The undertaking of making maple sap

Dave and Kirk went semi-granola this spring to convert sap to maple syrup

Dave watches as Kirk drills a hole before inserting the spile

Kal is showing dad how to properly insert the spile into the maple tree.

Dave hanging a milk jug to collect the sap.

A collection of containers from our recycle bins employed to be reservoirs to collect sap.

Dave shagging sap. This had to be done at least daily when the temperatures were opitmal and sometimes needed to be dumped twice a day.

$I pulled my refractometer out that I use to check gravity readings for homebrewing. I think our sap had a little lower sugar content than what is consider ideal. We still made syrup from it!$ Our make shift fire pits for boiling the sap. Later, we doubled the size of the pits.

Our make shift fire pits for boiling the sap. Later, we doubled the size of the pits.

April 2009