Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: draft horses, family time, good friends, maple season, maple syrup, Small Farming
February 19, 2017
Whew, the sap is running and so am I. I got some very welcomed help over the last few days, as I readied for making maple syrup. Today, we managed to get everything in the sugarhouse ready, while my son and a whole bunch of friends gathered the dripping sap.
Many of the bags were full to the top. The mud was sticky and drying. The sled pulled hard, so we used three horses. They still have their winter coats on, so we went slow, not pushing too hard. In four hours time, they had gathered almost 1100 gallons of sap.
My sister and two of her friends came. They were an BIG help. We managed to do all the final clean up of tanks and equipment, as well as, the final set up. We finished just as the sap started coming in to the sugarhouse. Right in the nick of time! We hold the sap in a tank that my cousin and I set in the ice and snow last Thursday. Today, a few guys wore only short sleeves!
Our weather for the next few days has us concerned. The warm up is coming too fast. Time will tell how our season will go, but it has started. Tomorrow we will be boiling much of the day. Oh what a wonderful day it will be!
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RicelandMeadows 
Best wishes Ralph. Been traveling a lot, but might try to stop over. Just got back from London (not Ontario) 🙂
Sent from John Gaul’s iPhone
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Comment by John Gaul February 20, 2017 @ 9:51 amHope to see you soon John…in Ohio. LOL
Comment by ricelandmeadows February 27, 2017 @ 1:47 pmI have been a neighbor for many years. Your draft horses are beautiful!! Every time I drive by I stare at them in awe of their beauty. I had no idea they were this productive for you. I live down toward Jefferson on 307 now.
Comment by Cindy Leonard February 26, 2017 @ 11:32 pmStop in sometime Cindy when you see me working them. They are even more beautiful up close 🙂 Thank you for your kind words.
Comment by ricelandmeadows February 27, 2017 @ 1:46 pm