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soodow
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| Posted: March 05 2007 at 3:15pm | IP Logged
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We are beginning to tap our trees...the old fashioned way. Hoping for warmer weather but it looks like a FREEZING week  . We have done this for a couple of years, but would love to go into more depth this year with reading and all.
I see Dawn had found a unit study on maple sugaring in 2006 but the link doesn't connect. I'd love some in put from you all. Age of children is 5-16.
Thanks,
Sugaring in NH (hopefully soon)
Sue
Mom of 6
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 05 2007 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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Sue, here's an updated link.
How fun to tap your own trees! Angela has a nice post on their maple trees ...
Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you all!
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
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The Nature Corner
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 6:46am | IP Logged
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Sue, I'm wondering how your tapping is going? 
We are planning to attend a sugaring demonstration this weekend (if the storm clears out) so yesterday we kicked off a little maple nature study - with some yummy maple cupcakes!
Is anyone else tapping trees or attending sugaring-off parties this month?
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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marihalojen
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 7:05am | IP Logged
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How fun! I had never had "real" maple syrup before I met my husband and visited his family in PA, I guess it just isn't something Westerners do to much? (Tapping trees I mean, not eating syrup  ) I would avidly read March in my Tasha Tudor books though and the bits in Little House too. But couldn't really understand the fuss...
But it is divine! Wow! One try and I'm sold. Much better than my father's preferred syrup from childhood - Dark Karo Syrup - a real stick to your ribs (and everything else) syrup. Give me your maple syrup any day!
I'm looking forward to reading your sugaring-off adventures ladies!
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Veronica's Veil
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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Last Saturday we attended a Tree tapping demonstration! It was GREAT! The wonderfully kind gentleman, let each of the children do a turn of the hand drill and a tap with the hammer then taste the raw sap straight from the tree! Then we got to observe some of the syrup cooking and they got a taste of the finished product! It was so nice! And this weekend & next weekend there will be a fundraising pancake and sausage breakfast with the Maple Syrup made from those trees! We plan to go!
In the meantime we are reading books about Maple Sugaring parties and such and just enjoying the journey. 
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 11:02am | IP Logged
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Veronica's Veil wrote:
| Last Saturday we attended a Tree tapping demonstration! It was GREAT! |
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Oh, that sounds wonderful. You are so lucky. Like Jennifer said not much maple tree tapping in the west 
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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mariB
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 11:14am | IP Logged
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Our boys tapped our Maple trees and our 13 year old has been doing research on the internet. Their grandfather did it for 30+ years and we have had good advice.
Grandfather sold his house and all Maple Sugaring equipment.
We are going to boil off the good old fashioned way. Out door fire with huge stainless steel pan.
My dh bought the boys a Maple sugaring book called:
Backyard Sugarin' A Complete How-To Guide by Rink Mann at our local bookstore.
Also, Litte House in the Big Woods has a few good chapters on Maple sugaring.
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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One of the fun things we do is have the kids make their own spiles using stag-horn sumac (it's not toxic). The kids harvest the sumac and cut the stalks into 3 inch lengths. They then use a long nail to hollow out the pith, and a knife (you can even use a plastic knife) to taper the end that goes into the tree. The home made spiles make the perfect spouts, and they are free!
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 12:25pm | IP Logged
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One of the activities described in Project Seasons was to have the kids make up their own legend for how maple syrup was discovered. Before sharing the well-known Chief Woksis story with the boys, I had them brainstorm their own story. They called it The Story of Gonswap and the Magical Tree.
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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KellyinPA
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| Posted: March 16 2007 at 1:43pm | IP Logged
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I loved your post, Dawn A historical park near here had Maple Sugar Day two weekends ago. It would have been perfect (weather, etc.) but my dh was out of town So, I'm filing Dawn's suggestions away for next year and putting it on my calendar. The boys will be 6.5 by then too so I think they may get more out of it.
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Kelly
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the abundant life
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mariB
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| Posted: March 21 2007 at 6:28am | IP Logged
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For those that make their own maple syrup,
We were boiling off yesterday the good old fashioned way with cinder blocks, wood, big pan etc. Have you tried boiling eggs in the sap? It is our family tradition and it is fantastic!
You just throw the whole egg in the boiling sap to boil for the same amount of time as you do on the stove and the maple syrup permeates the egg shell for a delicious boiled egg!
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: maple sugaring unit?
