-Home Page-

-Saratoga County Farms-

-Saratoga County Map-

-Agricultural and Land Conservation Organizations-

-Agricultural Festivals-

The general public, many who fear bees, are often unaware of the great service honey bees perform to mankind. The pollination of agricultural crops is the most important contribution of honey bees to our economy. Without adequate pollination many crops would not set seed or produce fruit. It is estimated that one out of three foods we eat depend directly or indirectly on honey bees for pollination.

Honey Facts

- A typical hive produces 80 pounds of honey.

- 3/4 cup of honey is equivalent to 1 cup of sugar.

- New York State produces approximately 2.3 million pounds of honey annually.

New York is ranked second in Maple production following Vermont. Saratoga County's conditions are similar to Vermont and produce as high quality maple products. Maple trees may be tapped as early as the end of January but generally the sugaring season begins in late February with the principal sap flow occurring in March. As soon as the buds begin to swell in April, the sap becomes off flavor or "buddy" and collecting is discontinued. The sap only flows when the weather conditions provide the right combination of freezing nights and warm days. On the average, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. An average tree provides ten gallons of sap. A stand of trees are called "sugarbushes" or "maple orchards" and the boiling of sap takes place in a "sugar house." Early spring is the best time to visit and take a tour of a sugar house.

Ballston Spa

107 - Fred & Doris Ludewig farm enterprise

289 Middle Line Rd

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

(518) 885-9032

Our self-service honey stand is open year-round daylight hours. We are featured in the NYS Pride of New York Guide. We offer some farm tours, please call ahead for information.

Edinburg

108 - Maple Hill Farms

Guy & Dorothy Edwards

167 Tennantville Rd.

Edinburg, NY 12134

(518) 863-4188

We are mostly a family run maple syrup operation with 5000 buckets and about 1000 taps. The business has been in the family for four generations.

Galway

105 - Johnston's Winery Inc.

Kurt Johnston

5140 Bliss Rd.

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

(518) 882-6310

We started 10 years ago producing Old World style apple and mead wines from farm products including honey, apples, blueberries and raspberries. We also carry a selection of homemade preserves. We are open from 11-6 on Saturdays and 12-6 Sundays. Please call ahead for expanded hours during late summer and fall.

109 - Nightingale's Maple Farm farm enterprise

Cliff & Sally Nightingale

4767 Jersey Hill Rd.

Amsterdam, NY 12010

(518) 882-9334

Our maple sugaring operation has grown in twenty years to encompass 2600 taps. We make about 500 gallons of syrup annually using reverse osmosis and an oil-fired evaporator. During sugaring season in March, we offer an informal tour of our sugarhouse and operation. We sell maple products through mail order or at our retail farmstand open January-December. Our hours vary, so please call ahead.

Hadley

106 - Maple Valley Farm

Donald Monica

84 Harris Rd.

Corinth, NY 12822

(518) 654-9752

Our operation has been family owned and operated since 1962. We are the fifth generation of maple producers and currently have 1300 taps. 1000 of these taps are on tubing and the other 300 are on buckets. The maple is boiled on two evaporators wood fired.

Wilton

121 - Donald Tooker

151 Old Gick Rd.

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

(518) 584-2319

I sell honey and honey products from my home. Visitors can call ahead or stop in to purchase honey.