Boiling Maple Syrup has long since been in the blood of the Drown Family. Grandpa Charles Drown at one time in 1965 rented a sugar bush, tapped and hung 3000 buckets, and boiled with the family. Uncle Leonard Drown tapped trees on his land in Cannon Corners and boiled thousands of gallons of syrup between 1988 - 1999. With 20,000 taps, he was noted to be one of the largest maple producers in Clinton County.
Danny boiled syrup as a youth in the front yard of the Drown homestead in a cauldron over a fire pit. He tapped trees surrounding their house, hung buckets, and proudly provided a few quarts of syrup for his family for a few years.
Our part of the maple story started in 2009 when I asked how maple syrup was made. Danny was shocked at my lack of north country maple education! Little did I know what the process entailed. He borrowed a couple dozen buckets from a friend and set out to teach me one of the greatest springtime trades of all time. We had so much fun that first year collecting and boiling the sap over a back yard homemade fire pit. We boiled for days and ended up making 4 gallons of the thickest and darkest syrup I have ever seen. Although it takes a lot of hard work, time, and dedication we have enjoyed our journey through maple syrup production. Each year we have added a little bit more to our collection of taps, maple trees, and sugar making supplies.
A huge part of our success rests solely on that of our Dad Stephen Drown. At 80 years of age, he is the driving force behind Drown Family Maple Farm and the source of our motivation. When the winds are howling, it's below zero, and the last thing we want to do is step outside, Steve is there at our door encouraging us to add on. Over the past 13 years he has walked hundreds of miles in our sugar bush adding taps, running sap lines, and looking for vacuum leaks.
Drown Family Maple Farm started out as a fun learning adventure and has turned into a true family farm. Danny and I both work full time and couldn't manage without our family. Each member plays an important part in our farm, and we wouldn't be able to continue without them.
Danny boiled syrup as a youth in the front yard of the Drown homestead in a cauldron over a fire pit. He tapped trees surrounding their house, hung buckets, and proudly provided a few quarts of syrup for his family for a few years.
Our part of the maple story started in 2009 when I asked how maple syrup was made. Danny was shocked at my lack of north country maple education! Little did I know what the process entailed. He borrowed a couple dozen buckets from a friend and set out to teach me one of the greatest springtime trades of all time. We had so much fun that first year collecting and boiling the sap over a back yard homemade fire pit. We boiled for days and ended up making 4 gallons of the thickest and darkest syrup I have ever seen. Although it takes a lot of hard work, time, and dedication we have enjoyed our journey through maple syrup production. Each year we have added a little bit more to our collection of taps, maple trees, and sugar making supplies.
A huge part of our success rests solely on that of our Dad Stephen Drown. At 80 years of age, he is the driving force behind Drown Family Maple Farm and the source of our motivation. When the winds are howling, it's below zero, and the last thing we want to do is step outside, Steve is there at our door encouraging us to add on. Over the past 13 years he has walked hundreds of miles in our sugar bush adding taps, running sap lines, and looking for vacuum leaks.
Drown Family Maple Farm started out as a fun learning adventure and has turned into a true family farm. Danny and I both work full time and couldn't manage without our family. Each member plays an important part in our farm, and we wouldn't be able to continue without them.