Maple syrup and candy making is a family affair for Gerry Trader of Paeonian Springs Maple Farms and his father Mike.

On any given day from late January until the end of March, Gerry collects sap from maple trees as high as 160 feet. The sap is turned into syrup, thanks to an evaporator that reaches temperatures of more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mike, of Great Falls, helps his son. The Traders say the labor-intensive effort can be bone-chilling at times, especially on cold winter nights, but the family has a lot of fun making syrup in their wooden shack near Gerry Traders home.

It is just a hobby, said Mike, 72.

"It is a hobby gone out of control," added Gerry, 45.

Homemade maple syrup is usually made during the winter months. The Traders are believed to be one of the southernmost maple syrup producers at nonmountainous altitudes in the United States.

Small-scale maple syrup producers are common in the Northeast, but not in Virginia. Corey Childs, unit coordinator/extension agent for the Loudoun County Cooperative Extension, says there are very few, if any, other producers in Loudoun.

The Traders said the closest maple syrup producers are in Fairfax County and Highland County, and in Charles Town, W.Va. Mike Trader also taps maple trees in Great Falls.

We started out when we wanted to make a little maple syrup about four years ago, Mike said.

The Traders then began looking into making maple syrup products, once they realized they had many maple trees around Gerrys home.

Shortly after I bought this place I started noticing that, Hey there's a lot of maple trees around here,''' Gerry said. He has 225 tree taps, which allow the sap to drain in buckets. Some trees have up to four taps.

Gerry, a remodeling contractor, said some days he is making maple products from noon to 1 a.m.

Usually at the end of January, I get everything ready, he says. I kind of watch the weather.

Gerry said collecting sap is not easy. The temperature needs to be between 20 and 40 degrees for the sap to flow from the trees. The sap is collected in buckets before it goes to the evaporator. Gerry often has to carry large buckets of sap in the process.

Its a bit of a workout, he said. I dont need to go to the gym.

The Traders will huddle around the evaporator to keep warm. It can take 2 1/2 hours to make a gallon of syrup from sap.

Gerry and friends gather about 20 gallons a year. He also makes maple candy.

It is for family friends and a few people, says Mike, referring to the maple products. He makes syrup for fun, not profit.

Gerry taps the maple trees around his house and at neighbors homes. In exchange for use of the trees, he offers them maple syrup.

I ask the neighbors, Can I use your trees? Gerry said. They say, sure.'

He does not expect his operation to expand. He just wants to keep maple syrup making as his hobby.

I like it where it is right now, he said.