>> DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO BOIL DOWN 40 GALLONS OF MAPLE
TREE SAP TO GET JUST ONE GALLON OF MAPLE SYRUP?
AND THE SEASON IS JUST FOUR TO SIX WEEKS IN A GOOD YEAR.
WELL, MAPLE SUGARING IS A NEW ENGLAND TRADITION SPANNING THE
CENTURIES, AND TONIGHT, PHIL KORMAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
WITH A COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN SUSTAINING AGRICULTURE, TAKES US
TO THE NORTH HADLEY SUGAR SHACK IN WEST HATCHER -- HAMPTON.
>> AS WE EDGE OUT OF WINTER, THE SNOW MELTING, WE NEED TO
REMEMBER OUR FARMERS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD STRAIGHT THROUGH
THAT COLD SEASON.
THE TWO FARMS WE'RE VISITING TODAY, SHARE A LOT IN COMMON,
THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF FARMS.
WHAT THEY SHARE IS MANY MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY WORK AT THE FARM,
THAT BOTH FARMS NEEDED TO DIVERSIFY AND HAVE MANY
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUSINESS TO BRING TO THE REST OF THE
COMMUNITY.
AND THE THIRD PART IS, THEY BOTH PRODUCED MAPLE SYRUP.
OUR FIRST STOP TODAY IS A FARM CALLED NORTH HADLEY SUGAR SHACK.
THE SUGAR SHACK HAS BEEN GOING STRONG FOR 20 YEARS SERVING UP
BREAKFAST.
BUT BEFORE THEN, AND STILL TO TODAY, THEY HAVE BEEN PRODUCING
MAPLE SYRUP, UPWARDS OF 1,000 GALLONS A YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE
YEAR.
I THINK IT'S A LEVEL WORKING OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW, IN A LATE
WINTER OR EARLY SPRING, AND WHEN YOU VISIT A SUGAR HOUSE OR IF
YOU BOILED THE SAP, THE AROMA THAT COMES OUT AS YOU ARE
BOILING IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT MY PARENTS NEVER SUGARED.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT MY BROTHER, JOHN AND I, STARTED TAPPING A
FEW TREES WHEN WE WERE EIGHT AND NINE YEARS OLD.
REALLY KIND OF BUILT UP THE BUSINESS, AND THEN TOOK IT TO
THE NEXT LEVEL, AND WE BUILT THE NORTH AVENUE SUGAR SHACK WHERE
IT SITS HERE TODAY ON MY GRANDPARENTS' PROPERTY.
THE MAPLE SUGAR SEASON IS VERY TRICKY.
YOU NEED FREEZING NIGHT FALL BY WARM DAYS TO GET THE SAP ACTIVE.
THAT BUILDS THE PRESSURE IN THE TREES AND ALLOWS THE SAP TO MOVE
AROUND AND ALLOWS US TO HARVEST THAT SAP FROM THE TREES, SO
GIVEN THOSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, FOR A FOUR TO SIX-WEEK PERIOD,
MID FEBRUARY TO SOMETIME TO EARLY APRIL OR MID APRIL, ALLOWS
US TO HARVEST THAT FROM THE TREES AND BOIL IT DOWN INTO THIS
BEAUTIFUL MAPLE SUGAR.
>> MAPLE SUGAR IS A LARGE PART OF WHAT WE DO, BUT NOT THE ONLY
THING THAT WE DO.
WE GROW A LOT OF VEGETABLES AND OTHER CROPS, AND WE ALSO HAVE
ADDED OUR MARKET NOW, TOO, WHERE WE CAN SELL THE BEEF, AND THE
CHICKENS THAT WE RAISE, THE MEAT BIRDS, AND YOU JUST COULDN'T
RELY ON ONE INDIVIDUAL CROP, I DON'T FEEL NOWADAYS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FINGERS IN A LOT OF AREAS IN ORDER TO
SUSTAIN AND BE A VIABLE BUSINESS NOWADAYS.
>> PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THIS.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR WHERE THEY CAN GET LOT OF LOCAL ITEMS, AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT MEANS A LOT TO US TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND TO
SELL THE PRODUCT OUT OF MY PLACE, AND YOU KNOW, TO KEEP US
GOING AND DOING WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
>> THIS FARM HAS BEEN IN THE PARSONS FAMILY SINCE 1778.
THIS IS A VIBRANT DAIRY FARM, AND ONE OF THE LAST 150 DAIRY
FARMS LEFT IN MASSACHUSETTS.
THEY ALSO DO SUGARING, AS MANY DAIRY FARMS HAVE DONE, SINCE
IT'S THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN OTHER INCOME IS NOT COMING INTO
THE FARM.
BUT MABEL IS ALSO TAKING ON NEW DIRECTIONS BY STARTING THE
BOTTLING OF THEIR OWN MILK AND THE PRODUCTION OF CHEESES AND
THE TYPE OF YOGURT.
>> THE FARM HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY SINCE THE 1770'S WHEN
NOAH III MOVED FROM NORTHAMPTON OUT TO THIS LAND ALONG THE
RIVER.
THE FARM HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY THROUGH THE YEARS.
BASICALLY, EVOLVING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
WE SAW MOST OF OUR MILK IN SPRINGFIELD, WE SELL IT, BUT TWO
ERGS I DO, WE APPLIED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOR A VIABILITY GRANT TO BUILD THIS BUILDING THAT WE ARE IN,
FEELING THAT WE COULD DO MORE WITH THE MILK.
WE TAKE A PORTION OF THE MILK AND SELL IT WITH VALUE ADDED
PRODUCTS OF CHEESE, BOTTLING OUR OWN MILK, WHICH WE THINK TODAY,
LOCAL FOOD IS SUCH A HOT ITEM, THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE
THE FOOD COMES FROM.
MILK THE COWS TWICE A DAY, AND MY DAD AND KIRSTEN AND THE
MILKERS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING THE MILK REALLY CLEAN
AND HAVING A GOOD PRODUCT FOR US TO USE IN THE CREAMERY.
WE BRING THE MILK OVER, AND DUMP IT IN THE VAT, AND BECAUSE WE'RE
MAKING FRESH PRODUCTS, IT'S PASTEURIZED, WE HAVE A FARM
STORE HERE, AT THE FARM, WHERE WE'RE SELLING THE PRODUCTS.
WE'VE DONE MAPLE FOR 70, 75 YEARS PROBABLY, AND IT'S JUST --
WHETHER IT'S TIME TO MAPLE, SPRING IS COMING AND IT'S
SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO DO.
IT MAKES A LOT MORE WORK, BUT IT IS REWARDING WHEN YOU SEE THE
STEAM COMING OUT OF THE SUGAR HOUSE, AND YOU SMELL THE SWEET
SMELL.
IT'S GREAT.
>> JON DAVIS PLAYED BASEBALL FOR CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND HOLDS
A DEGREE IN APPLIED EXERCISE SCIENCE FROM SPRINGFIELD
COLLEGE.
SINCE 2006, HE'S BEEN RUNNING POWERHOUSE TRAINING IN
EASTHAMPTON WHERE HE HELPS YOUNG ATHLETES PREPARE FOR THE NEXT
LEVEL, INCLUDING SEVERAL BASEBALL PROSPECTS HOPING FOR A
FUTURE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
>> IT'S KIND OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD WANT AND NEED AS AN
ATHLETE.
AT TIMES, IT GETS VERY CROWDED, BUT IF YOU LOOK AROUND, THERE IS
A BIT OF EVERYTHING.
FROM WEIGHT TRAINING, WE HAVE EVERY SCHOOL IMAGINABLE TO GET
BETTER.
ON THE TURF, WE HAVE THE SPACE THAT ANYONE WOULD NEED.
AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING ATHLETES NEED TO GET BETTER.
>> I PLAYED FOUR YEARS AT CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL.
AFTER I GOT DONE WITH THAT, I DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, BASEBALL
IS STILL A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE
PREPARATIONS FOR AFTER BASEBALL, WHICH, WHETHER IT WAS IN TEN OR
TWO YEARS, THAT TIME WAS GOING TO COME.
SO, I WENT TO SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE, AND I PLAYED THREE
YEARS THERE, AND I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND AFTER I GOT DONE
WITH SPRINGFIELD, I, ACTUALLY, MADE A TRYOUT FOR THE NEW HAVEN
CUTTERS, MINOR LEAGUE, THE INDEPENDENT CAN-AM LEAGUE AND I
PLAYED ONE SEASON THERE.
AFTER I FINISHED UP, I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO DO A PROFESSION
THAT I ENJOYED JUST AS MUCH, AND IF I FIGURED, YOU KNOW, MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL WASN'T QUITE IN THE CARDS FOR ME, BUT, I CAN DO
THE NEXT BEST THING AND HELP OTHER KIDS WITH SIMILAR DREAMS
AND ASPIRATIONS, WHETHER THEY WANT TO PLAY PROFESSIONALLY OR
WHETHER THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, I HAD A GOOD
BACKGROUND AND I COULD HELP THEM DO SO, SO THAT'S WHY I GOT INTO
THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS, WHICH IS TRAINING ATHLETES.
>> I THINK SPORTS GIVES PEOPLE A RELIEF, AND WHETHER IT'S FROM
SCHOOL OR DAY-TO-DAY JOB, I THINK, BEING ABLE TO COME IN
HERE AND JUST LET EVERYTHING GO, WHETHER YOU HAVE A GOOD OR BAD
DAY, YOU CAN RELEASE AND GET SOME ENERGY OUT, AND YOU CAN
COME IN HERE AND FEEL GOOD AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE IMPROVING, AND
THAT YOU ARE GETTING BETTER.
>> WE GET ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT KIDS AND DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES
AND WE TRY AND CATER THE PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS HOW WE
WORK WITH THE ATHLETES BASED ON THEIR PERSONALITY TYPE.
IT IS RARE BUT WE DO GET SOME NINE AND TEN-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE
FOCUSED, AND THEY REALLY ARE HERE TO GET BETTER, BUT A LOT OF
TIMES THE KIDS ARE LOOKING TO STAY BUSY AND HAVE FUN, AND AT
THE SAME TIME, THERE IS THE QUALITY WORK ETHIC THAT WILL
CARRY THEM ON AND REALLY KIND OF LAY THE FOUNDATION.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE IT, IT'S REALLY
FOUNDATIONAL WORK, AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR
COORDINATION, THEIR FOOTWORK, SO AS THEY GET OLDER AND THEY GET
BIGGER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE LESS THING THAT THEY HAVE TO
FOCUS ON.
>> IT'S UNIQUE.
THIS PLACE IS NOT THAT ORDINARY PLACE, AND BEING A PART OF A
FAMILY, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE SAME PEOPLE EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW,
YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS EVERY DAY, AND
IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL THING TO COME IN AND BE A PART OF
SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY.
>> WE FOLLOW JON, AND HE'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE WHEN IT COMES TO
EVERY ASPECT OF LIFTING.
HE CAN, YOU KNOW, CREATE DIFFERENT WORKOUT REGIMENS FOR
YOU, AND REGARDLESS, REGARDING LIKE WHAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON OR
WHAT YOU WANT TO GET STRONGER, IN AND HE'S JUST -- HE'S ALWAYS
THERE FOR YOU, AND HE'S ALWAYS GOT AN EAR OPEN FOR YOU, AND,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- PEOPLE TEND TO FOLLOW THAT, AND HE'S JUST
REALLY EASY TO WORK WITH.
>> I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH SUCH GREAT
ATHLETES, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY, REALLY SETS THEM
APART IS THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE, AND THAT WORKETH ISSUING AND THE
WAY THAT THEY WERE BROUGHT UP CARRIES OVER TO THE WAY THAT
THEY DO THINGS AND INTERACT WITH OTHER ATHLETES HERE, SO YES,
IT'S DEFINITELY GRATIFYING TO SEE WHERE THEY HAVE GOTTEN TO,
AND I FEEL THAT I HAVE PLAYED AT LEAST A SMALL PART IN THAT, BUT
AGAIN, JUST THE TYPE OF KIDS THAT THEY ARE, THEY HELP REALLY
IMPROVE MY BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, AND
THEY REALLY GIVE BACK EVERYTHING THAT THEY LEARN, AND THEY PASS
ON, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.