John Cochran & Megan Thompson

Boat by John Cochran

stop no. 13

Bellamy Mills Maple Products has been operating for four years at their location on Bellamy Mills Road. Megan was raised working in the family sugar bush and John’s family has tapped the main bush going back to the original land grant from the early 1800s. The Cochrans use a traditional wood-fired evaporator and all syrup is bottled hot in glass bottles; their sugar is also in glass jars. They encourage customers to return bottles for refilling.

John has a degree in Forestry, in which his thesis examined the cost of production for small syrup producers in Lanark County. He subsequently studied hardwood grading and started Cochran Lumber. Cochran provides rough lumber, kiln drying and planing services as well as custom wood applications including furniture.

The boat building was John’s dream for 20+ years. It has been a labour of love, working nights on it after working days on other people’s orders. The lumber comes from the Cochran properties, other than the cherry which came from one of the mills where he graded. The July 2023 maiden voyage of the boat garnered compliments and requests about custom orders: boat building may be added to the list of Cochran Lumber’s services.

“Every bit helps the environment and keeps costs down, which in turn helps keep our prices down.”