March 2023 - Snow, Snow, Go Away...

March 19, 2023      

Good morning everyone! 

Quick update from the sugar house.  A few items to take care of before we start the boiling.  Farley and I spent over 5 hours out in the bush on Thursday, and the snow depth back there is average waist high.  Even on snow shoes I broke through in a couple of places, so I have it on good authority.  Farley went thru as well,  and was really quite worn out at the end of the day.  He spent Friday on the couch recovering.  I followed his example.  Looking ahead at the weather forecast, and things are looking up this week.  Warmer temps and rain on Wednesday should bring the trees to life.
I will be heading out shortly to give the trees their spring pep talk (Jennifer claims my speech is “produce or perish”) but I don’t actually use those words. 
We have some very serious deer trails through the bush this year, a couple I have nicknamed the 400 and the 401.  Probably due to neighbors feeding them.  So far, no pipeline damage from the deer.  We did have 4 taps and drop lines with squirrel damage.  But simple to replace.  We have changed some of the gravity lines over to the vacuum system, and reduced some of the buckets we have used in the past as well.  Snow depth will be a challenge to collect from those this year.
 
Happy mapleing!
Michael