Weather doesn’t deter visitors to maple syrup farms on weekend

Craig Bakay | Apr 06, 2017

It was a sweet weekend last Saturday and Sunday as visitors from all over came to the Bell Line Road to visit the maple syrup operations of Oso Sweet Maple Farms (Mel & Joyce Conboy) and George and Darlene Conboy & Sons Maple Syrup.

“It’s been an average year,” said George Conboy. “It did start very early in February and we weren’t expecting that but then it got cold again.

“Still, it’s a very high quality syrup this year with very light colour (and) we haven’t made any of the lower grades.”

For the Conboys, maple syrup has been a family business for a long time.

“Our grandchildren will be the sixth generation,” George said. “The Conboys came from Ireland in 1876 and got a land grant.

“I remember going to Sharbot Lake with my father to send the syrup out on trains.”

It’s still a family operation. George and Darlene have sons Jason, Ryan and Devon around for much of the harvest (although Trevor does have to spend a lot of time in Ottawa in computers).

“We couldn’t do it without the kids,” George said.

But of course the nature of the business, being so dependent on weather and time of year, means that when you need help, that’s when you need it.

“It’s not something you can think about leaving until tomorrow,” he said. “When the sap gets running, you gotta do it right now!”

That never changes. Other things do, but then sometimes they change back again.

Originally, sap was boiled over wood fires. Then that changed to oil burners and also propane.

But George is back to wood.

“It just works the best,” he said. “And we only burn old dead wood.”

Despite some rather questionable weather Saturday, a steady stream of visitors kept showing up. Along with maple products, there was a bit of a festival atmosphere with the Frontenac Blades showing people how to throw tomahawks and knives and Cota’s Mobile Catering featured a maple theme with sausages and cornbread with syrup.

“I’m pleased with the turnout,” Darlene said. “I’m seeing a lot of old familiar faces and a lot of new ones too.

“Remember, you can use maple syrup for anything you would use sugar in.”