Tag: food

Hey everyone! The big weekend is finally here; it’s time to celebrate Maple Weekend across four New England states—New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut—on March 21 & 22, 2026. Each state has its own maple associations sharing lists and links (links below), but I get a lot of questions about my favorite spots. While I can’t share all my top regional picks, I’ll tell you about some of my favorite local farms and activities around Rochester, NH.

I like to begin my Maple Saturday with a pancake breakfast at the Barrington Fire Department. It runs from 7 am to 11 am. Good food for a good cause! Watching firefighters cook up a storm, enjoying syrup from Spring Harvest just across the street, and feeling the community vibe makes it a perfect start. Many local fire departments come out together to support each other, which adds to the fun.

After breakfast, I head straight across the street to Spring Harvest Maple Farm to visit Josh. I’ve been going there since at least 2011, and I try to make it my first stop when I am visiting NH sugar farms on Maple Weekend. They’re open from 8 am to 4 pm this Saturday and 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday. It feels like they’re always trying to have something new—whether it’s a fresh sweet treat or a classic maple candy. Their plain maple candies are my go-to; they set the standard for all others. There are other farm’s products that are smoother and easier on the mouth, but few that reach the taste I have come to love. I usually also pick up some maple popcorn and baked goods while I’m there.

Another favorite is Sugarmomma’s Maple Farm in Northwood. I first visited her many years ago, and she shared her story about being a mom, raising her kids, and starting her maple journey with supplies from the local hardware store. I really need to catch up with her during the off-season to hear more of her story. Deb works hard with her maple operation, and although she won’t be open in Northwood on Saturday during Maple Weekend because she’ll be at a Farmer’s Market elsewhere, she will be open Sunday, 10am – 2pm. I love that I can also purchase her products from her Sugar House at the Granite State Fair.

Next on my list is Barbin’s Tap’n Shack in Barrington. This is a relative newcomer and I haven’t visited often, but I get good vibes every time I do. Their products are solid, and I’m planning to pick up some of their maple extract next time—I think it could come in handy. Their maple grove is right in front of the sugarhouse, a detail I notice and appreciate. Many sugarmakers have to work much harder to transport sap from elsewhere.

Another newer spot I like is Colonial Mountain Maple in Milton. Lee, the owner, named his farm after the area’s early homesteads – I love looking at historical artifacts, especially those in situ, and imagine how our predecessors might have handled things. His sugar shack burned down a couple of years ago, but he rebuilt it better than ever. I’ve enjoyed chatting with him about maple and land stewardship, and he’s involved in local town events, which I think is pretty cool.

Then there’s Matras Maple, started back in 2002 by two brothers with the help of their dad. They initially boiled sap with a homemade setup, but by 2010, they had a beautiful sugarhouse. The farm stand is open year-round, and I’ve stopped by a few times to buy ice cream. Their dad, Gene, is also a talented pen and ink artist—I have a couple of his pieces, and I’ve seen his work in sugarhouses all over the northeast, especially in Vermont.

Another interesting place is Monkey Bear Farm in Milton, tucked into the side of the 125 bridge. It’s named after a quirky log statue Eric Ohlenbusch created—an attempt at a bear with a chainsaw, which turned out pretty odd but memorable. Monkey Bear started as a farm stand and continues to offer products year-round, including farm-fresh eggs and starter plants in spring. They once had maple marshmallows, which I’ve never seen anywhere else—definitely a treat worth trying.

I’ve put together a list of these farms along with some other ones I’ve visited and some others are on the NH Maple Weekend page that I haven’t checked out yet. Have fun exploring and tasting all the sweet goodness this weekend!

New Hampshire Maple Producers Association

Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association

Maine Maple Producers Association

Southern Maine Maple Sugarmakers Association

Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut

What does Kate do when it’s not Maple Season? Check out the HodgePodge Images Blog