March Maple Syrup Madness in Massachusetts

Travel for Sugar Making Tours of an Organic Farm and in a State Park

Mar 11, 2009 Jennifer Huber

Freezing nights and warm March days are ideal conditions for making maple syrup. Central Massachusetts sugar shacks give tours demonstrating the sweet process.

The sugary scent of maple wafts in the air as steam plumps up pores of those entering a sugar shack. The steam and heat from the wood stoves make the small wood shacks feel like chichi saunas. Maple syrup seems to pump through the veins of Central Massachusetts sugar makers and for a short time each year, the experience and enthusiasm is shared with curious visitors through public tours.

March Maple Syrup Madness in Central Massachusetts

Central Massachusetts maple sugar makers, those individuals who make maple syrup, prepare year-round for sugar season. There isn’t an exact date when it begins. The maple tapping season is dependent upon freezing temperatures and warmer days causing maple sap to flow. When planning a visit to the Worcester area and Central Massachusetts to tour sugar shacks processing maple syrup, plan on the first full weekend in March. Visit the Natick Community Organic Farm and join the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association at the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park for two different family-friendly maple sugar making experiences. Visitors should dress for the weather and strap on boots in anticipation of muddy conditions.

March Maple Madness in Central Massachusetts: Natick Community Organic Farm

Throughout the month of March (and most likely the first week of April 2009), tours of the organic farm are offered Monday through Saturday. Tour the farm operation to see tapped sugar maple trees and methods used by the Native Americans and early New England settlers. The tour ends at the sugar shack where it’s most likely to see Lynda Simkins, the farm’s director, stirring the maple sap as it boils down to maple syrup. The farm also has chickens, rabbits, and sheep. The tour is about an hour long and costs $5 per person. Natick Community Organic Farm is located less than an hour’s drive east of Worcester. (117 Eliot Street, Natick; Tel: 508/655-2204)

March Maple Madness in Central Massachusetts: Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

The Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association teams up with U.S. National Park Service and Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park to offer Maple Sugar Days the first three full weekends in March. This is about a 2-hour experience extremely in depth. Visitors are walked through the maple sugar making process with an introductory video followed by an orientation in the River Bend Farm Visitor Center, which will most likely be given by Valerie or Bill Paul, founders of the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association.

Grab a bucket! After orientation visitors hit the field and learn how to tap a tree, gather maple sap, see how Native Americans processed maple syrup, and visit a working sugar shack. The tour ends back at the visitor center where samples of maple syrup tea, maple cream, maple sugar candy, and maple cookies are offered. The tour is free and the River Bend Farm Visitor Center is located less than a 45-minute drive southeast of Worcester. (287 Oak Street, Uxbridge; Tel: 508/278-5274)

A list of additional sugar shacks open to the public can be found on the website of the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association. When possible, make it a complete weekend by finding a pancake breakfast to enjoy the sweet Massachusetts maple syrup.

The copyright of the article March Maple Syrup Madness in Massachusetts in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Jennifer Huber. Permission to republish March Maple Syrup Madness in Massachusetts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Maple Syrup from Natick Community Organic Farm