by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Foresters Falls) — It’s a sweet weekend you want to participate in.
Maple Weekend is Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 – and Grants Settlement Farms will be open both days to showcase their sweet goodies, which include maple syrup and a good variety of delicious baking done with maple syrup. There is also opportunity to purchase maple syrup equipment.
Jason and Amber Finan are the fifth generation on this farm, noting their daughters, Mary and Evelyn (Evie) are the sixth generation.
This weekend is a great opportunity to spend time with the family in the country as you visit a sugar shack and store, Ms. Finan said.
While Mr. Finan will be spending much time in the sugar shack boiling the maple sap into syrup, Ms. Finan and daughters will be in the store.
Mr. Finan said depending on what people want to experience at the maple syrup farm, they could expect to spend about an hour or more.
“Take a walk through the bush and check out the fact walk,” he said.
If there’s not too much snow on the trail, while walking plaques will tell you some interesting facts, Ms. Finan added.
Mr. Finan said the sap is running about three weeks behind, noting they’re usually boiling it by the last week in February, while this year, it wasn’t until mid-March.
“It’s more of a traditional year,” he said, adding, “We’ll have a later run into April.”
This year there will be plenty of amber syrup while he doesn’t believe there will be any golden.
Explaining, Mr. Finan said, if the sap is boiled as soon as it’s brought into the shack, it’s a golden colour, but because it’s just trickling in, sap can sit for a few days before it’s brought into the shack.
The Finans proudly admit they still finish their syrup in a pan fired by a wood fire. While it’s nice to have the gas and oil pans, sometimes the flavour isn’t as great, he added.
To ensure the maple syrup is the right consistency, Mr. Finan explained there are three ways … the ladle, to see if there’s a web as the syrup is poured out, the amount of sugar in the syrup and using a thermometer.
“Usually, it’s a combination of all three,” he said.
Over in the sugar store, Ms. Finan said she and Mary have been “exploring with lots of products.”
They also sell local artisans products, such as Christmas balls painted by Daffinee Quade from Quadeville and soaps.
Giving a bit of history on Grants Settlement Farms, Mr. Finan noted it was deeded in 1845 and over the next few years, there were many farms in the area that were deeded out, which then caused the formation of Grants Settlement, hence the name of the farm. There used to be a school, cheese factory and grist mill in the area, he said.
Mr. Finan noted Clarence Pettigrew, the fourth-generation owner, died at 93 years old on Nov. 2, 2018.
“This is the first maple syrup season without grandpa,” he said, adding, “There’s lot of history here.”
The couple encourage everyone to come out to the farm, which is on Dittburner Road, just off Grants Settlement Road. There are a few ways to get to the farm from Grants Settlement Road – the intersection just east of Foresters Falls at Grants Settlement Road-Kerr Line-Kohlsmith Road-Foresters Falls Road; intersection with Fletcher Road; intersection with Powers Road; and intersection with La Passe Road.
This is the fifth annual Maple Weekend hosted by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association (OMPSA).
“The annual visit to a sugarbush is a true Canadian, family-focused experience and Maple Weekend is the perfect way to savour everything maple syrup season has to offer,” said Leann Thompson, chair of the weekend working group. “Participating producers really pull out all the stops during the event, to give their visitors the full Ontario maple experience.”
In Renfrew County, there are two OMPSA sugarbushes – Grants Settlement Farms and Maple Side operated by the Bonnenberg family near Rankin.
The sugarbushes are scheduled to be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
