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Sap Flowing, Maple Syrup Season Finally Here

BERLIN TOWNSHIP — This winter has not quite cooperated with the maple syrup season; too cold, for too long. Finally this week, the warmer weather we’...

BERLIN TOWNSHIP -- This winter has not quite cooperated with the maple syrup season; too cold, for too long.

Finally this week, the warmer weather we've had means the sap has started flowing.

Todd and Susan Klikus of Augusta Acres Farm near Honesdale have waited weeks and weeks to tap their maples. This week's warm-up has the couple and other maple syrup producers back in business.

"We had about 3 foot of snow in the woods which led to starting a lot of things on snow shoes this year," said Susan Klikus.

They've been collecting sap from the 18-acre farm for several years now and have increased the amount of syrup each year. Thanks to the late start, this year's yield all depends on how cooperative the weather will be.

"You want freezing nights and warm days for the sap to be flowing," said Todd Klikus.

Maple producers have had a tough time to get out to tap trees because the snow's been so deep and the cold's been extremely cold meaning the season's only just begun.

"Last year we were finishing up this week, and we're so late in the season we're hoping it's not a short season," said Susan.

Todd and Susan have an elaborate system to gather all the sap, then boil it all down in the evaporator. All in time for a tour of this and about ten other places in Wayne, Pike and Lackawanna counties set for this weekend's Self-Guided Maple Tour.

As both of them know, there's a lot of work left to do as long as the maple syrup season lasts.

"You need 40-50 of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup, that's a lot of boiling time, lots of long nights and days," said Todd.

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