The Sugar Shack
Moving from Hobby to Business
In 2023, We started off with 25 taps, using bags to collect the sap daily. Then we'd spend all night boiling the sap down over an open fire until it was syrup. The sweet reward of all that work was all it took. Over the year we quickly upscaled our taps to almost 400 and in the off season we built a sugar shack, outfitted with equipment to go from a hobby to a small business.
In 2026 we expanded our sugarbush to include Carra's Grandparents property located in Preston with about 20 acres, this has given us an additional 600 taps! We tap those maple trees, collect the sap and bring it back to our home Sugarbush and process it all down until it is that sweet syrup just as we always have.
Our farm has 5 acres but with great neighbors we are able to tap their properties as well in exchange for finished syrup. The sugarbush is 12 acres total. Adding the property in Preston in 2026 has brought our total up to approximately 32 acres.
Our future goals for the farm are to purchase a large piece of land and build another sugar shack and storefront. That way we can produce more syrup and maple products and also be available year round, in addition to our local farmers markets.
Joshua Unick
The Head Sugarmaker
Joshua does most of the work at Hens on the Hill Farm, running the lines, tapping the trees, processing the sap, tending to the evaporator and grading the syrup. Joshua is a US Navy veteran, having served eight years on the USS Providence in Groton. Maple farming, in ways, requires the same dedication, resilience and resourcefulness as it did in the Navy. Serving the country was a part of life that has transitioned into serving the community with what is produced on our land.
Lending a Hand
A Family Business
The Unick family also get involved when it's time to produce the farm's maple products. Carra and Gage lend a hand throughout the process of filtering, bottling, labeling and, of course, taste testing.
About Our Farm
IN TOTAL
DURING SUGARING SEASON
OF FINISHED MAPLE SYRUP