Finished product- syrup

This Easter weekend we started the second sap evaporation process. This time we're starting with 103 gallons of sap. Elizabeth is home for the weekend and made delicious pancakes to go with the syrup.

Maple syrup- finished product

   We boiled about 45 gallons of sap. After the initial evaporation

and second boil down we sealed  3 quarts of syrup.

There is another 45-50 gallons left to boil today.

By the end of today, hopefully we'll have another 3quarts or so.....

Making syrup day 4

Oh how I wish we could package the beautiful smell of maple syrup cooking. It is wonderful. Very chilly day here, but we have the 1st evaporating pan boiling with a wood fire and the final boil on the gas burner. The jars are sterilized and waiting in the kitchen. 

                                                                            

                                                    

The evening of the 3rd day

   Beautiful fire, lots of steam.

Still boiling sap, day 3

The set up we started with wasn't boiling enough sap, so we needed to add another place to cook it. 

This means more wood to split.

                                                            

Boiling on the stove, but in a smaller kettle

                                                      

      At this stage, the liquid is getting sweeter and sticky. It's very clear to slightly Amber.

Making syrup

March 12th

Ready to cook, the stove is filled with wood, and were beginning to boil sap

Spring 2016

Tapping trees with the help of Laura and Aaron, March 5th.

Building a shelter for evaporating sap to syrup

Checking bags