This weekend is Maple Open House in both New Hampshire and Vermont.

The tradition of maple sugaring dates back to the Abenaki and other native peoples. Early settlers learned from them how to obtain and use the sweet sap of maple trees. These days many farms use miles of tubing to collect sap and modern evaporators to turn it into syrup.

At some sugarhouses, though, you can still see farmers collect the sap using draft horses. On this weekend when sugarmakers open their farms and sugarhouses to the public, you’ll find demonstrations and free samples, refreshments such as sugar on snow - and maybe even horse-drawn wagon rides!

For more information see the Valley Food & Farm calendar

In New Hampshire over 60 sugar houses across the state will participate in this open house weekend; check out the NH maple producers website or call 603-225-3757.

In Vermont click here for more information about this fun and informative weekend.