Howell Living History Farm’s maple sugaring operations are in full swing in late February when freezing nights and thawing days make for heavy sap flows.
Related work and rendering of maple syrup at the farm sometimes goes round-the-clock this time of the season.
On Saturday, Feb. 18 and 25, visitors can join the work by helping farmers in the sugar bush, sugarhouse and farmhouse kitchen, where many hands are needed to ensure that syrup-drenched pancakes are on the table for tasting. Parking and admission are free.
Sap collecting, firewood cutting, syrup making, butter making, flour milling and pancake making are scheduled throughout the day.
Sap gathering takes place at noon and 2 p.m. Tree-tapping demonstrations are held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The sugarhouse is open from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and features a working evaporator and tours of a sap line collection system. Pancake eating begins at noon in the restored Henry Phillips farmhouse.
Howell Farm is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, in Hopewell Township. The GPS address is 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. For more information, call the farm office at (609) 737-3299 or visit howellfarm.org.
