Wrapping Up The Season...

Well, it is April 10th, and our first maple sugaring season is coming to a close today.  Only random, stubborn piles of snow in the shady areas of the woods remain, and the trees are just about to bud.

It has been a fun, highly educational few

Lady, enjoying a roll in leaves today!

months.  Although we are a bit weary from our crash course (It feels like we completed Maple 101, 102 and 200 all in the last 6 months!), we are already thinking ahead, planning our improvements for the next sap season.


Ultimately, we tapped and collected from only 270 of our well-over a thousand maple trees.  Next year, we want to take that up to 500+, and hope to update our evaporator.  But for now, we'll focus on popping out the taps, cleaning up and storing our equipment, and, of course,  selling the approximately 30-35 gallons of syrup (packaged mostly in quarts and pints) sitting around our dining room!  Actually, we've already had several customers, for whom we are most grateful.  And, we've been enjoying our tasty delicacy with pancakes, hot cereal, coffee, and in a few recipes.  I'll post recipes as I perfect them!
(This summer I'll post photos and info about our woodlot management process, as we strive to keep our maples as healthy as they can be.)


One last run of the releaser......














One last sap collection trip for the tractor.....

In the house, we're finishing up with bottling....

                                                                         ...and labeling.


I'm so proud of my teens for consistently pitching in, sticking with it to complete the job even when the hours were long, and giving up was very tempting.

In fact, since Don began his new job last week, William has been taking the lead in this adventure, with the rest of us supporting him!

Will loves the solitude and peace of the woods, as well as the taste of maple syrup.... on just about anything - this may be the perfect career for him!  Time will tell...


Please keep following our blog.  Our dear, "tech-savvy" friend, Josh, is working on our website's product page as I type.  I'll post an announcement when it's ready!

Also, I'll share photos of the improvements we'll be making to Westbrook Farm throughout this spring, summer and fall.  As always, we welcome visitors.....but I must warn you....

...it's quite muddy here right now, so wear your muck boots!