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Brushing Up my Sugaring Skills

February 2nd, 2010

Sugaring season will be here soon. I decided to get a book from the library to read a little more about it before the season starts.

We’re going to buy a few more spiles/spouts this week to be ready. I can’t wait to spend my days gathering sap and boiling it into delicious syrup. We’re hoping sugaring season coincides with the Winter Olympics since we’re planning on taking time off during those two weeks. That way we’ll be able to empty the sap buckets and boil down the sap while in between our favorite events.

If you’d like to tap a couple of your maples trees you’d better start looking for some supplies. If you don’t need tons of supplies Tap My Trees is a great place. I go my local Lehman’s store to purchase what I need.

Do you or have you considered tapping your maple trees?

16 Comments to “Brushing Up my Sugaring Skills”
  1. Mangochild on February 2, 2010 at 6:31 am

    You must know that I am extremely jealous of your sugaring opportunities and knowledge, right? It’s one of the first signs of spring, and getting to bring that in yourself, well, very special. I don’t have maple trees around me to tap, but I’d like to learn out of learning’s sake. I think a sugaring farm near me does teach methods in general, but I’m sure there is nothing like experiencing it (successes and failures alike) to get the rhythms.
    .-= Mangochild´s last blog ..Spotlight: Dark Days 2009-2010 Week Eleven =-.

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  2. kristin @ going country on February 2, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Wait. Lehman’s is LOCAL to you? Oh man. I’m so jealous. Though it’s a good thing there isn’t one near me, as I would be tempted to spend way too much there. I love their catalog.
    .-= kristin @ going country´s last blog ..Dessert on Demand =-.

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  3. warren on February 2, 2010 at 10:57 am

    We tapped about 30 trees every year when I was a kid. My Dad still taps about half of those now (it’s a little more work without the child labor I guess). It was a lot of work but I have great memories of the huge wood fire we made to boil the sap and cooking marshmallows and hotdogs as we waited for it to boil down. My Dad has moved to propane now and it makes a better tasting syrup but it isn’t quite the same. Still, I love sugaring time. We’ll be tapping this winter as well…and we’ll probably use propane. I am just too lazy to cut that much wood now!
    .-= warren´s last blog ..Lovin’ the hog =-.

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  4. Tree on February 2, 2010 at 10:59 am

    OK here is the part where I tell you I have no trees left on my property. I had to take down the giant Beachwood (and good thing we did – it had been burnt out in the center) before it fell onto either of the neighbors houses.
    Here is the part where I tell you I have no idea what the couple of property line trees in my backyard are, but as soon as they leaf I will look into identifying them, though I doubt I have a maple.
    I grew up in the sticks so I remember sugaring (and how when I moved to the burbs we took a field trip to see how it was done and they were all amazed).
    I love pure maple syrup, although with the kids eating pancakes, french toast or waffles at least once a week I have stooped to that fake maple flavored stuff. I will buy some real stuff this weekend at the market and support a local farmer. I promise :)
    .-= Tree´s last blog ..Snow Flurries, Sick Child and Bread Making =-.

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  5. Ken Toney on February 2, 2010 at 11:31 am

    I was just looking at our maple trees this weekend. We have dozens of sugar maple trees in our woods. I think making some maple syrup would give me something to do until it’s time to plant the garden. I’m itching to get outside and do something. Thanks for the info on Tap My Trees. I’m going to order a starter kit from them so I have everything to get started.
    .-= Ken Toney´s last blog ..Starting a Sourdough Starter =-.

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  6. Janine at Rustic Kitchen on February 2, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    I have a magnificent maple in the front, too big for one person to hug. I’ve been SO tempted. I even visited a neighbor farmer who taps the trees in his woods and sells at the farmers market, who tells me that mine could take up to five taps. Guess I’ll need to brush up on my sugarin’ knowledge!
    .-= Janine at Rustic Kitchen´s last blog ..Farmer Friday – Dragonwood Farm =-.

    Reply to Janine at Rustic Kitchen's comment

    • Susy on February 6, 2010 at 10:51 am

      You should do it. We have a big maple out back and it produces a ton of sap. We’re going to put a few taps in it this year, we only put one in it last year for lack of extra spiles.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. Cate on February 2, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    I really need to come around on maple syrup. I grew up eating Mrs. Buttersworth’s and it’s not that I don’t like the taste of maple syrup, but the thin consistency bothers me. I need to get over it, particularly since we’re trying to get away from corn syrup.
    .-= Cate´s last blog ..Frugal Meatless Meals: Sweet Chili Lime Tofu =-.

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  8. stefaneener on February 2, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    So. Insanely. Jealous.
    I really wish I could. I love, love, love maple syrup for so many different things.
    .-= stefaneener´s last blog ..About the Eggs =-.

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  9. melissa on February 2, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    Add me to the ranks of “so insanely jealous.” How amazing that would be. fresh maple syrup? oh hells yes. clearly I need to cultivate some friendships with Northerners who will sell me some of theirs.
    .-= melissa´s last blog ..Checkpoint Chickie =-.

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  10. Frugal Trenches on February 2, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    Wow, you do sugaring too? Honestly I just am in awe of you!!!
    .-= Frugal Trenches´s last blog ..Sparkle =-.

    Reply to Frugal Trenches's comment

  11. MAYBELLINE on February 2, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    No maple trees here in California.
    .-= MAYBELLINE´s last blog ..Road Trip Part I – Santa Anita =-.

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  12. Judy on February 3, 2010 at 1:45 am

    I have read that the Big Leaf Maple tree is good for maple sugar production which does grow in California and we are growing them domestically from wild trees of moist areas. I am not sure how big the tree trunk needs to be to tap it but I am looking forward to trying this for I love m. sugar syrup too.

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  13. Debbie on February 3, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    Oh yes. We are doing maple syrup this year…because of YOU! I’m so excited. Your site has been such an inspiration. Even though I’ve been following for almost a year…I don’t think I’m commented much. Love Chiot’s Run, though. Just love it. Thank you. -Debbie
    .-= Debbie´s last blog ..One small Change – February =-.

    Reply to Debbie's comment

    • Susy on February 6, 2010 at 10:50 am

      Hope you enjoy it, it is a lot of fun. I like that it’s an outdoor activity in the very early spring.

      Reply to Susy's comment

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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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