Winter
Winter may seem like a slow season, with almost all plant-life dead (or appearing so), or buried under six feet of snow. There is certainly a degree of hibernation and hunkering down that occurs during this time, but there is still work to be done. Pipelines must be checked once again for damage, this time on snowshoes. Often a line may need to be excavated; this is important because when the sap runs, if the line is buried, the sap will freeze, blocking all the sap above it, and increasing the chances of a burst pipe. At this time of year, day-time temperatures may be around 10 degrees Fahrenheit, an undeniably uncomfortable temperature when you're out in the woods all day. Weekly batches of pancakes and waffles become the norm. Just short of a ray of sunshine in your stomach, the syrup-drenched carb-based breakfasts ward off the chills almost as well.
By mid-February, hopefully the temperatures have risen a little, because this is when tapping begins. This involves more tramping on snowshoes in the woods, this time with a tool-laden belt, a drill, and a backpack with plenty of snacks and layers. Our farm hires up to six people each year during this time, as tapping all 6,000+ trees requires upwards of 100 man-hours. At the sugarhouse and around the property, gathering tanks for holding sap and the giant pans used for boiling must be dusted off and checked for spiders. If you're lucky enough to get all your trees tapped, driveway plowed, tanks in order, and engines running, you can lie down and stock up on extra sleep. Or let the pre-sugaring anticipation, anxiety, and full-blown Santa's-coming excitement set in.
By mid-February, hopefully the temperatures have risen a little, because this is when tapping begins. This involves more tramping on snowshoes in the woods, this time with a tool-laden belt, a drill, and a backpack with plenty of snacks and layers. Our farm hires up to six people each year during this time, as tapping all 6,000+ trees requires upwards of 100 man-hours. At the sugarhouse and around the property, gathering tanks for holding sap and the giant pans used for boiling must be dusted off and checked for spiders. If you're lucky enough to get all your trees tapped, driveway plowed, tanks in order, and engines running, you can lie down and stock up on extra sleep. Or let the pre-sugaring anticipation, anxiety, and full-blown Santa's-coming excitement set in.
