We use an all wood fired evaporator and a combination of buckets and gravity pipeline for collecting maple sap. We added solar panels installed on a woodshed for the sugaring operation and other farm electrical needs. Ferne Hollow Farm is a family operation as well, with some of our trees on the Garcia property, some on my sisters properties, with the bulk of the trees on the Allen Mills farm, a V
T Land Trust conserved farm property. We also operate a vegetable farm on the family farm lands. Lisa's family has been farming on this location for 9 generations - and counting! We are just sold out of our 2013 syrup but are looking forward to making more in 2014. Let's hope Mother Nature delivers a good season for us.
2011 was our first year and I was prepared to do it myself if I had too, but I am so grateful to all of the family members and friends who helped out. In addition to support and lots of help from my Mom and Dad, several family members and a good friend were there to help every day we boiled, so special thanks to Rick Chapman, Sean Kennedy and Tom Witham. And thanks to everyone who stopped and shared words of encouragement and just had fun with us.
2012 was a pretty scant year, but we got some syrup out of it.
2013 was an excellent year, with new friends and family helping out. Special thanks to Vanessa Mills Holmquist who was there to help nearly every day we were tapping or boiling. And 2013 was the first year we participated in Maple Open House Weekend, which will be an annual event for us from now on.
