Val's SS journal- Fair food! Yea!

[valmom]

Well, it seems early to me, but the sap is running! I have tapped our grand total of 6 trees (because that's how many buckets we have- yes, I want to get more!) and I boiled sap this weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't get my act together to get a rocket stove built outside, so I am again boiling it on the stove. Not the most efficient way to do it, but it is all mine!

YEAH! Spring is here!

 

[freemotion]

Hey, cool! I was wondering if I should tap here in MA, if you are, then I need to! I have no equipment, we will attempt to make our own taps and I have some surgical tubing that I hope to use to send the sap into five gallon pails. I have 3-5 trees....I say it this way, because I have to temporarily fence the goats away from my taps for this, and I'm not sure how much spare fencing I have and how much trouble I want to deal with. I can close the gate on three of the trees, so I have at least that many.

We will need to use a rocket stove, as I don't dare boil inside. I plan to finish it inside, though.

You are inspiring me!!!

 

[FarmerDenise]

Real maple syrup!!! yummy

It is definitely worth the trouble. We had neighbors (in upstate New York) who made their own. We were fortunate to get the occasional bottle of syrup from them.
When I visited the folks this last fall, I purchase two small bottles of locally made real maple syrup and had to ship it home to CA. They won't let you take liquids in your carry on luggage

It was worth it though

 

[modern_pioneer]

Yeah!!!

I am going to start after the next storm.... I helped Mark last year after I took a free class on how to make it. Sure its pretty simple, but having a free class just to see how its done and no second guessing yourself.

I have to admit its good too. I did hot bath mine in quart jar for keeping as I still had a purchased gallon open in the fridge.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I paid $13.75 for 1 pint and $7.95 for 1/2 pint and then it cost $5.99 to ship it!! I considered them my "souveniers" and gave the smaller bottle to DD, who also loves real maple syrup.

So, I think it is wonderfull, that you have the opportunity to make your own!

 

[Henrietta23]

Well, it seems early to me, but the sap is running! I have tapped our grand total of 6 trees (because that's how many buckets we have- yes, I want to get more!) and I boiled sap this weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't get my act together to get a rocket stove built outside, so I am again boiling it on the stove. Not the most efficient way to do it, but it is all mine!

YEAH! Spring is here!

We'll be boiling on the stove again this year. DH didn't get the outdoor stove built either. We haven't tapped yet. Probably one afternoon this week. No biggie, it's just one tree! We have taps and then just use large coffee cans to collect the sap. DH made covers that hang over them. I meant to look for two used buckets over the summer but forgot. Next year....

 

[modern_pioneer]

I paid $13.75 for 1 pint and $7.95 for 1/2 pint and then it cost $5.99 to ship it!! I considered them my "souveniers" and gave the smaller bottle to DD, who also loves real maple syrup.

So, I think it is wonderfull, that you have the opportunity to make your own!

I am planing to make more than I need and hot bath them in those small sample white lid jam jars!!!

Then I am going to sell them when I do the shows!! Thanks FD for the idea

 

[tamlynn]

Very nice! I just bought some syrup at the store- so expensive! I wish I had a better source, but that's unlikely in this area.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I paid $13.75 for 1 pint and $7.95 for 1/2 pint and then it cost $5.99 to ship it!! I considered them my "souveniers" and gave the smaller bottle to DD, who also loves real maple syrup.

So, I think it is wonderfull, that you have the opportunity to make your own!

I am planing to make more than I need and hot bath them in those small sample white lid jam jars!!!

Then I am going to sell them when I do the shows!! Thanks FD for the idea

You're very welcome
I know I would buy some

 

[hwillm1977]

I'm so excited to try this... it will probably be this coming weekend for us to tap trees, it's just barely getting above freezing every once in a while right now.

ETA: Do you have a problem with boiling it inside, other than humidity? Hubby insists it would coat the entire kitchen in sugar, but I think it would be fine...