The following sugarhouses from Windham County are participating in this year's Vermont Maple Open House Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, the 11th annual tour of its kind organized by the Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Association. For more information about the association, its members, and the statewide tour, visit www.vermontmaple.org.
Black Bear Sugarworks
287 Locust Hill Road, Guilford, VT 05301. 802-257-4278; info@blackbearsugarworks.com; www.blackbearsugarworks.com. Take U.S. 5 south from Exit 1 off Interstate 91 and follow the Black Bear Sugarworks signs. Open House Weekend Days: Saturday, Sunday.
“A guided tour of the lower part of our sugar bush will be conducted each day at 1 p.m. See how a modern sugaring operation works from a tapped maple tree to a barrel of all natural maple syrup.”
Hidden Springs Maple
162 Westminster West Rd., Putney, VT 05346. 802-387-5200; info@hiddenspringsmaple.com; www.hiddenspringsmaple.com. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We will have a maple syrup tasting table, live music, tours of our maple syrup packing facility, literature and video about how we make maple syrup, tours of our store, and our store products including our maple syrup, arts and crafts, hot lunch and coffee.”
Jim and Josie's Maple Syrup
1055 VT Route 11; Londonderry, VT 05148. 802-824-3295; windrows@sover.net. Go 0.8 mile west of Londonderry on Vt. Route 11. Sugarhouse is on the north side of the road. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Our family has been sugaring for generations. We boil with wood, use buckets and pipeline. We have samples and products available. We encourage everyone to come and visit during the sugaring season. Please call and leave message.”
Robb Family Farm
822 Ames Hill Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301. 802-258-9087; robbfarm@together.net; www.robbfamilyfarm.com. From Interstate 91 Exit 2, right onto Route 9 west, 1.3 miles to 7-Eleven on left. Turn immediately left onto Greenleaf Street, then go 1.5 miles to Ames Hill. Farm is 1.5 miles on Ames Hill on left. Open House Weekend Days: Saturday, Sunday.
“Watch sap being boiled into syrup, ride the trailer to help gather sap, free syrup tasting and maple samples. Wood fired arch.”
Smith Family Maple
327 Atcherson Hollow Rd., Cambridgeport, VT 05141. 802-869-2417; smithfamilymaple@hotmail.com. From Saxtons River: Take Route 121 west to Cambridgeport. Take right onto Cambridgeport Road, 0.5 mile. At fork, take right onto Atcherson Hollow Road; follow about two miles to last driveway on right. Open House Weekend Days: Saturday, Sunday.
“Wood-fired arch. Free samples available. Maple syrup for sale, light refreshments available.”
Sprague and Son Sugarhouse
Rt 100, Jacksonville, VT 05342. 802-368-2776; spragueandsonmaple@myfairpoint.net. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Traditional wood-fired operation, sugar-on-snow, samples.”
Sweet Maple Alpaca Farm, LLC
154 River Rd., Westminster, VT 05346. 802-376-9846 or 802-380-0750; info@sweetmaplealpacas.com; www.sweetmaplealpacas.com.Take Exit 5 off Interstate 91; drive approximately 6 miles south on Route 5. Turn left onto River Road. Farm is second place on left and will be marked with signs. Open House Weekend Days: Saturday, Sunday.
“Meet the alpacas; see maple syrup being made, have a taste; shop in our farm store; activities for children; hot dogs; handouts.”
The Corse Farm
773 Corse Rd., Whitingham, VT 05361. 802-368-2420; thecorsefarm@myfairpoint.net. Take Route 100 south through Jacksonville. Look for Whitingham School on left; take second right after the school onto Corse Road. Drive 0.75 mile. Open House Weekend Days: Saturday, Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Maple tubing system, buckets, large wood fired evaporator, reverse osmosis system, sugarhouse tour, free maple milkshakes, cheese and crackers, maple products for sale.”