The most exciting time of the year in the maple world is nearly upon us. We've been working non-stop tying up loose ends before the season. Tomorrow we finally put the taps out! And then it's just a matter of when the trees decide to do their thing. It's been very snowy lately--not sapping weather. It seems like it's been snowing every other day for the last week and a half. We must have over a foot of new snow out there, with more in the forecast for Saturday. But the 10-day forecast has some very hopeful weather in it. We are ready!
This is what it looks like out there right now...
Just a little snowy.
And now, about Maine Maple Sunday. Or rather, Maine Maple Sunday Weekend, since most sugar houses are open on Saturday, too.
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of this very special weekend here in Maine. Maine Maple Sunday was the "brain-child" of Ted Greene--a fifth generation maple sugar maker in Sebago. Ted passed away in 2019. His obituary tells this tale about Maine Maple Sunday.
"In the early ’80s a Portland Press Herald reporter visiting Ted’s sugarhouse mistakenly wrote an article suggesting free pancakes were served to visitors on Sundays. The following Sunday as the yard filled with visitors, Loretta (his wife) set to work hastily preparing pancakes for dozens of misinformed sweet tooth’s. At a Maine Maple Producers board meeting in Skowhegan shortly after, Ted tossed out the idea of a special “Maple Day” on a Sunday in March. After being bounced around the room for a bit, “Maine Maple Sunday” was born."
That was back in 1982, and Maine Maple Sunday has been held ever since. Somewhere along the line it turned into a whole weekend of maple centered activities. No matter where you are in Maine on the last Sunday in March, there is likely to be a participating sugar house near you. Ted Greene had a passion for sharing all things maple with folks. That is something that seems to be common to maple producers. It's an amazing process, an amazing product, and it just begs to be shared! Like so many other maple producers, we are excited to throw open our doors and involve you in the whole process of making maple syrup.
Our Maine Maple Weekend hours here at Schanz Family Maple are as follows:
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.
The location is 773 Barker Road in New Vineyard, Maine. Click through the link to see it on Google Maps.
We will have free maple treats, including the all time favorite--ice cream with maple syrup. Sample the different grades of syrup and see which you like best. Taste maple cream and see what all the hype is about. There will be coffee and complimentary baked treats, too. Come join us for a fun time at the sugar house!
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