A sappy start to the season

Ben Ogden, 19, works on a maple line while his father, John Ogden (left), instructs Matias Ovrum, 19, in Londonderry, VT on Tuesday afternoon. Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe

For Robert Hausslein, aka Sugar Bob, the best quality family time is going out into the woods together and harvesting hundreds of gallons of maple sap. Hausslein co-owns the maple product company Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind in Rutland, Vt., with his wife, Ann, and another couple, John and Andrea Ogden. The company specializes in unique maple products, including maple sriracha, maple barbeque sauce, and smoked maple syrup, which is made by bubbling wood smoke through the sweet liquid. They rely on about 10,000 trees. This year’s maple season just began, a late start compared to last year’s in February, but Sugar Bob already has some words of wisdom. “All we can say is that its going to be sweet and sticky and a lot of fun,” he said. “If the days are warm and the nights are cold, it will be a good season.”

Ben instructs Matias on how to drill a maple tree at Sugar Bob's Finest Kind in Londonderry, VT.Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe

Ben puts a tap in a maple tree.Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe

Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe

John runs a maple line.Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe

John takes a breather. Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe

Ben carries a bucket and a drill to a maple tree. Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe