Don't forget to thank the dog for the company
Its been a great day at the sugar shack, good conversation, rest, relaxation too, with a connection to nature that leaves one with a sense of satisfaction - it doesn't get better than this!
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How to make maple syrup
Take one antique syrup evaporator This evaporator has ten inter connected cells. The cells are filled with maple water that has been collected and it is then heated to boiling temporator which causes the excess moisture to evaporate. With time and energy the viscosity of the maple water increases until the mixture becomes a syrup. All the while the water is evaporating the mixture must have impurities removed: Sticks, needles, dust, assorted bug parts, you name it, are skimmed away, all at boiling temperatures. Here you can see the hand seive removing floaters. The whole process requires much firewood and energy to keep the water at boiling temperatures. Wood must be cut, stacked, split and then fed into the evaporator The syrup will get to a certain consistency and then it is drained at the hottest end of the evaporator where there is a tap. In this case we use a stainless pan and "finish it off" on a gas bar b que. There is more temperature control...
1. An old fashioned maple sugar harvest
First you need the maple tree stand, of course! But then, you need a tractor! This one is an old Ford. And you need to know how to drive it. Not hard, just avoid the dog. and you need a trailer to haul stuff around... Note the high tech guard rails and safety rope! Then you need a sugar shack.... The scenario is rather ... rustic a charming collection of barrels, don't you think? Its enough though, protection from wind and rain, and a good cover for the firewood and you need lots, and lots of wood for the evaporator. You see the smoke stack and the copula to let the water vapour rise up.. and the mandatory dog The next important thing is to start gathering up the sap: the trees are tapped and the sap runs down sap lines into barrels using siphon and suction: