Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
 4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Subject Topic: maple sugaring unit? Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
soodow
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: March 06 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 108
Posted: March 05 2007 at 3:15pm | IP Logged Quote soodow

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    
Back to Top View soodow's Profile Search for other posts by soodow
 
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: March 05 2007 at 3:25pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn

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!

__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: March 16 2007 at 6:46am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

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?

__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
marihalojen
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 12 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1883
Posted: March 16 2007 at 7:05am | IP Logged Quote marihalojen

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!

__________________
~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
Back to Top View marihalojen's Profile Search for other posts by marihalojen Visit marihalojen's Homepage
 
Veronica's Veil
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: March 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 148
Posted: March 16 2007 at 10:25am | IP Logged Quote Veronica's Veil

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.
Back to Top View Veronica's Veil's Profile Search for other posts by Veronica's Veil
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: March 16 2007 at 11:02am | IP Logged Quote MaryM

Veronica's Veil wrote:
Last Saturday we attended a Tree tapping demonstration! It was GREAT!
Oh, that sounds wonderful. You are so lucky. Like Jennifer said not much maple tree tapping in the west

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
mariB
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Dec 20 2006
Location: Vermont
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3815
Posted: March 16 2007 at 11:14am | IP Logged Quote mariB

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.

__________________
marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years

Back to Top View mariB's Profile Search for other posts by mariB Visit mariB's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: March 16 2007 at 12:03pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

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!

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: March 16 2007 at 12:25pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn

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.

__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
KellyinPA
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: Dec 22 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 123
Posted: March 16 2007 at 1:43pm | IP Logged Quote KellyinPA

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.

__________________
Blessings,
Kelly
mom to 6 blessings
the abundant life
Back to Top View KellyinPA's Profile Search for other posts by KellyinPA
 
mariB
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Dec 20 2006
Location: Vermont
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3815
Posted: March 21 2007 at 6:28am | IP Logged Quote mariB

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!

__________________
marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years

Back to Top View mariB's Profile Search for other posts by mariB Visit mariB's Homepage
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com