Maple Weekends in Reber

Tapped and Ready to go! Come see sap turn to syrup. (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Maple Brook Farm and Reber Rock Farm will be opening their doors to visitors Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22nd and 28-29th from 10am to 4pm both days. These events are part of an annual state-wide initiative through the NY Maple Producers Association to promote maple production in New York.

Maple Brook Farm has raised cattle and produced maple syrup for generations. After installing new lines in an old part of the sugar bush last year they have increased production. The wood fired evaporator has a super efficient steam hood, and boils thousands of gallons of syrup a year. Many families bring their sap to this Sugar House to be boiled under the watchful eye of Essex’s Highway Superintendent, Bradley French and his son Michael (aka Frenchy). Their Sugar House is well-known as a community gathering spot during sugaring season, where good food and cheer (and sometimes music!) is plentiful.

Reber Rock Farm is a diversified, horse-powered farm, just west of Maple Brook Farm. Draft horses were a constant feature of the farm 60 years ago, and are now back. Reber Rock uses its 7 draft horses to produce beef, pork, chicken, turkey, vegetables, sunflower oil, and a variety of small grain crops for sale in the farm store and for pre-ordering. The farm also sells trained draft teams of American Suffolk Punch horses. Check out their website for details on what they grow: www.reberrockfarm.com.

Maple Weekend Activities

Maple Weekend activities will include:

Horse-drawn wagon tours will show the history of maple production from bucket to vacuum on Maple Brook Farm, and will also visit Reber Rock Farm’s animals and Farm Store;
10% of all Reber Rock Farm Store items all four days;
Reber Snack Shack on site selling prepared foods for lunch;
Syrup tasting;
Reber Rock Farm Maple Cream tasting;
North Country Creamery Maple Yogurt tasting;
Wood-fired evaporator demonstration

Take a look at some more photos from around Reber Rock Farm below. (Click to see larger.)

Reber Rock Farm Store open 7 days a week year round. (Photo: ZVD Photography)

Maple Syrup in the Reber Rock Farm Store (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Wagon rides in 2014. (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Riding in the wagon (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Come meet the horses! (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Face painting for kids! (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Practice your teamster stance on the forecart! (Photo: Racey Bingham)

The old sugar shack at Reber Rock Farm circa 1950. (Credit: Unknown)

Wagon rides will tour Reber Rock as well, where you can see horses, cows and shop at the store. (Photo: Racey Bingham)

Full and By Farm: Tapping the Sugarbush (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Maple Weekend in Reber! (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Gastro Tourism in Essex, New York (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Reber Rock Farm Fotofeeds #1 (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Reber Rock Farm

Reber Rock Farm is an 88-acre draft powered farm on the southern edge of the Reber Valley in Essex, NY. Using our draft horses for the majority of the field preparation, cultivation and harvesting we produce maple syrup, grassfed beef, pasture raised pork, chicken and turkey, herbs, Thanksgiving vegetables, and a variety of value added products including sunflower oil, popcorn and cornmeal, tomato sauce, dilly scapes and soap. Learn more at www.reberrockfarm.com and on Facebook and Twitter.