We own a 20-acre sugarbush (our claim to fame being "the highest elevation sugar-bush in Wisconsin) where we tap about 650 trees in traditional fashion: our sap is hauled in buckets and boiled down on a wood fire. We also harvest real wild rice (manoomin) in the ancient way; by knocking rice with cedar sticks into a canoe that is propelled by a push-pole. Our wild rice and maple syrup is sold in bulk, locally, or at speaking engagements, and since we only sell what we produce ourselves, the limited supply usually sells out quickly (especially wild rice). Therefore we do not offer mail-order or online purchasing of either product at this time.

However, our WILD RICE is sold by the Viroqua Food Coop in Viroqua, Wisconsin. If you're ever in the area, stop in and check out this store--it's one of the best organic/health outlets in the region. For more info see http://viroquafood.coop/

If you want to mail order MAPLE SYRUP, contact my friend and sugar-bush neighbor DAN NELSON. Although it's not technically made by me or my family, I do generally help Dan with syrup making every year--although not as much as he helps me. His sugarbush includes over 100 acres of beautiful northern hardwood forests full of wildlife and native plants, where he taps around 2,200 trees, and (like most maple syrup operations) is non-certified, non-advertised organic. Dan and I are among the few commercial syrup makers left who do it the old-fashioned way: with buckets and a wood-fired evaporator. Like me, Dan has this fascination with sugar water that drips from trees, started making maple syrup while still in junior high, and hasn't been able to stop. Unlike me, he also runs a dairy farm where he milks about 70 cows. The prices for his fine syrup are below:

grade A: $12 per quart or $45 per gallon
grade B: $10 per quart or $40 per gallon

Syrup season in the Nelson sugar woods

To place an order or get more information,
call 715-564-2527 (home) or 715-922-0343 (cell)
ask for Dan or Adrienne
W1681 Hwy 86, Ogema, WI 54459