Native Americans placed heated stones into the sap containers to speed the heating process and reduce the amount of wood needed. It takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. Vermont is the top producer of maple syrup in New England and is most often the first state that comes to mind at the mention of maple syrup. However, New Hampshire is the third largest producer of maple syrup in New England and can hold her own in the quality of the syrup produced and the dedication of the producers. Tapping using tubing and a container to catch the sap in this home sugaring.
Private individuals tap maple trees in their yards to produce syrup for their own needs.
Many maple syrup businesses sprang from the desire of one family member to make syrup for the family. At age 16, Bob Lovely decided to put the maples surrounding the family home to good use by making his own syrup. Today Bob and his wife Mary operate Lovely Acres in New London, NH where they produce and sell maple syrup, as well as other maple products. Colin and his sister Emilie, along with two friends Roger and Rebecca, run the business from the first taps to the final product ready for sale at the gift shop. During the sugaring season they hire two additional workers.