The Farmer's Wife: Everything Maple Syrup....Time To Tap!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Everything Maple Syrup....Time To Tap!

It's that time of the year again, to get busy and go out to the bush and start tapping our maples. We are a little behind this year, just because of the freezing and miserable weather we have been experiencing this entire new year! My husband has been busy fabricating his own evaporator for us to use this year! Last year, (our first year at tapping) we just made due, boiling in pots by open fire, woodstove, and propane stove and kitchen stove(yes, kitchen stove, i know, a big no no, but, it worked out fine, since i have lots of windows in my kitchen, and own a fan, and it worked out fine, other than drawing on the electricity). So this year, he's determined to make things much better for us, and more economical. Last year, all and all we did everything at next to no cost (we had some spouts/spiles and we used "free" white plastic pails from the local grocer's bakery departments, and have our own ample supply of firewood of course, and except for one fill of propane, and a couple of cases of glass jars, and extra spiles) we did try propane once, and it works, but of course, you shouldn't have to pay for heat. We had a lot of fun last year, and an unusual mild spell at the end of February, and March was perfect too, although a very short season for tapping! We all and all, did really good for our first time as a family tapping trees, and collecting sap, and boiling it all up! Just beautiful was the early virgin maple syrup we got, i call it Gold....then it was so amazing to see the change in colour of the syrup the longer we tapped. We have plenty to do yet for this year...we are running behind personally, and of course weather wise....we need to get our pails cleaned out, equipment ready, wood supply ready and tap the trees of course! The following are some pictures from last years tapping, I can't wait to take pictures this year!