Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm is kicking off maple syrup season in eastern Ontario this weekend. The first tree tapping ceremony took place Saturday at 1 p.m. at the farm in Edwards, Ont., in southeastern Ottawa. It marked the start of the Sugarbush season and 200 years of maple syrup production on the land at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm. “Our First Tapping ceremony honours the generations who have worked this land while officially launching one of the region’s most anticipated spring traditions,” Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm said in a statement. There were hundreds of maple trees at the farm topped with buckets and waiting for the sap to drip. “It’s our first time but it was quite the experience,” says Bianca Adam, who attended the tree tapping ceremony. “I didn’t realize how simple it was, just sort of drilling in a hole and just waiting for it to come. It’s so cool.” “Got a free ticket for taffy, so I had to jump on that. It’s incredibly sweet, but very quintessential Canadian classic,” Adam adds. Earl Stanley, owner of Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, says maple syrup is the first crop of the season for many farms. “It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. There’s a lot of work involved and there’s a lot of time,” Stanley said. There’s a sugar shack on the farm where visitors can learn how maple syrup is made, from start to finish. “I grew up around it. I haven’t been as an adult but it was always really special as a kid,” says Sarah Scott, who attended the tree tapping ceremony. Throughout the season, families and visitors are welcome to experience both historic and contemporary maple production. Visitors will also be able to watch the sap drip, experience tractor rides through the sugarbush, visit farm animals and a barn. There will also be fresh farm-style pancakes, and educational displays showcasing historic and modern maple tapping methods. “Growing up in the area here and it’s kind of a tradition to come back every year. Today we were lucky enough to see the tapping ceremony of the trees,” says Jordan Wilson, who attended the tree tapping ceremony. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and other community leaders were present celebrate the occasion. Maple products like syrup, cookies, plank and taffy all available at the Farm shop. “We have maple planks, which is our creation. It’s a deep fried pancake with all different seasonings on it,” says Stanley, “We’re more than just a sugarbush. We’re actually a maple syrup farm.” Stanley’s Sugarbush season runs every weekend until April 12.
