MALLORYTOWN - Lynda and Greg Halladay say creating a life, home and family together included another must-have - a sugar bush!
"We bought this farm because there was a sugar bush on it," says Lynda of the property purchased more than 30 years ago. "It was a priority from the start."
The couple created Quabbin Hill Maple and have been producing syrup and developing maple products ever since, including syrup, maple candy and butter, their signature blueberry-infused syrup and most recently a maple almond facial scrub.
They are passionate about creating quality products for their customers and for their own enjoyment. There is nothing better than watching their two-year-old grandson eat pancakes slathered in syrup from their farm.
For Greg, it is a lifelong passion spanning 50 years. He grew up in nearby Delta, home of the famous annual Delta Maple Syrup Festival. His father worked in a commercial syrup business there for many years. When Greg was just 10, his grandfather, a tinsmith, made him a pan to boil syrup. Greg's dad built him an arch, aka a hearth or fire box, and he was ready to start a childhood business. For many years Greg tapped 20 trees around the family home until he married Lynda and moved to Quabbin Hill.
"I've been around syrup all of my life," says Greg. "When I found my forever place, I knew it had to have a sugar bush on it. We love it and pancakes. My grandson brings his syrup bottle back and says 'Poppa more'."
When they started the Quabbin Hill operation they initially used the garage to boil and bottle syrup. In those days they had about 60 taps and sold to a smaller group of customers. By 2012, they expanded and built their new sugar house. Production has since gone up to 350 taps on a pipeline with a vacuum system.
Quabbin Hill Maple welcomes special orders and creates gift baskets. Small maple leaf-shaped bottles are popular as wedding table gifts and can be shipped around the world.The couple is also very active in supporting their local community with donations of products to the legion and local churches.
During normal operating conditions, Greg and Lynda welcome group visits by appointment. However, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, special circumstances now apply, including social distancing. Call ahead for information.
Learn more about Quabbin Hill Maple by visiting their
Facebook page, send them an
email or call 613-246-3887. Their address is 156 Quabbin Hill Road, Mallorytown, (3 kilometres west of the village) in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.