Seasonal Anticipation ~ Feb 2023

Hi dee ho Mapleites! 

Shhhhh, the trees are still sleeping...  I hope! 
​We have had lots of snow come down over the past few weeks, and some rain today.  But looking over the next 14 day forecast, looks like temps are going back down to more normal.  So it is definitely time to head to the sugar house and get that tidied up.  We will start tapping in about 2 weeks.  Some producers in southern Ontario have already begun to tap and are seeing the sap starting to come in.  As I sit here writing this, I can look out the window and watch the snow coming down.  History here has proven that our sugar bush is a little lazy and doesn’t really start at the same time as some other local farms. 

With some of the really deep cold we have had recently Trail boss Farley has just been biding his time on the heated floor.  Only venturing out when absolutely necessary.  Next week will be trail development, and checking pipeline.   It’s been a month since I have been out on the trails, and at that point the pipeline looked in good condition.  No animal or branch damage.  The deer have not bothered any of the lines.

As I was clearing around the sugar house last week with the snow blower, I saw some black rubber sticking out of one of the banks.  When I went over to investigate, it had WEL printed on it.  Then I noticed another piece over there.  And there. And there.  Apparently the snowblower doesn’t distinguish snow from welcome mats. Oops!

Between all the snow that seems to be coming now, and the rain we have experienced I am hoping there will be lots of moisture in the ground for the trees.  I have noticed that we do not have a very deep frost in the ground though, so time will tell just how that will effect this years product. In the meantime, the firewood is ready, the sugar house is almost ready, the bottles are stacked near the packaging zone.  And the excitement is building!

Happy Maple!
~ Michael