Author |
Across the Fence: Maple Syrup Season is here |
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
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
|
|
YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6921 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6921 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2021 : 06:04:12 AM
|
Michelle, I know it is work but it has to be fun too. Buckets with lids sounds like a good thing.
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.
|
|
|
Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2021 : 06:13:53 AM
|
Yay! I so well remember my Dad and sister's godfather heading up to Maine for their annual maple syruping weekend! I know it takes a lot of time and patience, but such sweet reward! How exciting!
Such a busy time if year for you, Michele! But such fun, too, Im sure! God bless you!
Hugs,
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
|
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2021 : 10:59:16 AM
|
Have fun tapping with your family Michele! I hope you get another sap to make syrup for everyone.
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
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2021 : 4:07:27 PM
|
. 6 generations have made syrup on this same place. That is my sister holding her youngest grandchild.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
|
|
|
YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6921 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6921 Posts |
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.
|
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
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 |
Edited by - ddmashayekhi on Mar 07 2021 1:17:43 PM |
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
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
|
|
|
MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
6945 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
6945 Posts |
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 |
|
|
Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6594 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6594 Posts |
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 |
|
|
levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9329 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9329 Posts |
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/
|
|
|
nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3078 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3078 Posts |
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
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
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
|
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
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 |
|
|
StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2247 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2247 Posts |
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 |
|
|
becsbecaw
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Becca
Elsie
MI
USA
35 Posts |
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 |
|
|
becsbecaw
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Becca
Elsie
MI
USA
35 Posts |
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 |
Edited by - becsbecaw on Mar 11 2021 04:10:30 AM |
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
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
|
|
|
becsbecaw
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Becca
Elsie
MI
USA
35 Posts |
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
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 06:41:51 AM
|
. Cooking sap. Trying to block the wind with the tractor.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2021 : 06:42:44 AM
|
sap boiling in pan.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
|
|
|
YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6921 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6921 Posts |
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.
|
|
|
becsbecaw
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Becca
Elsie
MI
USA
35 Posts |
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 |
Edited by - becsbecaw on Mar 22 2021 07:36:11 AM |
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
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 |
Edited by - ddmashayekhi on Mar 22 2021 2:09:06 PM |
|
|
StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2247 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2247 Posts |
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 |
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
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
|
|
|
Across the Fence: Maple Syrup Season is here |
|