Annual traditional maple syrup time in Village of Warwick

In previous years it was an opportunity for a group of family, friends and neighbors to enjoy a plate or sandwich of sausage and peppers and other refreshments.

That was the annual gathering, an all day event, while Village of Warwick resident Pat Gallagher welcomed his guests and kept busy making pure maple syrup, a natural and nutritious sweetener.

But this year, as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, it was still maple syrup time but absent the usual celebration.

“If I held it,” said Gallagher, “nobody would have come.”

But it was still time to make syrup.

As it gets warmer, the maple sap begins to rise.

Generally the sap starts to flow between mid-February and mid-March. The exact time of year depends upon where you live and weather conditions.

Gallagher explained that although tapping maple trees is not difficult, it takes about 40 gallons of sap, collected from taps into special pails and then boiled down and filtered, to produce one gallon of syrup.

He accomplishes that by boiling down the raw sap over a wood fire. The final product is then placed in small jars, which he distributes among friends.

And until now, it has also been his longtime custom each year to host a maple Syrup party in his back yard to celebrate the annual tapping of his maple trees.

As the weather warms however, Gallagher, owner of Gallagher Solar Thermal Energy Systems, will switch from tapping maple trees, just a hobby, to installing swimming pool solar heating systems.

And in view of current travel restrictions, that should offer a good reason to go solar for a warmer backyard pool during a stay-at-home-vacation.

For information call 258-0749 or visit www.solarthermalsolution.com.

- Roger Gavan