Rugged Ridge Forest

Josh Seidman’s Rugged Ridge Forest stands at the border of Lamoille County, and it feels like the edge of a completely different world.

We visited Josh in Worcester on a cold, bright day in early March.  He was our first stop on the tour and was happy to educate us on his process, explaining the science of the reverse osmosis in the sap boiling and showing us the equipment involved in his wood-burning syrup production.  Right away, Josh started talking about trees.  He showed us the wood he collects from his property to burn for syrup production, and the felled trees he’s used to build the structures on the property, including the timber frame sugar shack.

Sustainable practices were present on the farm, including these happy working horses.  All the living beings we met at Rugged Ridge Forest were hardworking and brought a serious kindness to their roles on the farm.  I asked Josh about his (human) workforce, and he explained that Rugged Ridge Forest’s core team is a pair of full time maple farmers, loggers, and syrup packers.  They also rely on some part time assistance in the busy season from out of work tradesfolk, and from Josh’s girlfriend Emma Duffany who balances her life as an ER nurse with part time work around the farm. Josh tells us he is proud to support a couple of households year round through the business.

And finally, Josh introduced us to his trees.

Josh’s property contains many beautiful species of trees, which he described as he led us on a joyful forest walk.  Sunlight filtered through the trees as he described their different qualities.  He also told us how he assesses his working lands for their potential uses, explaining his parameters for analyzing a maple’s potential efficiency within the network of taps.  Josh told us how his University of Vermont degree had prepared him to find and work the land that became Rugged Ridge, and how he values the longevity instilled in work with trees. The work of Rugged Ridge Forest is of a living permanence.