When we first got there, I had expected to see metal pails hanging on the trees like in the old days. I was surprised to see plastic milk jugs instead. The plastic jugs have lids and are more enclosed than pails. This helps keep stuff out of the sap as it is being collected. Moths especially like the sweet sap.
Here is one of the spouts. A new hole is drilled each year (it doesn't hurt the tree). You can see one of the old holes to the right of the spout.
The sap is collected and then needs to be cooked for several hours to remove most of the water. It takes 46 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup! He made 15 gallons of syrup this spring. Needless to say, he has been very busy.
Dave was so great with the boys. Here he is telling Mr. M and Mr. G all about cooking the sap.
Mr. M has been interested in the cycle of water, but hadn't quite grasped the concept of evaporation and steam. Seeing the billowing steam coming off the boiling sap and hearing Dave's description made it all come together. All of a sudden Mr. M's eyes lit up and he got excited. I could tell that he finally understood. So neat. Here he is deep in thought while he listens.
This is how the sap looks when it comes out of the tree. Typically sap is mostly clear. You can tell this is sap from the end of the season because it has color.
He takes the pot of sap and puts it way in the back of the stove to warm up.
When the sap is warm he pours it in with the rest that is already boiling.
Here he is stoking the fire to keep it hot and to keep the sap boiling.
A highlight of the visit was when we got to taste the syrup. He reached into the boiling sap and brought out a spoonful.
Nothing like the taste of warm maple syrup on a cool spring afternoon. Mr. M didn't even hesitate when he was offered a taste. And Mr. G smiled and danced a little jig right after he tried it.
Here is the sample we got to take home with us. It is such a beautiful color.
We all had so much fun this afternoon. Thank you sooooo much Dave!!
4 comments:
I'm glad I finally got caught up on your blog it's been as you know a busy but fun week at work and I have felt rushed all week. I love the santa hat! Mr.M looks so in to the whole syrup thing. What a cool experience. I remember seeing that as a child at a neighbors house but they used those little tin pails it was very cool and I still remember it all these years later. Something Mr.M will remember also I'm sure.:)
this is so interesting...I only see maple syrup in a supermarket! so thanks...did this fellow sell his syrup??
I still think you take beautiful photographs... :)
Thanks for the comments ladies! I love to know that people are checking.
He's planning to sell some at a local store. Usually he doesn't have enough extra to sell, but this year was a good year. Lots of sap was flowing.
SOOOOO fun! What a neat experience for the boys! And it was a really cool photo journal of the whole day--I feel I learned something! ;)
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