculture events at getrealMaine.com!

13

14

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

MELNA / Plant Something Maine

Upcoming Events

ED ZELINSKY FOR MELNA

PREMIERE NIGHT FOR 3RD ANNUAL MAINE FLOWER SHOW, presented by the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association, March 27, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Thompson’s Point in Portland. Premiere Night kicks off the festive four-day event by providing an exclusive first look at the talented participants whose attention-grabbing displays are highpoints of the show. Features more than a dozen cash awards in many categories including native plants, annuals, and hardscape.

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, music and mingling with fellow horticulture enthusiasts. $50 per person, buy online at maineflowershow.com/ticket-info 3RD ANNUAL MAINE FLOWER SHOW, presented by the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association, March 28 – March 31 at Thompson’s Point in Portland. Featuring 13 vibrant display gardens on the theme “A Walk in Maine,” this year’s show will also include 120 exhibits of plants, hardscape, arbor, and garden supplies, as well as hands-on workshops and seminars led by experts in growing and outdoor living. Doors open at 10 a.m. $22 general admission, children under 12 are free. FMI: www.maineflowershow.com.

ED ZELINSKY FOR MELNA

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

Celebrate Maine Maple Sunday

®

Maple Apple Grilled Cheese Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Servings: 4 1/4 cup maple syrup Pie Spice 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Apple 3 ablespoons butter 8 slices whole-wheat bread (1-ounce slices) 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese le, cored and cut 1 medium Golden Delicious app into 16 thin slices chopped 4 slices cooked bacon, coarsely

Mix maple syrup and apple pie

spice. Set aside.

. Layer two slices of cheese Butter one side of each bread slice d slice with buttered side brea and four slices of apple on each then drizzle with maple n baco d ppe cho down. Sprinkle with aining bread slices with syrup mixture. Top with rem buttered side up. or griddle on medium-low Place sandwiches in large skillet , or until bread is browned heat. Cook 3-4 minutes per side hes, if necessary. and cheese is melted. Cook in batc Source: McCormick, #13961

15

16

SPRINGTIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • March 15, 2019

recipe

Honey Maple Cornbread

Author: Sarah Walker Caron Serves: 8

Ingredients

1 cup yellow cornmeal ur 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 cup milk 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted melt d & cooled slightly 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 8×8-inch glass baking dish with cooking oil spray. Set aside. In a large bowl, sift together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder & salt. Make a well in the center & add the honey, maple syrup, milk & eggs. Stir well to combine. Drizzle in the butter a little at a time, stirring constantly. Add the frozen corn kernels & stir well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden.

A knife inserted in the center should come out cleanly. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing into small squares.