The Cabincast Podcast- Episode 19 ~ White Arrows Home

Episode 19: The Sweetest Science is LIVE!

For today’s episode, “The Sweetest Science”, we bring back Jed Lechleitner and Matt Kluetz for yet another interview! We recorded this episode on location from their “Sugar Shack,” where Jed and Matt make syrup.

To kick off this episode, Erik and I catch up and discuss some fun facts about maple syrup. We learn that it takes a maple tree 40 years before it is ready to tap and Erik shares that the first written account of maple syrup making was in 1606.

“I was so excited when I got home, I wanted to tap every maple tree that I could find!” -Kristin

It takes a maple tree 40 years until its big enough to tap -Erik

I also share some excerpts from theCrown Maple Guide to Maple Syrup book. I share the introduction which primes this episode well, as well as a Native American legend about the discovery of maple syrup making.

Thank you to Roughing it in Style for sponsoring today’s episode.

To conclude our chat, before hopping into the interview, I share a favorite recipe for maple nuts, a crowd favorite and fun gift!

Up next, we begin our awesome chat with Matt and Jed. Matt and Jed are the founders and are locals to the Northwoods. The pair share how they got their start through the curiosity of the bags hanging on the trees in spring. They were instantly intrigued once they found out those trees were being tapped for sap and began tapping their own tree. They tapped one tree their first year and have now grown to tapping 235 trees.

We hear from Matt and Jed the nitty-gritty details of the process to make maple syrup. They share what conditions are necessary to tap trees, how much sap is needed to make syrup, and the time, money, and energy it takes to produce syrup.

Matt and Jed also share the business aspect of this hobby. They share how they got into selling their syrup and how they have grown to sell across the country.