Maple farmers reap benefits of March syrup-making scramble | News, Sports, Jobs
jriddle@thealpenanews.com News Photo by Julie Riddle Dwarfed by his product, syrup farmer Gary Shepherd stands next to a vat of 5,000 gallons of pure maple sap at Bonz Beach Farms near Onaway recently. ONAWAY — Northern Michigan trees offer a rich bounty to those willing to tap into their potential. To Up North maple farmers like Gary Shepherd, March means a mad, syrup-making scramble before spring fully arrives and the sap stops flowing. Inspecting what he calls his favorite tree on a recent, chilly March morning, Shepherd pointed to small scars where the tree was tapped in recent years. I...