A single red maple tree can yield 10 gallons of sap over a season, which lasts on average 4 to 6 weeks. A large amount of water must be evaporated from the sap to produce a finished syrup.

DIY His maple syrup evaporator is decidedly low-tech. He fashioned it out of an old legal-sized filing cabinet. He cut the drawers and back out and fit it with a barrel stove conversion kit.

ANDREW BUCHER uses his evaporator to make maple syrup at his home in Durham. Adam Cafro runs Cafro’s Maple out of Woolwich, where he operates about 250 taps.