RicelandMeadows

March 7, 2025

I was able to visit my buddy’s sugarhouse yesterday while they were boiling. The snow came steady. The wind blew hard, but in the sugarhouse we were well protected. The steam flowed freely out of the open cupola as the wood fire was pushed hard. The smell was wonderful.

The operation is generational. My buddy’s dad moved his family to the farm decades ago. It is now in its third generation on the farm. Improvements have been many, but this simple operation is amazing to see operate. The evaporator has grown to a size of 5 feet by 16 feet. It has a preheater that generates hot water from the condensed steam while heating the incoming maple sap. It has a forced air blower the power supplied by a small engine that sits outside. The firebox has an “air tight” front that reduces the wood needed to boil significantly.

Yesterday, my buddy and one of his sons boiled much of the day. Our season is off to a late start due to a very cold February. The season looks short, but we keep pushing forward until the warm spring days cause the trees to bud, signaling the end of maple season.

We have made maple syrup here on our farm every year since the spring of 1993. Due to me recovering from pneumonia, we did not tap this year. I will purchase what we use from my buddy. I was a tough decision, but I am glad I made it. Yesterday, as I walked in the steam and helped out a bit, my body let me know it was the right choice.

I am looking towards next year. In this paused year, I have made a list of improvements and plans. These upgrades will allow me to tap an additional 400 taps next year. These 400 have never been tapped in our 30 plus years of producing maple syrup. So, more wood will be needed, some piping to pump the far away sap and a good bit of road building.

As I sat in the cool steamy room sipping a hot cup of maple syrup, my mind wandered back into my memories. I remembered a time as a small boy sitting on an old car seat in my grandpa’s sugarhouse, sipping on a cup of syrup. It seemed so perfect and normal to be surrounded by the love of family. The sweet reward from the work of boiling the sap came full circle. I paused fondly to think about my grandparents and parents who showed me this life I love so much. A little tear of gratitude spilled down me cheek. I wiped it quickly so no one would see. I swear that teardrop had a sweet taste to it!

I had a very good time watching and visiting. It is different watching someone else doing the work, but it allowed me the opportunity to take it all in. I was able to pause my thoughts and remember lots of old memories. I was able to give thanks for those old memories and to make plans for making plenty of new ones for my own grandchildren. Incidentally, my sugarhouse has an old car seat just right for sitting and sipping hot syrup!