We've had an incredibly busy but rewarding summer at Carman Brook Farm. We are thrilled to share that we've been diligently working on establishing a new apple orchard with the exciting goal of producing our very own craft cider! (better known in the United States as hard cider). We've been prepping for almost 3 years now from ordering the trees, prepping the site locations, and then it finally becoming real with the herculean effort required to plant and then keep our new trees alive!  There are now two new apple orchards on the farm. We refer to them as the North Orchard and the South O ..read more

Welcome back to our series of blog posts about all things maple syrup from Carman Brook Farm. Today, we're turning our attention to a product that has become an integral part of our farm: maple syrup. Pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener, made by boiling down and concentrating the sap of maple trees. This process transforms the sap into a golden, delicious syrup that has delighted taste buds around the world. But there's more to this sweet treat than meets the eye. Behind every drop of real maple syrup lies a process that's both fascinating and complex, a process we'll explore in this ..read more

As usual, I'm a little delayed in getting the season's maple syrup report written and posted to the website (though not as late as last year!). This year we bore witness to a maple syrup season that was as bountiful as it was intriguing. Despite the wider industry facing challenges, our 2023 season yielded a surprise influx of maple sap, especially in February. However, as we delve into the highlights and complexities of this sugaring season, it's impossible to ignore the larger questions looming over the maple industry - is climate change altering the sugaring seasons? And what does this mean ..read more

From our perspective, maple cream seems to be the one maple confection least known by the general public. That's also a shame because it's arguably the most delicious, and most versatile of the whole maple family, perhaps only behind maple syrup itself. We'll get into all of that here. Maple cream is made from a single ingredient, pure maple syrup. The only ingredients are time, temperature manipulation, and stirring at critical points. Born of just a few simple steps, this spreadable maple syrup can be used as a topping for your favorite desserts, or all on its own. Just like all of our mapl ..read more

For your convenience, the short concise guide on the different maple syrup grades is as follows: Golden Delicate Taste: Maple syrup made from early-season sap, producing a light golden color that transmits greater than or equal to 75% of light through the syrup. You can expect a delicate and subtle maple flavor with hints of vanilla, baked apple, praline, and fresh butter. Amber Rich Taste: Maple syrup made from early to mid-season which transmits 50.0 to 74.9% of light through this light amber-colored syrup. Look for hints of bourbon, nutmeg, crème brûlée, oats, and rich ..read more

In agriculture we celebrate every type of harvest, dairy festivals, cheese festivals, peanut festivals, pumpkin festivals… I think you get my point. In Franklin County, Vermont we celebrate the maple harvest with the annual St Albans Maple Festival. After cancelations two years in a row due to COVID-19 precautions, the maple festival is back strong for 2022!  When is the maple festival? The 2022 St Albans Maple Festival will kick off April 22nd at 12 noon and conclude Sunday, April 24th, a time that typically ends the maple season for most producers. Sugarmakers take a breath ..read more

This guest blog was submitted and written by Jessica Kettl, who wanted to share how she was able to make a meaningful gift for her children’s teachers using maple products from Carman Brook Farm. This year I wanted to come up with some clever, small, and personalized gifts to give to the kids’ teachers and to my work colleagues. I needed something small because due to COVID, there is only so much I can shove in my kindergartner’s backpack!  COVID rules prevent parents from being allowed to enter the school as well, even to deliver gifts. I also needed something under $10 because that is ..read more

Maple syrup has long been considered a healthier alternative to industrially processed sweeteners such as refined sugars. Not only does it contain essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants which help to protect tooth enamel, but it also has a lower glycemic index than most other sweeteners, making it an excellent choice for those looking to maintain a healthy diet. Although maple syrup is a popular natural sweetener, it can still be harmful if consumed in excessive amounts due to its high sugar content. Moderation of all sweets is highly recommended by not only us at the fa ..read more

Are you and your partner looking for something special to make this Valentine's Day extra memorable? Let Carman Brook Farm help! Our farm produces some of the best maple products in Vermont, and we've paired them with other local products to create unique his-and-her gift sets that are perfect for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. Instead of traditional chocolates or flowers, why not give a sweet surprise that will be truly unforgettable?  Keep reading to learn more! His and Hers Gifts The best part of Carman Brook Farm's Valentine gifts is that they are great for everyone. In my ..read more

Here at the Carman Brook Farm we are fortunate to enjoy especially beautiful fall foliage.  If you haven’t looked us up on Google maps, we’re in the northwestern corner of Vermont, tucked against the Canadian border and Lake Champlain. When it comes to New England foliage the sugar maple tree is the king of the woods. With sugar maples covering much of our state, "leaf peepers" can expect a vivid display of color every autumn. However, we realize not everyone can make the trip, so we included a drone video for all to enjoy the beauty of Vermont in the fall. Where the maple tree ..read more