Last weekend’s temperatures eeked just enough above freezing for another sap collection. Though it was small it did allow us to start the evaporator up and finally draw off syrup for veggie share members. I think we are headed for a good spell of sugaring weather coming up. We’ve all got our fingers crossed that we get some good runs out of it.
We’ve been hitting delays all over the farm due to the extra cold temps this so called spring. Many of the jobs generally straightforward have been frozen in their tracks—the big round bales we feed the cows, downed trees to buck up for firewood, potting soil stored inside the greenhouse, not to mention the maple sap. It seems every time you go to move something you spend time with spud bars, heating pads or hot water, to free it up from the ice it’s locked under. The horses have been a great help, being able to put far more muscle into freeing a load than we can.
Still the warm sun stays out longer each day, slowly heating up the ground and melting the ice and snow layer. All of the onions are up in the greenhouse and filling the space with the vibrant green of new life.
Farewell Doug
We said goodbye to Doug this week. He is headed off for a few months work in the White Mountains before returning to his St Lawrence University job in the summer. We are always sad to see him go and happy thinking about a return visit as he moves around the Northeast.
In the Farm Shares
In the veggie share: Kale and spicy mustard shoots, kohlrabi, radish, turnips, leeks, potatoes, cabbage, onions, garlic, shallots, carrots, beets, parsnips, celeriac, dried sage, wheat berries, whole wheat flour, dry beans and maple syrup!
In the meat share: All cuts of pork and beef, half and whole broiler chickens in the freezer. Lard and leaf lard are available.
Related articles
- Full and By Farm: Sugaring Season (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Full and By Farm: Snow Challenges Sugar Collecting (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Full and By Farm: Sprouts (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Weather impacting maple sugar season (cbs6albany.com)
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