Maple Time is on its way
Well, it looks like I’ve missed the first sap run of the season. The weather has been kooky to say the least and the last couple of times that I’ve held off tapping I was happy that I did. This time I probably could have got 4 or 5 good days of sap. This weekend its going back into the deep freeze so I’ll try to be ready for the next run. I’ve got a lot of work to do before I can get started, and thats most of the reason that I didn’t hit this last run. The storage tank needs scrubbing and setting up, I’ve got finish cleaning up spiles and buckets and barrels, and I’ve got to get the evaporator ready to go. Gee, after writing that all out I should be asking myself what I’m doing writing on the blog…..daylights a burnin’—as I like to say. I’m not going to make any to sell this year, just enough to get me through another year of griddle cakes. This year I’m trying something new, I’m going to use plastic spiles and line and run them into 15 gallon barrels and swap the barrels out. This should work out a little better for this year. We don’t have a pickup anymore and I’ll have to collect with a tractor. I can hardly wait to smell that sweet smell of boiling sap. Lots of hard work and late nights ahead. Hope I don’t run out of steam before I get started. Winter has been hard on me this year, lots of work and very little pay, its been hard to keep an optimistic outlook for the future. But with spring comes hope, it always recharges your optimism and gives you the courage to put yourself through it all again next year. The smell of sap, the growing grass and garden seeds sprouting are the kind of pep talk you need after a cold winter. We are still a ways off for the grass and garden but the sap will be here soon.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Hi Scott, it sounds like a lot of hard work, late hours, but a great reward at the end. Cooking sorghum ‘lasses seems to be somewhat easier, as horse drawn power can be employed in quite a bit of the work. It appears the winter has been hard on a lot of folks. We continue to support you all in prayer. God bless you brother.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Hi Missouri Rev
How many gallons of sorghum juice is in a gallon ‘lasses? I’ve often thought of growing a little so I could use my evaporator twice a year instead of just once, but I never have. I was washing up equipment today and like a little kid, I just had run out and tap just one tree. I saw the sap running out of that spile and got all exited. I’ll be extra busy tomorrow getting my 350 gallon sap tank ready.
Your prayers are appreciated brother. We pray for you folks as well.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Hi Scott, the ratio of cane juice to molasses is 10 to 1. With good cane a well tuned cane press driven by horse or mule power can produce at least 100 gallons per hour, so it doesn’t take all that much work to come up with the juice. It’s the cooking that takes the time. Last fall my family and I worked with our good friend Richard Pulliam (and his family & friends) and cooked up 7 gallons of finished molasses in 3.5 hours. That was the molasses I used in the Missouri Mule Barbeque sauce I sent you. We would love to have you all come down here and spend some time with us fellowshipping while driven mules and cookin ‘lasses. It’s a whole lot of fun!
March 24th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Scott,
Congrats on the Blogspot award. How is the syruping coming along? Can you grow sugar beets for molasses? Say hello to the whole family, sure wish I could visit sometime.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Hi Ken!
Sorry it took so long for a reply. Things have been busy, a few breakdowns and a few fresh cows this last week. Syrup is slowed down around here. This year I only tapped a handful of trees, just enough for my own use. Its still keeping me busy though. Drew off 2 gallons the other night and have about that much I need to get boiled. Hope all is well with you, stop in any old time you like. I’m always here, excluding the Lord’s day.