Walling’s Maple Syrup is officially certified organic!

Making maple syrup is a production rich in heritage and steeped in Native American tradition. We have gathered sap from maple trees and turned it into pure maple syrup for over 25 years, increasing our knowledge with every passing year. Acknowledging that this product is a special gift from the earth.  It is humbling to be a maple producer, in which nature is your boss.

At Walling’s Maple Syrup we believe in having the best quality product for your health and have been pleased to maintain organic practices for many, many years without any certification.  But, for JUST US to know that we have quality products, free of pesticides and anything synthetic, is not good enough.  Unless you are a local who is directly involved with us, you may not know important information about our manufacturing process.  Because of this, we have decided to become certified organic, to let EVERYONE know the standards we are upholding.

Some may wonder – isn’t all pure maple syrup organic?  The fact is, that while we support all pure maple syrup and it is ALL better than the “fake stuff,” not all syrup is created equal.  Several things differentiate organic from non-organic maple syrup.  One such example is:  There is a step in the sap boiling process that requires a defoaming agent (every syrup producer must use a defoamer or else the syrup & pans will burn).  We use and will continue to use organic, plant-based oil, because we believe it is healthier than alternatives sold by maple equipment dealers, that have synthetic ingredients.  When you have perfectly, sweet, maple water flowing straight from the tree, only to add a synthetic, man-made ingredient is – to us – doing an injustice to what nature is providing.  We want you to know exactly what our syrup entails, and that it is produced with everyone’s health in mind – including our own!  Our retail prices will also remain at their regular rates, and will NOTchange in accordance to the organic certification.

This is exciting news for us, and we hope you are excited about it too!  As always, our syrup operation is a family venture and becoming certified organic was no different.

Working in the woods



Working in the woods is an important part of our job.  Lately, we have been spending a lot of time checking our tubing for damage, like animal bites & chews and downed trees on lines.  We examine every inch of tubing, every dropline, and the entire length of every mainline.  We make sure everything in each sugarbush is tip-top so it will be ready for sugaring season.  This way there will be optimal sap flow in the spring.

 

A section of a sugarbush

Many animals, like squirrels, chipmunks & deer, chew on the tubing.  Along with the obvious lines chewed in half, there are also many smaller chews and punctures that need replacement in droplines and the actual line itself.  It is crucial that we inspect all of our tubing and fix any damage, from animals or just what incurs through time & weather.  We have also found many trees, both big and small, that have fallen on our tubing lines. 



Kern cutting up a fallen tree on the tubing

 Some excitement that always abounds when working in one particular sugarbush comes from the "dog-next-door," Izzy!  Izzy, a hound/lab mix, always runs over, her ears flapping in the breeze, and greets us.  We can't leave the vehicle door open too long, unless we want big, muddy dog prints all over the seat!  She is always bursting with energy, chomping at the bit to go on an excursion in the forest.

Izzy, Kern, & Sue

Romping in the sugarbush



Izzy

Sue


 

Derek - after a days work