RicelandMeadows

February 8, 2024

Many maple producers that use tubing and lines through their woods, have started collecting sap and making syrup. We are chilling, waiting for the coming cold snap, then we will get started. In the meantime we have been keeping busy with several projects.

We got a new wooden sled. Our old one, I sold to a friend a couple of years ago. I thought that my steel sled would work well enough for us. The steel sled is a good piece of equipment, but I hate to drag it through the mud, load the expanded metal floor with manure or abuse it. These wooden sleds are the handiest piece of equipment that I own. It stands up to any job that I have given it. It slogs through the mud. It slides easy even on dry ground. It excels in the snow and is just plain handy. I gave the floor a coat of chainsaw bar oil and allowed it to soak in before putting the sled into use. The oil repels the water for a long time. My last sled was 15 years old when I sold it. The main thing is to park it on a wooden post or board so that the runners aren’t in contact with the ground when not in use. This keeps the runners from rotting out.

We also made a more easily accessible platform for the manure spreader. The way it was before, made it hard to climb on without standing on the tire. It was unsafe for this old man. This is now much easier and a whole lot safer to use.

Spring, and the maple syrup season will soon be here. In the meantime I will continue to complete projects and stay busy as we wait on Mother Nature. I will take a cue from the horses and just chill.