Sugaring off went relatively well, for our first time. We brought around 40 Gallons of sap from our neighbors. They had gotten all the syrup they had needed for the year and were done, but the sap was still flowing strong and so they offered up the leftovers. I think we were a little overly ambitious for our first try! We ended up using around 19 Gallons and walking away with a little over 2 quarts of syrup. Yes, it takes that much sap to make syrup!
I was a long day! Steve put the sap over the fire at around 7:00 am and we were still feeding the fire over 13 hours later. As Steve said, “It was really exciting…. for the first two hours or so…” He came back around towards the end, with the actual tasting of the syrup though! We both agreed that it was the best syrup we had ever had. And we found ways to amuse ourselves through out the day, puttering around the garden, visiting with people (and dogs) who stopped by, roasting sausages over the fire, watching the kids play all around, knitting a bit here and there…really it wasn’t so very bad (of course I wasn’t the one out there from the start). And we’ve got some serious plans for a much bigger production next year. We learned a lot and I think we will be better prepared in the future. We’re also hoping to tap our own trees next spring! Which will be another first, and another learning experience, I’m sure.
Melody – I grew up sugaring every year. I remember collecting sap in the woods bucket by bucket and all the wonderful days when all the neighbors stopped by. I miss those days – and to me, it isn’t Spring until I small that wonderful maple steam
Good luck with the new venture!
Hi I just found your blog – I am not even sure how – but I have just spend the last hour or so looking at every picture on this site and wishing I could live in a little house in the woods
You have a beautiful family & a beautiful life.
Have you ever read SouleMama’s blog? You are both so similar – you could be sisters LOL
Have a great day.
Such a great project! Mmm, I bet it’s so yummy too- I’m sure your boys were keen to taste the finished project!