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Spring, 2006 With spring in the air, we are currently preparing for our 11th year of maple syrup production (as well as celebrating our 30th year as Gibbons Family Farm). After expanding our bush to a total of 4600 taps last year, we are remaining at this size to ensure all pipelines are working at their greatest potential yielding a steady flow of sap (of course dependent on the weather!). The maple bush located two kilometres north of the sugar house is producing well as the trees are young and have recovered since the ice storm. Our second maple bush, located one kilometre east of the sugar house, is aging and showing signs of soon needing to be retired. After this upcoming season, we will decide on whether or not to use this bush in 2007. If we chose not to, we’ll have a big project this summer to tap another area of the bush north of the sugar house. Looking for another tasty maple syrup treat to enjoy? We have a new product on our shelf – cinnamon maple butter. We made a couple batches for the spring of 2005 and received excellent feedback. After perfecting the recipe, we now have a new addition to our selection of maple products in our gift store. We invite you to sample the cinnamon maple butter at our sampling table – it’s excellent on toast! Now that we have your taste buds watering!, one of our favourite maple recipes: Beachcomber Pie 2 tablespoons melted butter 1-1/2 cup maple syrup ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice ½ teaspoon salt 1-1/4 cup shredded cocoanut 1 unbaked pie shell (9") There’s no better way to start off another spring season than to take a drive on a Saturday (last two of March, first two of April) to Frankville. Enjoy a pancake breakfast at St. Thomas Anglican Church followed by a visit at Gibbons Family Farm Maple Sugar House and Museum for a taste of the season’s fresh maple syrup, a traditional treat of maple taffy on snow, and let’s not forget a favourite – maple cotton candy. Needing a bit of exercise? – take a walk to the sugar bush to check if the sap is flowing into the buckets or pipeline. We continue to be open 7 days a week, year round, for purchasing maple syrup and other fine maple products either in our gift store or through mail order. We are also a vendor at the Brockville Farmer’s Market from May to October. In the off season, please feel free to drop in or call ahead to ensure someone is on site to give you or visiting family and friends a tour. |
