Sugaring!

Maple syrup making, aka “sugaring“ takes place at the end of winter all over the northeast, midwest and Canada. Maple Sugar farms and some backyard enthusiasts known as “sugarmakers“ look for weather that alternates between freezing and thawing; the temperature fluxuations is what makes the sap flow. Sugaring weather usually starts around the beginning of March, and normally lasts for about six weeks.

I am so excited!

My first grade teacher, Mrs. Wilcox, owned a Maple Tree Farm and every once in a while she would give us maple sugar candy as a treat. Mrs. Wilcox was very proud of her farm and would tell us stories upon stories about daily farm life. I still remember some of those stories and I can almost taste the maple sugar candy. I have wanted to tap a maple tree since I was 7 years old and I finally did it today! WOW! I am just so excited.

I watched some Youtube videos (I love this guy’s Maine accent), to get some ideas. You only need a few tools; Drill, Hammer, Maple Sugar Tap, Bucket and of course a Maple Tree but Oaks work well too. Your maple tree needs to be big enough to hug so I’d say probably at least 25 years old and a good 25-30″ around.

Drill a hole with an upward slate about 2″ into the tree. Then pound the tap into the tree. I used a 2by4 as a cushion because you can break the tap if you’re not careful.

Here I am setting the sugar tap dressed to the “9s” in my finest sugaring outfit. Joe seemed to enjoy getting the “behind” shot. Not that my size 8 butt is that big but gee thanks honey?

I bought my sugaring buckets years ago at a flea market for $1 a piece and they’ve been stored in our barn ever since. It took me some time to find the buckets and they were covered with cob webs and straw so a thorough washing was due.

On the tap there’s a little hook for the bucket. But you can rig up many different things to catch the sap. Some people use coffee cans or plastic bags. But the sap is heavy so make sure that whatever you use will hold the weight.

If there’s a cold night and then a warm day the sap really starts running. So it will be fun to see how the weather effects the sap totals. Yes, I am a weather fanatic and will keep track of the temperatures and yield.

Here’s a close up of the sap as it’s running down the tap. Actually the sap started running as soon as I drilled the hole. I’m still so excited and it’s such a simple thing. But it’s so much fun to finally do something you’ve always wanted to try. Thank you, you gorgeous Maple, you just made my month!

I am still so excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s my Maple Tree in Nov 2008. Not only is a gorgeous tree throughout the seasons, it’s going to sweeten our table as well.

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Tagged as: Maple Syrup, Maple Tree, Sugaring