Hoosick Grange had an open meeting on Wednesday, April 22. Marion Cipperly was in charge of the Lecturer’s program. She introduced Keith Armstrong and Dick Ogden. They both work at the maple syrup business. Keith told us that maple syrup is in big demand and why the cost is high. He said when he first started he bought second hand buckets for 25 cents each and now they cost 19 dollars each. He had 2,850 taps this season on a inch line. He has a vacuum pump which helps to pump the sap from the lines. This pump cost $7,000. Most all new equipment is stainless steel. Something that cost $900 years ago now costs $2,200 to replace. Attachments that they use to save labor and firewood are very expensive. Also, the maple sugar season lasts only six weeks if the weather cooperates, and you need capable people to work at sugaring. Keith told us that the syrup, if processed right, can keep for a long time. They told us that there are many trees that aren’t being utilized. The Taconic Mt. Range has a higher sugar content, 2 percent and has great flavor. Dick showed us how the syrup is graded. Fancy – Grade A is the first syrup made and is very light in color and costs the most. Grade B syrup and the rest are darker in color but have rich flavor. They showed all the different types of taps from wooden to the newest ones. They were asked if any animals bothered their tap lines. Yes was the answer, coyotes, squirrels, chipmunks, bear and moose. The small animals chew on the lines, bears and moose chew, too, and the moose catch their horns on the lines.
They had a question and answer time. Marion thanked them for a wonderful program.
The Lecturer announced that on May 6 Pomona Grange will meet at Hoosick Grange with a covered dish supper at 7 pm. Hoosick Grange will meet on May 13 at Hoosick, with a covered dish supper at 7 pm. Helen Filkins is in charge of the program. The program is on autism and anyone who would like to know more about it can attend. We welcome everyone.
Marion Cipperly had delicious refreshments after the meeting.