Syrup

 

Despite it being the third year of syrup making out at Timber Haven, this was the first year our family really got to be involved in the process.  With Simon finally able to walk around and the pandemic more under control, it was fun to be able to be out in the woods, helping to harvest the sap from the many maple trees out at the cabin.  

Each tree is tapped with a small metal spout with a large blue plastic bag hanging on it to collect the sap as it runs out.  There were about 170 trees tapped this year.  We had a warm early spring and the sap ran well, sometimes filling the bags in a day, even to the point of overflowing!  The four wheeler and side-by-side were equipped with large tanks and the blue bags were poured into the tanks, using a strainer to ensure no moths, bees, or debris made it into the tanks.  The tanks were then emptied into the large storage tanks by the sugar shack, waiting their turn to be cooked.  The cooking was hard this year - it was extremely dry and windy, making it nerve-wracking to have a fire out in the woods.  Because of this, we cut our season a little short and didn't collect all we could, but still plenty for our family.  In all, about 1,450 gallons of sap were collected, yielding about 33 gallons of tasty Timber Haven syrup.

It was really fun to be out in nature and enjoying the woods.  I love opportunities to work outside and it was fun that our whole family could do it together.  Simon liked "driving" and eating snacks, and the big kids were great helpers.  Miles loved the opportunity to run along side the four wheeler and be part of it.  He is the perfect dog out at the cabin.  I think our whole family is looking forward to next year's syrup season and enjoy the result of our hard work every time we have our pancakes!

Mom's Favorite Oatmeal Pancake Recipe:

1 1/4 cup oatmeal

1 cup yogurt or applesauce

1 cup milk or almond milk

1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

Combine oats, yogurt, milk, and vanilla, Stir in dry ingredients.  Add eggs. Cook on griddle. I usually double the batch to feed our family of five. 

Serve with maple syrup, homemade jam, or berries with whipped cream