Courtesy Billings Farm & Museum
Mary McCuag at work in a the sugarhouse.
McCuag, a maple sugar farmer, will be on
hand at Billings Farm & Museum to discuss
the science behind the syrup.
Saturday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.—WOODSTOCK—Learn about the world of maple sugaring with Mary McCuaig of Top Acres Farm and Nikki Whelley of Vermont Evaporator company. Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Road, Woodstock will host a maple sugaring workshop this Saturday where participants will learn to identify sugar maples in wintertime and how to select the perfect tree for tapping. The workshop will delve into tapping techniques with live demonstrations on site. Participants will learn about tapping equipment, the chemistry of sap, and bucket vs. tubing collection methods. The instructors will discuss evaporators for backyard boiling and the ins and outs of converting sap into syrup. Finally, participants will explore the essentials of bottling and preserving homemade maple syrup. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a curious beginner, this workshop provides valuable insight and hands-on experience into the delightful world of backyard maple sugaring.
Mary McCuaig, a fourth-generation maple syrup farmer from Top Acres Farm, brings a wealth of experience and passion for maple sugaring. The connection to the land and family legacy runs deep. Her great grandparents, Ada and Erwin Fullerton, established and cultivated Top Acres Farm in 1901. Originally a dairy farm until 1989, the farm is now primarily producing maple syrup and baled hay. Alongside her husband Carl, Mary tends 3,500 taps in their South Woodstock farm and have built their dream sugarhouse. Mary continues to be enthused about maple and loves working on new maple recipes in her kitchen. For more information about McCuaig, visit: gmhainc.org/listing/top-acres-farm.
Nikki Whelley, relocated from her hometown in Elba, NY to Vermont, and discovered her love of sugaring. As the Communications Director at the Vermont Evaporator Company, Whelley combines her geology background with a love for sustainable living. Whelley officially joined the Vermont Evaporator Company in 2019. She started with boxing orders and website redesign, and now has moved up to running all things communications. Vermont Evaporators makes hand-made, wood-fired, barrel-style maple sap evaporators and grills that are perfect for backyard boiling.
The session will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A.
For more information about Whelley, visit: vermontevaporator.com or contact info@billingsfarm.org with questions.
