My family really enjoys make maple syrup right from the trees in the back yard. We only make a little each year and so do not have any specialized equipment. This year I employed an expedited version of a rocket stove made from cement blocks to boil the sap. It was quite efficient. We did not use much wood and produced something close to a quart of finished syrup.
Nothing I have ever purchased has tasted as good or been as satisfying as what we make in the back yard.