 |
| Filling a 5 gallon bucket. |
This post was originally titled "15 gallons", but that was before I checked 3 of the 6 maples trees that we are tapping for sap. I have run out of 5 gallon buckets (used to receive sap from the 2 gallon tree buckets) and am busy cleaning other containers in our home so that we do not lose some of the sap from the trees. One of the 5 gallon buckets has already been emptied into my large kettles on my stove. Clearly (ahem), the initially boiling of sap is an outdoor activity--my hair is a little wavier, my indoor plants love the balmy atmosphere that the sap boiling has created, and I am now left with the task of wiping ceilings and windows down. In the works for this weekend is an outdoor fire pit to boil down the sap. I am on the hunt for a suitable kettle to use outdoors and hoping for good weather, no blizzards please.
Unrelated, be equally important: my seed orders have been placed and Kelly (our generous greenhouse owner) is awaiting our seeds for starting. We're coordinating our efforts to avoid duplication and I am eager to try some new varieties from Sand Hill Preservation and Hudson Valley Seed Library.
Hope this Leap Day is treating you well!
Fascinating stuff! Do you know how much the sap will condense with boiling and approximately how much you'll be left with afterwards? It must be something else to taste your very own tapped syrup straight from the tree! Fingers crossed for fine, fire pit weather in your parts! :)
ReplyDeleteI have read that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. We are nearing the 35 gallon mark today. The weather is not looking good for this weekend, we may have to create a shelter for the fire pit.
DeleteWhat a treat to be able to make your own maple syrup!! And how exciting to know your seeds are on the way. I keep looking at my boxes full of seeds and picturing the vast amounts of food that will be created - amazing!!
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky enough to participate in a field trip to a nature center that taps syrup a couple of years ago. It was so interesting and, best of all, we got to sample the difference between the "Aunt Jemima" kind and the "straight from the tree" kind. What a delicious difference!! I'm so happy that your having such luck this year. This winter has been so strange here in New York. Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading yours. :)
Delete~ Wendy
http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
@Heather--I'll be excited to hear how your garden grows!
Delete@Wendy--definitely an odd winter that we are having.
Thanks for stopping by!