Foliage 2015

Posted on by Jessica Boone

I was able to sit on my porch this morning and enjoy a cup of coffee and the peace and quiet.  One kid dropped off for a cross country meet and just enough time before delivering the other one to soccer practice.  Finding moments to sit are rare this time of year, it’s been a warm beautiful September so far, but in the back of my mind I know the last of the garden needs to be picked up and canned, the woodshed is still missing several tiers, yard cleanup and animal pens to clean.

I can just start to see a little color coming to the hills, a hint of orange here and there and one tree already turned red.  The faster they turn the faster I better be prepping for winter!

At the same time as I enjoy the leaves I need to remember to be grateful.  I’m busy because I have plenty of food to store and eat this year. I’m busy because I have firewood to put away to keep me warm this winter.  I’m busy because I have chickens to give me eggs, ducks and geese to make me laugh and bunnies to snuggle.  I’m busy because I have two happy, healthy children to keep me young and bring me joy.  Pretty good for a cup o’joe!

September 19- the start of the foliage

September 19- the start of the foliage

 

 

 

 

National Maple Syrup Day December 17!

Posted on by Jessica Boone

 

 

 

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Ian demonstrating maple is naturally good straight from the tree!

  • Maple syrup is 100% natural and organic, syrup is made by removing water – nothing is added!
  • It takes 40 gallons of sap from a sugar maple tree to produce 1 gallon of syrup!  It’s  a true  labor of love (or love of labor!).
  • Maple syrup  in vitamins  B2, B5,B6, niacin, biotin and folic acid
  • Maple syrup is rich in antioxidants
  • Maple syrup contains minerals such as calcium, iron,potassium, manganese, and phosphorous
  • Sugar maple

    Preparing sugar maples to be tapped for the first time.

     

  • Sugar maples (sometimes known as hard or  rock maples) are the primary type of maples we use to produce our maple syrup
  • Maple trees tend to be about 40 years old before they are first tapped – we minimize the damage to the tree when we tap, some of our trees are 100 years old!
  • Vermont Maple Syrup Grades Delicate Rich Robust

    Vermont Maple Syrup Grades
    Delicate Rich Robust

     

  • Grade A Golden Color with Delicate Taste
  • Grade A Amber Color with Rich Taste
  • Grade A Dark with Robust Taste

 

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67 years time to update

Posted on by Jessica Boone

On the concrete base of  support beam in the sugarhouse is written “old HAS 67 years”. That would be old Herm, Dale’s grandfather, he was sixty seven years old when our current sugarhouse was built. My dad is sixty-seven this year and he’s decided it might be time to do some upgrades! As I write,…