Maple syrup is one of the most profitable side products of an Amish farm.
When
February-March. Days above freezing, nights below — sap flows. Season: 4-6 weeks. Miss it — wait a year.
Collection
Drill a hole in maple (3 cm deep). Insert spile. Hang bucket. Sap drips — clear, slightly sweet (2% sugar). One tree: 40-80 liters per season. 100 trees = 4,000-8,000 liters sap.
Evaporation
40 liters sap = 1 liter syrup (evaporate 39 liters water). Huge wood-fired pan. Fire 8-12 hours. Smoke, steam, caramel smell. Temperature: boiling +4°C (104°C) = done. Lower — too thin. Higher — crystallizes.
Economics
1 liter syrup: $15-25 retail. 100 trees → 100-200 liters → $1,500-5,000 per season. Investment: buckets ($200), spiles ($50), pan ($300-500). Firewood — own. Labor — family. Pays back first season.
Grades
Light (early season): delicate, expensive. Medium: classic. Dark (late): intense, for cooking. All natural — no colorants, no additives.