The Boil Down

 

Well, it's been a week and we've collected close to 23 gallons of sap.  We tapped only four trees and had to check our buckets twice a day because they were filling up so fast.  What a blessing!

We stored our sap in a simple rubbermaid bin (though I think I'll opt for a thicker-walled cooler next year) and boiled it down in a home-made pan from my father over a barrel.

Our setup.

The cold wind and hasty design made for an extremely long boil down, but finally we ended up with almost a half gallon of syrup.

It has a delightfully smoky flavor and I love the darker color that comes with wood-fired maple syrup.  The fruits of your own labor are always so much sweeter.  I think the work involved in producing food lends more appreciation and less wastefulness.  I can't wait to improve our design, build a sugar shack and make more next year!