Bastian Maple Hill Farm LLC
Written by Becky Thomas

Paul Bastian
1531 142nd Avenue
Dorr, MI 49323
(616) 877-0174

In the community of Dorr, south of Grand Rapids, lies a small maple syrup operation on a corner of a Centennial Farm. Paul Bastian is the most recent family member to own and operate the 140 year old farm, but it was his grandfather who first made syrup there.

"1942 was the last time Grandpa made syrup; he was in his 80s by then," Bastian said. "But when I moved back to the homestead in 1992, I started it back up." In fact, Bastian’s grandfather actually made part of his living making syrup in the early 20th century. Mostly the family has raised beef cattle on the farm, but with the little maple woods, Bastian and his family have had some sweet success.

"I bought out another [maple syrup operation] near Traverse City," he said. "I built up a barn for a shanty and started with a 2.5 X 10 foot pan." Using tubing and a wood-fired evaporator, he produces between 40 and 90 gallons of syrup a year. Since gravity helps him out with moving the sap from the trees to the syrup house, he said he has no need for a vacuum system. "I tapped about 700-800 trees and made 75 gallons this year, pretty much do it all myself," he said. Recently, he’s upgraded to a bigger, 3 x 10 pan and loves experimenting with the options available in the syrup business. "I tried RO one year, tried filter press one year."

Unfortunately, he didn’t tap any trees in 2006 due to the trees budding early. But that was an anomaly and normally he’s ready by the first run of the season. Bastian remarked that there are also other producers in his area, small sugarbushes, like his. "Not tapping in 2006 gave me a chance to get out and see how the other guys do it," he said. His favorite maple memory was when his daughter (now in college) was little. "She would be out there helping me. I’d set up a card table or whatever and she’d be coloring or reading as I’d be boiling," Bastian said. "Those are good memories."

As he gets prepared for another season, Bastian remarked on the self-sustaining hobby-business of syrup making. "I’m still trying to make a profit," he said with a laugh. "As long as I can cover my expenses, I’m enjoying it."