Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Saps a Runnin'!

It is that time of year again! Here on the edge of the Adirondacks, March not only marks the first day of spring, but sugaring season. There are family sugarhouses in every town here in Upstate New York, including one just a mile down the road from our house! It is run by our long time neighbors and cousins, and they do it the old fashioned way. No pipelines on the trees, or fancy machines for boiling. Just a drill, some taps, and some buckets. A tractor with a tank on a trailer, and ALOT of muscle. Peter has been laid off for a couple of months now, and has been working tapping trees and sapping for over a week now. It is a tiring, but rewarding experience when you get done. And if you go, you are expected to help! No standing around allowed! I put together a little slideshow to show you what we have been enjoying up our way! Hope you like it!




5 comments:

Unknown said...

I spotted your slideshow last night on my way to bed...and came back to let you know how interesting this all is to me. I saw a short story on one of the morning news shows about Vermont maple syrup...but it was the more automated version with the pipes. They were talking about the weather and the future of the sugar maple trees. That they think with just the minor weather changes that have been happening each year, the trees may be be able to produce sap useable for maple syrup. It was interesting in that respect, but what you have shown us is much more interesting. Seems like a lot of work for "real" maple syrup!!! No wonder the real stuff gets expensive. Wow...glad their are people that still find this a worthwhile endeavor. Most of us take it for granted. thanks for sharing this with us. And...I never new there was "NY" maple syrup. Vermont always gets the credit.

Unknown said...

That was suppose to say "the trees may NOT be able to produce sap in the future, that is usable for maple syrup".

Sorry about my typing.

Tracy said...

ooooh how cool. love the slide show in general but the subject matter is fascinating. always wanted to see this in real life now you've done the next best thing! thank you!

michelle cook infantino said...

Love your LOs and kudos for you for sharing your slideshow with us. Love seeing real people doing worthwhile "hands-on" work.

tina said...

Great slideshow Keri! I knew it was a lot of work, but geez! Makes me appreciate it more. I looooove reamaple syrup, I can't stand the fake stuff.