| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| windypines |
Posted - Mar 06 2021 : 02:53:47 AM
Once again it is time to put up buckets for us. This afternoon we will put on the snowshoes and get started. Drilling holes, and putting in taps, and hanging buckets. Thankfully we have new bucket with lids the last few years.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Mar 27 2021 : 1:50:18 PM
Wow Michele and Becca!!! Impressive! I cannot wait until we try tapping, hopefully next year. I bet doing it yourself makes it even sweeter :)
Farmgirl Sister #5392
By His Grace, For His Glory
~Sharon
http://amerryheartjournal.blogspot.com/
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| windypines |
Posted - Mar 25 2021 : 03:17:12 AM
We tap all hard maples. That makes the difference.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| becsbecaw |
Posted - Mar 24 2021 : 06:42:39 AM
27 to 1 is AMAZING! We are a lot closer to the 40 to 1 ratio - but we only have a couple of sugar maples, everything else we tap are silver maples and red maples. I am sure you are going to have so much with such a high sugar content to start!!
-Becca
Farming in MI
Sister # 8348 |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Mar 24 2021 : 06:23:15 AM
Good luck getting more sap before the run ends Michele. You will definitely have enough syrup to last your family until the 2022 run!
Dawn in IL
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." Charles Dickens |
| windypines |
Posted - Mar 23 2021 : 02:54:18 AM
Our sap usually runs around 27 -1. 27 gallons of sap to 1 gallon of syrup. It is alot of work, but oh so good. We are hoping for one more cooking, and then pull the taps. Supposed to be in the 40's and 20's for the remaining part of this week.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| StitchinWitch |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 12:34:23 PM
Becca and Michelle -- Thank you for taking us on your maple sugaring tour. Quite an interesting operation. I'm surprised at how much you start with and little you end up with. Concentrated sweetness for sure. I wonder how the calories/carbohydrates in the finished sugar compare to regular white or brown sugar. It would sure taste better!
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 08:02:16 AM
Fabulous pictures Michele! For a home operation that is a very impressive setup you have. Maple sugar is very expensive, it's great you were able to make some for yourself and others this year. Let us know how it tastes in your baking. That is an incredible amount of sap you tapped. I'm exhausted reading about it! Enjoy the syrup, it will taste even better because all of you pulled together to make it happen!
Dawn in IL
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." Charles Dickens |
| becsbecaw |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 07:35:54 AM
We finished our season yesterday! Very warm temps this next week, and we are just exhausted after 4 weeks of sap collection, constant cleaning, and so much boiling! We pulled all of the taps on Saturday and finished boiling yesterday. During this next week and next weekend we will work to clean all of our equipment and get them in storage until next year.
Here is a photo of our evaporator set up - we upgraded to a Smokey Lake's evaporator this year - and it cut down our boiling time so much! A huge improvement to our old catering chafing dishes over a DIY'd cinderblock fireplace.
Here is a photo of the divided pan working, the far right side is closer to finished syrup and being ready for draw off than the far left side where are constantly adding more sap.
This year we made maple sugar - I've also heard it called Canadian Sugar. Here is photo - you just keep boiling the syrup until ~262 degrees F, and then stir it for about 10-15 minutes with a hand mixer until it becomes granulated sugar!
We wanted to share the sugar with our family and friends since this was the first time we did it, so I found these cute spice jars off Amazon - each is 4 oz of Sugar.
Our season totals were: about 670 gallons of sap, boiled down to about 17.5 gallons of syrup!
-Becca
Farming in MI
Sister # 8348 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 06:58:44 AM
Becca, your syrup is beautiful.
Wow Michelle, that's quite the operation you got going there. I just thought you cooked it in a big pot on your stove. Thanks for posting pictures so we'll know how the "big girls" do it.
FarmGirl Hugs, Sara
FarmGirl Sister #6034 Aug 2014
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015 & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| windypines |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 06:42:44 AM
 sap boiling in pan.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| windypines |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 06:41:51 AM
 . Cooking sap. Trying to block the wind with the tractor.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| becsbecaw |
Posted - Mar 11 2021 : 04:17:50 AM
Slowed down here too, Monday we had a good run - not much since; but our night time temps drop down again starting tomorrow night, so we are hopeful the trees will start to flow again!
-Becca
Farmgirl Sister #8348 |
| windypines |
Posted - Mar 11 2021 : 04:14:39 AM
Looks good Becca. We got warm here so the sap has slowed down.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| becsbecaw |
Posted - Mar 11 2021 : 04:10:01 AM
Here is a photo from our second batch of syrup this year! Still getting a light amber color!
-Becca
Farmgirl Sister #8348 |
| becsbecaw |
Posted - Mar 11 2021 : 04:06:05 AM
We're in the middle of our Maple Syrup season here! So far we have boiled 3 times - total of 4.5 gallons of syrup made. We still have another 2-3 boils before the season is over! This is our third year at it, and we have learned so much!
Farming in MI
-Becca
Farmgirl Sister #8348 |
| StitchinWitch |
Posted - Mar 10 2021 : 4:36:33 PM
This was something I dreamed of doing when I read about it as a little girl. Unfortunately it doesn't happen in California. I'm enjoying reading about your family's experience.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Mar 10 2021 : 05:45:43 AM
Hope the run picks up for you. I know it takes lots of sap for a little syrup!
Dawn in IL
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." Charles Dickens |
| windypines |
Posted - Mar 10 2021 : 02:25:46 AM
I will try to add more pictures as we go. thanks everyone Turned too warm the last 2 days now. Not much of a sap flow. Supposed to rain and turn colder again.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| nndairy |
Posted - Mar 09 2021 : 6:03:23 PM
What a wonderful family tradition!! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'd love to see more pictures of the process. Making my own maple syrup is on my "one day" list.
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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| levisgrammy |
Posted - Mar 09 2021 : 5:18:01 PM
Awesome Michele! Always thought it would be fun to see the whole process.
Great photos!
~Denise
Sister #43~1/18/2007
"I am a bookaholic and I have no desire to be cured."
"Home is where we find comfort, security, memories, friendship, hospitality, and above all, family. It is the place that deserves our commitment and loyalty." William J. Bennett
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
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| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Mar 09 2021 : 4:41:33 PM
Michele, I love the photos of getting the Maple season started! this tradition is something I have always wanted to see happen and be there when the sap is boiled down into syrup. Maple syrup makes pancakes the best!!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 08 2021 : 1:25:57 PM
Michele, that sounds like fun! It’s nice you get to share these traditions with your family.
Krista |
| windypines |
Posted - Mar 07 2021 : 11:43:27 AM
The amazing part too, is how far we have come from the beginning. Things change for sure, and some are made simpler. thanks all.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Mar 07 2021 : 06:08:46 AM
Our great-grandparents & grandparents would be bursting with pride to know how you've kept the family traditions alive on the homestead. It's wonderful your kids and nephew want to continue on with the traditions too for their families!
Dawn in IL
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." Charles Dickens |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Mar 07 2021 : 03:42:50 AM
Great picture of your family. Six generations making maple syrup on same place is a wonderful story.
FarmGirl Hugs, Sara
FarmGirl Sister #6034 Aug 2014
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015 & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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