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Maple Sitter

March 10th, 2012

When we headed off to Florida two weeks ago we were in the middle of sugaring season. The season started in early February and we had already collected over 100 gallons of sap which became 2 gallons of finished syrup. We thought the sap would stop flowing before we left, but that wasn’t the case. The weather was still perfect and it looked like it would continue most of the 2 weeks we were gone. Sadly we resigned ourselves to the fact that the sap would we wasted.

One of our neighbors happened to stop by to chat the week before we left, while she was there we gave her a small jar of syrup. This piqued her interest in the whole process and she starting asking questions. After explaining the process to her, she asked if she could collect the sap while we were gone. The day before we left, she brought over a box full of various milk jugs and other bottles, we replaced our glass jars with hers and I gave her a quick lesson in maple sugaring. While we were traveling, she gathered sap, boiled it down on her stove, and was happy to end up with about a quart of syrup.

Her family did a taste test with imitation maple syrup and said they were all blown away by how great it was (the fake stuff tastes like chemicals she said). They enjoyed doing it so much that they’re planning on tapping all of their maple trees next year. I love passing on the love of real food and the joy of making your own to someone else!

Have you ever found a new hobby by helping someone else out?

9 Comments to “Maple Sitter”
  1. daisy on March 10, 2012 at 6:52 am

    Wow, what a lucky neighbor! What a gift you have given her! So glad the precious syrup did not go wasted.

    Reply to daisy's comment

  2. ANdrea Duke on March 10, 2012 at 8:23 am

    How awesome is that and I agree with Daisy. What a lucky neighbor!!

    Reply to ANdrea Duke's comment

  3. Victoria on March 10, 2012 at 8:40 am

    Love to hear about sharing your knowledge & syrup with your neighbor. We’ve fielded a few questions about composting & seed starting and though I’m happy to share some compost/seedlings, they aren’t as sweet as your syrup!

    Reply to Victoria's comment

  4. Victoria on March 10, 2012 at 9:14 am

    Delicious & thoughtful! Over the years, neighbors have asked us about composting & seed starting, though I’m happy to share I don’t think that either compares to your syrup!

    Reply to Victoria's comment

  5. Becca on March 10, 2012 at 11:40 am

    I pruned my birch tree a bit late this year and was very surprised to find the amount of sap that dripped from the cut branches. Didn’t I read somewhere that the sap of the birch could be used as a type of syrup as well?

    Reply to Becca's comment

    • Susy on March 10, 2012 at 12:03 pm

      Yes you can make syrup from birch – but it does take more sap to make syrup than maple.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  6. tj on March 10, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    …I echo the sentiment from above Susy, “wow – whatta lucky neighbor!”. ;o)

    …Those lil’ jars of syrup are each a little work of art. Mother Nature provided you the materials and you created the masterpiece. :o)

    …Enjoy your day!

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  7. KimH on March 10, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    Yes! I found out I enjoyed sewing & quilting.
    My x hubby was in a band and one of the guys wanted some really nice jackets to wear onstage. He couldnt afford much, and I had a sewing machine & a basic knowledge of sewing so I took the project on. I made him sever jackets over the next year or two, he loved them & I started sewing all sorts of things. I made all my little girls church dresses & play clothes for the next 5 or so years That was fun & I enjoyed it immensely.

    I also helped my X’s grandmother make quilts for all of her grandchildren and I enjoyed it so much. I had always wanted to learn to make a quilt and the opportunity just fell into my lap. Its been a long time since I’ve made one but I’d love to have the time & space to do it again.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  8. t on March 10, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    Oh my goodness that is a great story!!!
    Teaching someone…sharing… good outcome and she is going to follow up next year.
    what a great resource you are to your community.
    T

    Reply to t's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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