You know what’s sweet?
Maple syrup!
You know what’s really sweet?
When the maple syrup comes from your own back yard!
And, you know what’s EVEN sweeter?
When the maple sap starts to run earlier in the season than usual, and you manage to figure that out before it’s too late! ๐
You see, typically, the sap starts to run in mid-March. And it’s those days when the temps are above 5C in today and well below freezing at night that triggers the sap to glow up the tree. But we all know, (of us, everywhere!) that weather patterns are bonkers, do we must remain vigilant and observant.
In early February, I noticed the maple buds starting to swell and took a chance. Taps in trees – buckets under taps – sap boiled down (40 litres of sap = 1 litre of syrup). And, voila!!
Our own Maple Syrup! SWEET!!!
Rose Bay Letters 
That is sweet with a capital ‘S.’ It sure makes you realize how much better real maple syrup tastes, and how much work is required to get it. ๐
Very true! And, in my case at least, because I boil the sap on my kitchen stove – (for hours!), itโs not the most economical project. But still very satisfying. Sweetly satisfying!๐
We had close friends who had a sap house, and we loved going to watch the process. For a couple of years, we tapped our own trees and boiled on a couple of burners in the garage. Oh my gosh, but you could almost peel the paint off the walls with that steam. ๐
Haha! It definitely takes care of a lack of humidity in the house this time of year. (The extractor fan over the stove rolls itโs eyes, Iโm sure). But, on the positive side, the house smells delicious!
What a treat! Who knew you were a syrup farmer! ๐
Just couldnโt resist tapping those maples! ๐
Woah! Respect Ma’am (with more than a tinge of envy) sweetly sweetly sweet indeed …. I need hardly add – enjoy ๐๐
Thanks!!! A wee sweet treat! โบ๏ธ
Yum!!!! Bet that will taste nice on pancakes.
Indeed!!! And rationed!! ๐
Wow! How exciting this would be! (So different from the rubber tapping that I have seen)
Itโs โold schoolโ to use the taps and buckets. But for our purposes, it works fine. Itโs really simple. But sweetly satisfying. ๐
Ohm you are so lucky! I can taste it now!
Thanks!!! Sweetly delicious!
How exciting, Janet!! I can’t do this but a friend went to visit her family in Vermont and brought me some syrup. SO good.
janet
Itโs a wonderful seasonal treat! For sure!! Glad you got some. ๐
I like how you tell the story with images.
Thank you Sherry!!๐
How exciting! We are huge maple syrup fans .. 40 litres for 1! Liquid gold ๐
Haha! Well … three weeks in and we have about 600 mls of syrup. So not exactly lucrative. But itโs a fun and satisfying addition, with the added bonus of a sweet smelling house (while boiling down). Hope everything is well with you, Julie! Soon harvest time?
Olives or grapes ๐
Both?
Wow – very cool!
We just had our first Maple Festival weekend (another one next weekend) in the Highlands of Virginia – the southernmost place where maple syrup can still be produced. It is indeed a sweet treasure!
Thatโs wonderful!! Congratulations!