Raker’s Sugar Bush, Liberty, Tioga County
Owned by: David Raker and his sons, Christopher-David and Robert
Written by: Amanda Jones for the Potter/Tioga Maple Producers and PA Route 6 Alliance
Raker’s Sugar Bush, in Jackson Township in northern Lycoming County, has been producing maple products for over 175 years. The farm is owned and operated by David Raker.
The family of Robert Raker, a well-known local wine maker and maple producer who passed away in 2011, settled the farm in 1837 and sweet, sticky maple sap has been harvested there every year since save one. One of Robert’s varieties of wine was created using maple sap.
Originally, the Raker family lived in a log cabin, but just before the Civil War began in the 1860’s the family built a 10-room, 2-unit farm house. During construction of the farm house, much discussion was held on whether or not there would be a Civil War, according to Raker Family oral histories.
The historic homestead traditionally housed two families, typically a set of Raker parents on one side and their most farm-oriented grown son and his family on the other. Though much of the Raker operation uses modern techniques and equipment, this was not always the case. The Rakers watched sugaring evolve throughout the years and remembered the hard work and elbow-grease required to make maple products the old fashioned way.
Over the years, Raker’s Sugar Bush has changed over from buckets to tubing and they use some propane in their operation, though they still mainly boil and evaporate using a wood fire. The Rakers maintain about 2000 taps on their property and that of adjoining neighbors, and an additional 1000 taps are cared for by a nephew in Liberty Township, Tioga County. David Raker and a few hired hands take care of most of the tapping and boiling.
A machine is also used to press the shaped sugar candies that have remained so popular throughout the years, though Clesta uses rubber molds now instead of the old metal ones used for generations on the Raker Farm. Syrup from the first run of the year is used to make maple sugar and candy, because early batches generally crystallize much more quickly than syrup made from sap harvested later in the year. Sap runs darker the later in the year it is harvested, and with that darker color comes a stronger, richer flavor.
During the Potter/Tioga Maple Producer’s Association annual Maple Weekend held each year in March, visitors are invited to the farm for samples, tours, hay rides and home videos of harvests in 1943 and 1959.
Raker’s Sugar Bush is located at 1575 Raker Road, near Liberty.
To reach the farm from PA-15, take the Liberty/Morris Exit. Continue into Liberty on Route 414 East. Turn right onto old Route 15, and then take a right onto Milk Plant Road. Take the second left turn onto Artley Hill Road. After Artley Hill Road becomes Raker Road, the Raker Farm will be the fourth house on the right.
