BVSA Board members Mary Fitzpatrick of Uxbridge, MA and Judy Casey of Smithfield, RI are among BVSA'a earliest volunteers
About Blackstone Valley Sugaring
Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association
33 Elm St. Uxbridge, MA 01569
(508) 278-5274
Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support and foster maple sugaring education and activities and to the preservation of maple trees throughout the Blackstone Valley of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Our History
BVSA began in 2001, when Bill Paul, his wife Valerie and his dad, Roland began doing demonstrations at the Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park. That year, the demonstration was held on a single day. The event created enough interest that park staff and the Pauls decided to continue it the following year.
Valerie & William Paul BVSA Founders |
Roland Paul 1915 - 2002 |
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The first demonstrations were open-air affairs using the home-made evaporator the Pauls' had made many years before to do sugaring in their back yard.
The original evaporator |
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As the program grew, so did the Paul's involvement in maple sugaring education and programs. The Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association was officially formed in 2006.
Our sugar house evaporator today |
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The Future for BVSA
BVSA continues to grow and to expand its involvement in sugaring education throughout the Blackstone Valley. Through the Paul's efforts, grants were received through the Commonwealth of Massachustetts Fix-It-First Friends Program that enabled a new sugar house to be built and a professional size evaporator to be purchased for demonstrations at the state park.