My first attempt at maple syrup on a VERY small scale, hehe....only tapped about 8 trees, and am using the good old plastic gallon milk jugs. Of course, I only got about a cup of syrup out of a LOT of sap this first boil, but boy does it taste good :haha: Now to make a pancake to put it on. :haha:
you do of course realize you've made us all hungry. I'm expecting a "Sample" in the mail. But seriously... Good work.
That is awsome. I wish I had a few mature sugar maples. I once saw a sugaring operation as a young man and have wanted to do it myself ever since. Hmmmm, somehow Mrs Buttersworth just aint cutting it for me today. Kirk
WOW!!!! Shygal!! I'm impressed, not to mention envious!! I miss all the Maples of the Northeast, I really need to plant some so my GRANDKIDS can someday enjoy it, since they'll probably not get big enough in my lifetime!!! I pay 40/gallon for good NY syrup from my folks' neighbor who has been doing it for generations. So, you've got liquid gold there!!!
Thanks for the kind words Doodles, I was reading in my book, its not necessarily where sugar maples can grow, but where the climate is right for the sap to run. My book says all of New England, New York State, western Pennsylvania, and the mid west, especially Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Tomorrow looks like a good day for sap to run, here's hoping!
We are in southern Maryland and managed a couple of pints of syrup this year from about 8 trees. We have red maples rather than sugar maples, but it is the best tasting syrup ever! Rather than a sugar season we got about 2 weeks of good flow before the buds started to swell.
We tapped about 100 trees last year, and haven't started yet this year. Anyway, I have two favorite treats during sugaring time. Take some of your syrup, boil it a little extra until it's a bit thicker, and then pour it on fresh snow. Roll it up on a popcicle stick and enjoy. Second one is to take some syrup that's only about 3/4 done, put it in a mug and top it up with dark rum. Oh nummy. (And I'm a non-drinker as a general rule!!)
Here in midwestern Ontario, the first run of syrup is finished and for sale. We paid $44.00 cdn. for a gallon and near London it's selling for $42.00 cdn. What are the prices running up in northern Ontario, Bernadette? It's an excellent year for nature's "gold" and a sure sign of Spring.
hmmmm, nothing like boiled tree blood poured over aborted ground and caked and fried wheat fetuses whew, I better go to bed and start this day over again hunh... that's weird even for me
