Maple Syrup is the first farming activity of the year and signals the beginning of spring.
Family, friends, neighbours, and often the chefs we work with, gather in the sugar shack to catch up after the winter, share stories, and plan for the growing seasons ahead.
Our syrup is made in small batches, by hand, in a wood-fired evaporator. The terroir of our syrup reflects the old-growth forest it originates from.
The sap is collected and put directly into the evaporator without any processing. Maple sap directly from the tree is typically between 2% and 4% naturally occurring sugar. Many producers use a process called reverse osmosis, which can remove up to 20% of the water from the sap before it is put in the evaporator, which shortens the time it takes to make maple syrup.
We believe the extra time our syrup spends in the evaporator contributes to the flavour and complexity of our maple syrup. We reduce the sap in the evaporator until this concentration has increased to 55% sugar, then finish the syrup to 67% - 68% density, slightly higher than traditional syrup to intensify the flavour.
Our organic certification assures you that the forest is managed responsibly – a maximum of 3 taps per tree, left in the tree for a maximum of 6 weeks. The forest must stay diverse and no chemicals are used in forest management.
We are honoured to have been recognized by the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair with a first-place finish for our Medium Maple Syrup in 2015 – our first year of production.
Garden
It started as our kitchen garden, growing flavourful heirloom vegetables and herbs we love to eat, grown in a way we are comfortable eating – without insecticides or herbicides. Using flowers to attract pollinators, and creating gardens separate from each other for crop rotation.
Livestock
We breed and raise heritage sheep and heritage pigs in accordance with animal welfare global standards. This includes our flocks of Cotswold and Shropshire heritage sheep and our Mangalitsa and Tamworth pig breeds. We also raise a small number of purebred Aberdeen Black Angus steers.
Engagement
Our purpose remains steadfast: as stewards of the land and contributing to changing the global dialogue on food. The farm facilitates engagement by offering a space for people to gather and learn about the remarkable food at Tamarack Farms.