About The Long Family
Like all "old timers" in the Mad River Valley, the Long family were producers of maple syrup and like others it was an important part of their income. Sugaring was a way of life and it made a way for farmers to clear up the previous winters credit and get off to a fresh start and a little money left over for seed, fertilizer and maybe a new pair of boots!
Today there are over 11,000 trees that are tapped using state of the art technology!
"Maple Moon"
Each year thousands of people come to Vermont to view the beautiful red and gold foliage of the maple trees. But no doubt, many do not see the inner beauty of the maple. This, of course, is the sweet sap that flows in the spring that produces Vermont syrup.
The making of maple syrup is truly an American industry. In fact, we are indebted to the Native Americans for the first knowledge of it. They tapped the trees, collected the sap and boiled it in crude receptacles. We practice today the same method, although it has been much improved. They welcomed the return of sping by festivities and celebrations. They called the period "sugar month" or "maple moon". History records that the Native Americans made little "sugar boxes" out of white birch bark called mokuks, filled with maple sugar and sold it.
Eastman