Early run

Matt Patch, left, and his wife Barbara, right, take a brief moment to rest as they near the end of their second day making maple syrup this season in Lebanon, N.H., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022. "I hope it freezes up for two weeks at least," said Matt Patch. "Spring isn't here yet. I want to boil into April." After two days of boiling they have made close to 500 gallons of syrup. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

With the apple trees pruned and ready for spring at Patch Orchards in Lebanon, N.H., steam rises from the sugar house on Wednesday, Jan 4, 2022. It was the second day of boiling in the Patch family's earliest ever maple season. "It seems real strange to be pressing cider on Sunday and boiling on Monday," said Barbara Patch. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Josh Patch reconnects a sap line that was broken down in recent winter storms in the Patch Orchards sugar bush in Lebanon, N.H., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022. As the number of taps they place has grown to more than 50,000, the family has started tapping as early as the last week of December and they only had about a third of the plastic spiles placed this year before the sap began running. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.