History of Sticky Bucket Maple
Sticky Bucket Maple, Parker Hill Road, Sunderlinville (PC) Sabinsville PO
Owned by: Brian and Wanda Warwick
Written by Amanda Jones for Potter/Tioga Maple Producers and PA Route 6 Alliance
Brian Warwick fulfilled a life-long dream upon purchasing the 285-acre Farm in eastern Potter County in 2002 with his wife, Wanda, and their two beloved Labradors.
Brian had no farming experience, but had spent his childhood visiting an uncle who lived in the area, and fell in love with the quiet scenic beauty. Throughout his years in West Chester, he always wished to live the country life.
Wanda grew up in the country on a tobacco farm in North Carolina owned by her grandparents, moving to San Diego and then Nashville for a career in marketing before eventually relocating to Pennsylvania.
The pair lived in south eastern Pennsylvania, an area full of suburban sprawl and urban excitement, but the quiet of the mountains always called to Brian, and when Wanda was laid off during the recession, she headed north to the farm, and they decided to make a go of it.
Brian works in heating and air conditioning, a career which did not prepare him growing callused hands and a farming heart.
“Everything Brian’s done here, he’s learned since we got the farm,” said Wanda. “He loves it.”
When visiting the farm, one can tell they have made a proper go of it. The farm is profitable, selling corn for game feeding, Timothy Hay, Christmas Trees, and of course, the finest Maple Products.
Sticky Bucket Maple currently boasts a 1400 square foot sugar shack in which to create maple syrup, candy, cream, granola, candles, sugar and gift baskets, and the couple has 4500 taps to keep the evaporator full and the tanks boiling throughout the sugaring season.
Brian and Wanda are always looking to the future. 300 taps were added in 2013, but only about half of the trees on the 285-acre farm have been tapped so far. Brian and Wanda stated they desire to continue to grow their operation in the coming years.
At the end of the 2013 season, plans are in the works for the Sticky Bucket Sugar House to be expanded. Brian also hopes to add a large front porch so visitors can enjoy the view while sipping delicious Maple Milkshakes or after enjoying a tour of the facilities.
Currently, Sticky Bucket’s website is being revamped and the couple is upgrading the site to make purchases available online with a credit card to respond to increased demand for their Pure Pennsylvania Maple Products.
Some of the best Maple Products in the country are produced right here, in Pennsylvania’s north-central mountains, and Sticky Bucket sits right in the middle of this favorable range. The Warwicks’ products are sold not only from their shop year-round, but at additional locations in Pennsylvania, New York and South Carolina.
Sticky Bucket participates in a number of area events, including the Wellsboro Airport’s Fly-In Breakfast, the Marshallton Triathlon and Maple Weekend with the Potter/Tioga Maple Producers’ Association, where tours, demonstrations and samples are available at the farm.
Brian and Wanda welcome visitors to Sticky Bucket year-round, and products can be purchased at their shop or ordered by telephone at 814-628-2230.
For more information on the Warwick’s’ operation, visit their website at www.stickybucketmaple.com.
Sticky Bucket Maple is located at 1145 Parker Hill Road, Sabinsville, near the village of Sunderlinville in Hector Township, Potter County. On US-6 near Gaines turn onto Phoenix Road. Drive 7 miles, and then turn left onto the third dirt road (Parker Hill Road). Sticky Bucket Farm will be on the right after driving approximately ½ mile.
