LIVING IN BLOOMFIELD WHICH IS ONLY ONE MILE FROM WEST HARTFORD AND 4 MILES FROM HARTFORD.  I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES TO ACTUALLY SEE HOW IT IS MADE.  I HAVE TWO NEIGHBORS THAT MAKE MAPLE SYRUP.  ONE IS ON FIVE ACRES WITH THE ORIGINAL FARM HOUSE FOR THE HILL THAT WE LIVE ON.  HE BUILT A SUGAR HOUSE SHACK THAT IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE AND HAS ALL OF THE LATEST EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE FLORESCENT GREEN LINES GOING ALL OVER HIS PROPERTY ATTACHED TO EVERY MAPLE TREE. I GUESS THEY DRAIN INTO ONE SPOT SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO FROM TREE TO TREE TO COLLECT THE SYRUP.  IT LOOKS LIKE  A GREEN ELECTRIC DOG FENCE.  NOW IN MY 10 YEARS OF LIVING ON THE HILL I HAVE NEVER HAD A TASTE OF THEIR SYRUP.   

MY OTHER NEIGHBOR HAS 35 ACRES (I CURRENTLY HAVE 10 OF THOSE 35 ON THE MARKET FOR A BUYER WHO WANTS TOTAL PRIVACY AND ALSO TO BE ABUTTING MDC PROPERTY).  HE USES THE STAINLESS BUCKETS THAT ARE HAMMERED TO ALL OF THE MAPLE TREES TO DRAIN INTO THE BUCKETS AND THEN HE HAS TO EMPTY THE BUCKETS MANUALLY.  HE THEN DELIVERS TO MY HI TECH NEIGHBOR FOR THE BIG MELT-DOWN THAT GOES ON IN THE SUGAR SHACK.  I HAVE RECEIVED FROM HIM A FEW GALLONS OF MAPLE SYRUP IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.  IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST.  IT IS SO PURE AND ALSO VERY RICH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE SAME AMOUNT AS YOU WOULD WITH THE STORE BOUGHT BRANDS.  I ALSO THINK IT'S LIKE HONEY - IF YOU EAT HONEY FROM YOUR AREA IT HELPS RID OF ALLERGIES.

 FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AS LUCKY AS I AM TO WATCH IT FROM START TO FINISH THERE IS A TOUR GOING ON IN CONNECTICUT STARTING MARCH 10-11TH.  VISIT LAMOTHE'S SUGAR HOUSE IN BURLINGTON, CT.  IT IS ONE OF THE STATES LARGEST PRODUCERS OF SYRUP.  IN HEBRON THERE IS THE HEBRON MAPLE FESTIVAL THAT HAS TOURS OF FIVE SUGAR HOUSES.  ONE OF THE FIVE PRODUCERS IS ALSO A PARTNER OF MINE OF  CITY STEAM BREW PUB IN HARTFORD,CT WHERE WE MAKE THE BEER FROM SCRATCH.  HE DEFINITLEY WILL HAVE THE FINEST SYRUP!

ON MARCH 17TH, THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN INDIANT STUDIES WILL GIVE A DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR METHOD OF MAKING THE SYRUP.   

MARCH 17-18TH, GREAT  BROOK SUGARHOUSE IN NEW MILFORD WILL DEMO THE PAST METHODS AND MODERN DAY METHODS OF PRODUCTION.

IF YOU GET THE BUG AFTERWARDS I HAVE A 10 ACRE PIECE OF LAND FOR SALE IN BLOOMFIELD AND I HAVE 16.5 ACRE PIECE OF LAND FOR SALE IN NEW HARTFORD WITH A POND AND HORSE PADDOCK.

CHEERS!