It's Time for Maple Syrup!

Maple Tree, Thank You.

Feeding us sweet, sweet nectar.

You shine in the sun.

Sugar Loop 2010 - From Sap to Syrup

From Sap to Syrup...

Mojo and Rad boilin' down sap. This is an all day process of feeding the fire and adding sap. It takes a little over 40 gallons of sap to equal one gallon of syrup.

We bought a new stainless steel pan this year...it's so lovely!
Thanks to Paul at
stainlesssteelcreations
for such a nicely made pan.

Sap at a rapid boil.

Kiah and Ona call it a day and make the trek home. 

We transport the remaining sap to our outdoor kitchen. Here we boil it down on the stove. We take it to 119 degrees, then strain it from the faucet into jars.

The jar on the left is from the "first run" batch. The jar on the right is from the 2nd run.

This painting from our dear friend, Jen, sums it all up...Maple sap is such a blessing! Making your own maple syrup sure makes you feel "connected" because you know right where it's coming from!

Sugar Loop 2010 - From Maple Tree to Sap

From the Maple Tree to Sap...

Maple Trees are a blessing!  

We tapped 70 trees this year beginning March 3rd and untapping April 5th.

Following are photos from our Sugar Loop Day 1 thru Day 4...Tappin' Trees:

Make a hole in the tree at an upwards angle (about 10 degrees) with no more than a 2" depth. 

Hole waiting for a tap...the sap is already drip, drip, dripping.

 Kiah digs in her bucket for a tap.

Milo hammers the tap into the hole.

Diggin' out the arches.

Collecting firewood for the upcoming fire.

Don't forget to taste the sweet sap right from the source!
Look for our next post "From Sap to Syrup" in the next few days.

Let the Flow Begin!

Maple Sap flow, that is...

Our family tapped 50 maple trees this year and are now awaiting the warm days and coldie nights of March.

We will check our buckets daily and dump the delicious sap into storage containers. When we get enough sap stored, we will pour it into the sap boiler...to be boiled down into yummy, yummy maple syrup. We are hoping to make enough syrup to last us the year and to give away as gifts. Kiah (age 8) and Milo (age 5) are taking notes on which trees run the best!

If you have a maple tree in your yard, or near you that you can tap, I highly recommend it ! Even if you do not plan on making syrup, the sap alone is wonderful to make tea or coffee or to just drink. If you do tap, be sure to do your research and also offer up a blessing or thank you to the tree in return for it's delicious sap.

Our sugar bush loop is great for skiing or just walking...one could get "lost" in there for hours!

My neighbor Jen and I like to do what we call "Tai Skiing" - this is were one of us leads the other, no talking...just listening to the sounds of nature and trying our best to quiet our minds. We may ski fast or slow, do a little ballet skiing, or whatever tickles our fancy! Then, when we come to a place that calls the leader to stop, the leader takes a few moments to lead a particular stretch, or deep breathing, or a series of movements, or just stops and listens. After our little session, the other person leads the next section of the trail.