What began as a hobby for Jim and Sue Myers of Green Lane’s Ridge Valley Farm has since grown into a thriving maple sugaring business, writes Dan Sullivan for Lancaster Farming.
The couple harvest sap from maple trees and cook it down to become syrup, then sell it along with other value-added products at their farm store and regional farmers markets. Each year, the farm’s evaporator boils down around 20,000 gallons of sap into approximately 500 gallons of syrup.
“We are open whenever we are home,” states their website, with a note to call before visiting.
Ridge Valley Farm held an open house last month, featuring an educational tour led by the Myers’ grandson, Caleb Yost, who demonstrated maple tree tapping.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 3,” said the now 15-year-old Caleb.
Sue and the couple’s daughter, Becky Bobb, handed out samples at the farm store, to the delight of visitors.
“We’re very interested in maple syrup, and we were on the internet and happened to see an open house,” said Jess Feinman, one member of the group.
Read more about Green Lane’s Ridge Valley Farm and the maple sugaring process in Lancaster Farming.
