From what I've read it's important that you hold off tapping your maple trees until at least January. Apparently it has something to do with sugar content, but honestly I know nothing here- I'm just a gal in search of some prairie fun.
After not so patiently waiting, the time finally arrived and with it came the perfect temperatures- below freezing at night and above freezing during the day. We quickly grabbed our gear and raced ahead to begin our maple season.
Ha- maple season is a bit misleading really! I'm not sure that anyone else taps for maple here in Arkansas, not exactly sure why, but most people laugh when we tell them what we're up to! To top it off, Kaleb and I are terrible at planning ahead, so while it would have been quite clever of us to mark trees in say spring- when there were leaves to look at, we like to wait til the dead of winter when there is absolutely no signs to help guide us except the layout of twigs. We're probably tapping oaks and cedars for all we know!
Oh well, adds to the ambiance.
Still we found 25 of what could be some kind of maple. We drilled our holes and inserted our spiles and hung our buckets, all while tromping thru the cold and laughing at our own incompetence.
It's pretty dreamy really, and I'm beyond hopeful. I'll keep you updated on how this little adventure turns out, but I'm banking on fresh maple syrup for our Saturday morning waffles!
You are tapping already, how wonderful. We still have another 6 weeks or more before we even think about it. Have fun, there is nothing like fresh maple syrup you have harvested and boiled down yourself. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLol- yes! There not really an actual season for it here. So when the weather is primed we start as it will not last long!
DeleteThis is so ridiculously cool! I hope you find lots and lots of syrup!
ReplyDeleteOoh, really hoping you collect some!
ReplyDeletetotally dreamy! i love your spirit + enthusiasm. you're a lot like that maple tree, i think. with stores of joy + passion that trickles into each of your children's buckets, filling them up with each new experience. imagine how those buckets will be spilling over when they are fully grown into their own! wishing you stacks and stacks of deliciously soggy waffles! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are unbelievably kind! Thank you for those sweet sweet words.
DeleteTapping for maple. Never a dull moment in your home. Sounds like it was fun. I always thought sugar was added to the syrup after the extraction. I know so little. Your maple tapping excursion reminds me of Mimi Thorisson of Manger (mmithorisson.com). Have you seen her blog? She does foraging on hikes with her broad of kiddos. Anywho, check her out. You have a kindred spirit across the pond.
ReplyDeleteTexas Jak
www.novermyhead.com
DO NOT CHECK MIMI THORISSON OUT. you will be insanely jealous.just sayin
DeleteLol- to late:)
DeleteHow cool are you all! Gosh, I love it. Also, cannot wait to see how it turns out!
ReplyDeletexo
Michaela
http://michaelajeanblog.com
Oh my gosh I would love to get fresh maple syrup like that! What a fun day for the kids, too!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do this!! Looks like a fun family activity :)
ReplyDeletelovejoanna.com
You sure do look like you're having fun! Good luck with the maples, keep us posted :) I expect a dreamy post with pictures of you and the kids enjoying handgrown and harvested syrup soon ;) xo
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! We are so far away from being able to tap here. At least 6-8 weeks from the weather we've been having. We will be tapping both maple and birch this year. Looking forward to tasting the difference in the syrup.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful "harvest".
Thank you! Yep, Arkansas is not really a place to tap for maple, so we tap when we can and its mainly for kicks:)
DeleteOh goodness, this looks like so much fun!! And I'm SO jealous that you can tap for maple on your own yard! Hopefully your trees are good to you :-)
ReplyDeleteI have never done this before, or had any friends do this before so this is interesting to me. I'd probably do the same thing and wait until winter to try and find the right trees, lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll find lots of maple though, I have faith! :)
Z. | J. POTTER
I had no idea that such a thing existed, what a wonderful thing to do and especially with your children! :)
ReplyDeleteaglassofice.blogspot.co.uk
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This brings me back to collecting syrup with my grandmother when I was little. It was always such an exciting time of year. I have no doubt that your children will look back and love these memories and adventures when they are older. It all looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI totally want to try this someday!
ReplyDeleteI hope it goes well for you guys! A fun adventure if nothing else. Though maple syrup is so yummy.. I hope that you get buckets! XO -Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
This is so cool... I'm so happy you commented on my blog & that led me here! Can't wait to follow along this fun journey of yours! Side note--I totally would have thought of marking the maple trees...in the middle of winter, just like you. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun adventure!!
ReplyDeleteGahh this is so "little house on the prairie"!!!! this has been on my bucket list since I was six, I am so jealous of those kiddies! Hope it works :))
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome, haha! And sounds and looks like so much fun! Fingers crossed you get lots of maple syrup soon! :)
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love that you guys are doing this! I can't wait to hear how this turns out for you. I hope you get lots and lots of maple syrup!
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