When we lived in the Lakes Region of NH, we looked forward to every March. Maple Sugaring was something that everyone seemed to know and do. While we didn't actually tap trees and boil, we attended the
NH Maple Producers Open House, learned more about the process, had a few samples, and enjoyed talking with the locals.
People from New Hampshire are real. They're honest. They're hard working. They are passionate about what they do. We keep going back each year and are reminded of what we loved about our time in New Hampshire.
During this year's open house weekend, we mapped out three places that we had never visited before:
Fieldstone Farm Sugar House in Rindge, NH;
The Maple Guys in Lyndeborough, NH; and
Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm in Temple, NH. This is an area of NH that has been seldom visited by the Parkers on our Family Field Trips, so we were excited to check it out.
First of all, the drive was spectacular. Quintessential New England houses, farms, and barns dotted the landscapes. Every few houses, we'd sigh, claim to love the house, or make imaginary plans to buy it one day. I am definitely coming back up this way for a photo safari in the fall.
Our first stop took us through Groton, Townsend, Ashby, and into Rindge to Fieldstone Farm. We were welcomed by a Border Collie upon our arrival, who promptly sat at the door to the hen house. The owners later told us that she loves her chickens and stands guard at their door all day waiting for them to come play.
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| ©Cara Parker Photography |
This working meat farm had cows, a buffalo, baby beefalo, and fresh eggs. Their syrup was silky-smooth--not too sweet and not too thick. They have perfected the art of the syrup, and we will go back to get some beef later this spring once we can dig up our freezer from the basement.
Next, we ventured up to the Maple Guys in Lyndeborough. There, we were able to try Sugar On Snow. A trough was filled with snow, and the syrup, heated to 233 degrees exactly, was poured on the snow. After ten seconds, you take a fork, and spin it out of the snow. You eat it like a taffy.
What's amazing about boiling sap is that it is such an exact science. The wood needs to be loaded at exactly the right moment. Oil or butter needs to be added to the liquid at specific intervals. Temperature must constantly be monitored. It requires a great deal of precision and focus that most people today do not possess.
Our final stop was Temple, which is closer to our hometown of Groton, MA than we thought. We visited Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm. We sampled the syrup, but were even more in love with the homemade ice cream. You even got to see the cows that make the milk. Connolly's also sells raw milk. We bought some to try, because we have heard good things about the benefits of raw milk.
We have definitely found a diet-buster in Connolly's Ice Cream.
Going on family "field trips" like this are the things I look forward to. My dad used to take us on adventures around New England and I love to continue that tradition. Four hours, a beautiful drive, and $40 spent at local farms was an economical, unique, and fun way to spend the afternoon with the kids.
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