AIKEN SUGAR BUSH

Near the quaint village of Walkerville, in Oceana County, is a sugarbush that is growing up quickly. Bernard Aiken has a deep love for sugaring despite having no family history in the business. As a young child he remembers being fascinated by the neighbor making syrup in the woods on a flat pan. When he reached high school, in the mid 60's, he backyarded 25 taps and boiled in two stainless kettles on a twin kerosene stove and finished in the house.

After getting married and having kids, Bernard purchased 5 acres in 1969. In 1974 he decided to try 75 taps on a relatives' property and acquired a 2'x4' English tin flat pan. He cut the top off a fuel oil tank, put grates and smoke stack in it and used it for his arch. The crop was around 15 gallons and was finished, where else but, in the house. This tradition carried on until 1999, at which point his wife was fairly sick of house finishing and the nasty accidents many of us have witnessed on the stove.

Since Bernie was retired early, with back problems, he had the time and decided to go bigger. In 1999 he built a 12'x20' building by the house and purchased a fuel oil fired 2'x6' Grimm evaporator. A five acre woods was leased from his neighbor and 250 taps on tubing were added. The crop was 71 gallons. In 2000 the taps were increased to 350 but the season was poor. This year he leased another woods and will be at around 1400 taps. A new 40"x10' oil-fired Grimm adorns his building along with a new filter press.

Bernie does all of the gathering and boiling. He has a great enthusiasm for this business and plans to go as large as his market can bear. He already has another large woods lined up, if needed. His next move would be to add a reverse osmosis unit. Mr. Aiken's market consists of primarily gift shops, farm markets and bakeries in tourist rich Western Michigan. Fancy glass is 90% of his business and he is looking at having some custom etched bottles done. I have no doubt that he'll be needing that extra woods soon. Bernie said that sugaring is "just in his blood."

For a visit, leave Walkerville by going east on Harrison. Drive 1 1/4 miles to 184th. Turn right and the bush is 1 1/2 miles on the East side of the road. Look for the sign.