We made over 50 gallons of maple syrup this year with about 200 taps and sap for our neighbors at Kidds Hillbilly Farm. In years past we have put in over 400 taps. This year we got the first 200 in place, with plan to continue putting them in. The sap ran so well we were getting over 100 gallons a day, so we never got more put in. We kept getting more snow. When the weather was right the sap ran and ran and ran.
TJ put taps in earlier than we did, but the sap was not ready to run right away. When it did they collected it at their place and transported it as they could. TJ boiled at night and Mary Ann boiled during the day.
Our evaporator had a work our this year.We had a lot of wood stacked by the new sugar house, which worked very well though the holes in the metal roof from its previous use did drip when it rained and when snow melted off the roof.
As usual, Kim and family came for a long weekend. In years past we have in some cases carried the children on our backs or on sleds as we gathered sap. Last year they were learning to use snowshoes, with lots of fun, but not much carrying of sap. This year they all really helped. It was such fun to work with them.
Now we are done with the boiling....all that is left is the clean up and bottling.
Nephew John and his friends washed buckets yesterday. Some bottling will happen this week. We are thankful for a good year.
