Sustaining the Sugar Bush in a Tribal Community to Educate, Reduce Fuel Usage and Increase Marketable Maple Sap Products.

Project Overview

FNC19-1160
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2019: $9,000.00
Projected End Date: 02/28/2022
Grant Recipient: Dupuis Sugarbush
Region: North Central
State: Minnesota
Project Coordinator:
Eric Dupuis
Dupuis Sugarbush

Information Products

Commodities

  • Miscellaneous: syrup

Practices

  • Crop Production: food processing, forest farming
  • Education and Training: demonstration, display, extension, workshop
  • Sustainable Communities: community development, public participation, social capital, social networks, sustainability measures

    Proposal summary:

    This project will promote the NC SARE Sustainable Agriculture practices to be ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible by reducing the fuel necessary to reheat the sap, preserve the quality of the sap, and educate the community on using tubing to reduce the impact of foot or vehicle traffic on the root systems of the tapped sugar maple trees.

     

      • Increase marketing of maple syrup by updating the pan and filtration process.
      • Provide hands-on educational opportunities for transitioning to tubing and finishing sap.
      • Increase sustainability by using less fuel in the sugar bush operation.
      • Determine the amount of fuel and time used to finish syrup and compare the difference the filtration system has provided in finishing the syrup.
      • Increase value added products for market.
      • Share findings through workshops, website, social media, and conference presentations
      • Create a business plan for the sugar bush operation.

     

    The producer has been running a sugar bush for 15 years.  The producer has worked with the 13 Moons Fond du Lac Tribal College Extension Program since 2016.  The role of the producer is to train community members about the sugar bush operations. 

    Project objectives from proposal:

      • Increase marketing of maple syrup by updating the pan and filtration process.
      • Provide educational opportunities for transitioning to tubing and finishing sap.
      • Increase sustainability by using less fuel in the sugar bush operation.
      • Determine the amount of fuel and time used to finish syrup and compare the difference the filtration    system has provided in finishing the syrup.
      • Increase value added products for market.
      • Share findings through workshops, website, social media, and  conference presentations
      • Create a business plan for the sugar bush operation.
    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.