We made maple syrup for the first time ever this year!! We got a half gallon!!
Finishing it off....
Finished...
More pictures on my blog! We will definitely continue this each year. We only use pure maple syrup, no corn syrup processed mixtures like Mrs. Butter...etc...
Thanks Nini!! It is a bit time consuming. And it was trial and error. The first quart we made by combination of cooking on our woodstove in the basement and stovetop. Whereas, the second, was almost all outside, except finishing it off. It was MUCH quicker outside.
Alicia, it worked. Good sleuthing. Love the photograph at the top of your blog. I collect pictures of old barns and new. Some are so falling down, but the work still shows and the love that was put into creating the building.
We're trying sugaring for the first time ourselves. We have 20 taps set, but the sap isn't running good yet. My husband got a propane burner that you would use for a clam or lobster feed. We're going to do ours outside. Can't wait! you can get sugaring supplies off craigs list and ebay.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie
Good for you Alicia. We have about 100 trees tapped here, but we are still too cold for the sap to run. I strongly suggest NOT to cook your sap down inside. It will leave a heavy sticky residue on your ceiling as it evaporates.WE do the kettle method on a outdoor fire, but BBQ's work as well. Needless to say we not only do our own sap but sell at farmers market as well.
Right now the snow is still knee deep here and at night is about 6F outside and during the day 15F, still a little too cold. Soon thought. Encouraging to see your production.
The weather for sugaring isn't as it should be. Way too cold when it was supposed to be warmer. we're still getting sap and freezing it to get the water out and condense the sugar to make boiling quicker. We've been getting about a pint to a pint and a half each time we boil off. it's quite interesting.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie
Last year we had 200 taps out, but this year the snow and ice in the woods were so bad we couldn't even get in there to tap. It has been a bad year for sap anyway - way too cold, and then got too warm. Last year we made 28 gallons.
Maybe next year!
Hugs, Luanne
beekeepersgirl #691
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
star-schipp
True Blue Farmgirl
942 Posts
Starletta
Middletown
Indiana
USA
942 Posts
Posted - Nov 23 2014 : 12:51:10 PM
Thanks for posting this - I'll be keeping on eye on this post and refer back when it comes sugaring time. Glad I found it! I'm certainly going to learn this skill this upcoming season.
EstleSchippFarm.blogspot.com
If you can't feed one hundred people, then just feed one. -Mother Teresa
Sugaring
Posted - Mar 14 2014 : 05:09:54 AM
.jpg)
