Maple Syrup

The Maple Syrup is complete!! The trees were tapped in the snow. We only got 5 taps in because we could not reach the other trees because of the snow accumulation. It was a good season for maple syrup sap and we collected over 100 gallons of sap ( 43 gallons of sap makes approximately 1 gallon of maple syrup. This was our first year having all the equipment i.e. evaporator and sugar shack ready so we could start processing as the sap flow came. We learned a lot from our first batch - about how long to keep it in the evaporator before drawing it off, how to finish it off on the stove - getting it up to a temperature 7 degrees above boiling which in CT became 212.4 degrees F. , what heat setting on the stove kept the sap boiling but not cooking to fast, and how many times it needed to be filtered. If it is not filtered enough or correctly the sugar sand particles called 'niter' settle out upon jaring it up so there is a residue in the bottom. All said and done we were able to jar up 2.15 gallons of maple syrup. I put them in my 4oz, 8 oz and 12 oz jelly jars and sealed them with the lids and bands. I am very happy with the results

A great big thank you goes to one of my high school friends, Cindy, who is a friend of mine on Facebook. She read about what we were doing on the farm and wrote me about her Maple Syrup operation back in Ohio. She answered a lot of questions that I had about the total process. I am very greatfull for all her help.