maple syrup season is started

Wednesday I started collecting sap for making syrup.  I have two very large maple trees and I drilled the holes for the spikes and the sap was running.  Sap is moving in the trees when the right weather conditions are present, usually when it is still below freezing at night but above freezing during the day.  This morning I had a couple of inches of sap in my buckets and by early afternoon my buckets were nearly full so I am starting to boil my sap to evaporate the water out of it and concentrate the sugars.

People who make a lot of sap into syrup often use a large container and a wood fire to cook their sap.  I don't have a wood fired evaporator so I am using my electric roaster.  The initial cooking is done outside so that the humidity created is outside instead of in the house.  Usually it takes 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup.  The last little bit of cooking will be done in the house on the stove where it can be better monitored and bottled at exactly the right temperature.

Last year I had a lot of difficulty.  My thermometers were not accurate.  I had a couple of them and they did not read the same but I didn't know which one, if either, was accurate and some of my sap was under cooked and some was over cooked.  This year I am better prepared.  I will be testing my new thermometer bought at a place that sells maple sugaring supplies and made for making syrup as well as candy.  I will measure the temperature that reads in boiling water.  Maple syrup needs to be 7.5 degrees higher than the temperature at which water boils.

I also bought a hydrometer.  A hydrometer is a device that measures the sugar content of a liquid by floating the device in a sample and the height that it floats at gives a Brix score.

 Above is the maple  tree closest to the house.  There are two buckets each with three taps and tubing that carry the sap to the buckets.  I have a second tree with the same set up.  The first couple of years I used a bucket that hung on the tree on the tap and the sap dripped right into the bucket.  That causes some issues with the heavy buckets pulling the taps out of the tree and the empty buckets blowing off the tree on windy days.  This set up seems like it is going to work a lot better. 

 This little wood table holds my electric roaster and my new thermometer.  I have the lid ajar so that the contents will heat faster but the steam can escape.  The roaster holds one bucket of sap.  So far mine has been cooking for a couple of hours and the level of the sap is down about an inch.  Long way to go yet. 

 The two covered buckets are full of sap that is waiting to be cooked.  My four buckets collected a total of three buckets of sap so far and are filling up again.  I don't have a lot of room to refrigerate the sap so  I am hoping that I can keep up.  My plan is to try to cook it down until close and then refrigerate the almost syrup until I have enough to finish and bottle several bottles at a time. 

Made it to the greenhouse.

We have had a lot of snow where I live.  It has been a crazy winter.  Lots of weather stuff and lots of other stuff.  One of the results of all of the 'stuff' is that I haven't been able to get to the greenhouse for several weeks.  There has been a thick blanket of snow covering most of the farm, thicker in places where it drifted, a little less deep where the wind blew it away.  Near the greenhouse it was quite a bit deeper than the snowblower could manage.  I was able to get about halfway there and then no further.  Now that the weather is a little warmer I have been shoveling my way over there and today I got the last of the path done.  I had been dreading what I would find.  The heater had been on when the greenhouse got snowed in but nothing had been watered.  And on sunny days it has been hot in there.  Yesterday, the remote thermometer that reads in the house said 130 degrees.  This year I didn't get many greens started but I was trying to overwinter some pots of herbs and strawberries.  I pretty much assumed that they would be dead.  I also had some onions and pie pumpkins that I had put there after harvest.  Soon I will be needing the space for my summer garden seedlings which I start in the house but when they get a little bigger and the weather moderates a bit they will go out to the greenhouse.

This is the start of the path, from the driveway to the second maple tree.

 The path will come in handy as it will soon be maple syrup season and I will be making trips back and forth to that tree and the other nearer the house. 

This is the second leg, where the path turns at the maple and heads toward the greenhouse.

This is the worst part where the snow was the deepest.

The greenhouse is in the upper right corner of this picture. 

This is the snow in front of the greenhouse.

Last little stretch left to shovel.

Looking back down the path from the greenhouse door.

 We have had some warmer weather and a little sun so some of our snow has melted.  This picture was taken today of the waist high birdbath under the grape arbor.

 Same birdbath a couple of days ago.  The snow is probably six inches deeper and you can see the snow on the grape vines on top of the pergola. 

In this picture the black horizontal line in front of the garage door is the top of the flatbed trailer that is parked there.  A couple of days ago it was completely covered.

This is a picture of the front of my house with all of the snow and icicles.

All of that snow has now melted off of the roof and the icicles are gone.  We would hear them crash to the ground.  Amazing what a little sun can do.  As I shoveled the path there was a couple inches of slush under the snow.  All of our buildings have steeply pitched roofs so we didn't have any roofs that caved in due to the weight of the snow but it was a worry for some.

Sharing with Metamorphosis Monday at BNOTP here.

Next up?

Now that the peppers and tomatoes have been sown, next up is the pollinator friendly flowers.  After reading a couple of articles and hearing what other people are using to attract pollinators to their garden I started a list and ordered seeds for some of the plants that were recommended.

To be honest, I had never given a lot of thought to flowers.  I have a few herbs in pots and an ignored flower bed of perennials that is not anywhere close to my vegetable gardens.  My time is limited and my focus has been on the vegetables and the mowing.  But two summers ago I had a large patch of my garden that didn't get planted and it grew up in thistles and milkweed and some other weed with yellow flowers.  It was amazing.  It was like a little patch of meadow.  I have never seen so many bees and butterflies.  They were loving it.  Actually thistles have a pretty purple flower and milkweed has a beautiful scent.

Over the last several years I have been adding more fruit to my yard. I have a small orchard started that now has three apple trees, two pears, two plums and two peaches.  I have a little blueberry patch and a strawberry patch and some black raspberries.  I have two elderberry bushes, a gooseberry bush some type of a bush cherry.  I have an established grape arbor that is hard to harvest so I planted more grapes that will grow along wires, like a traditional vineyard.  Not all are producing fruit yet but all of those fruits will benefit from a bigger pollinator presence.

So here is my plan.

Near the orchard is a cute gate that my daughter built as a 4H woodworking project.  It ended up being too heavy for the potager so it is installed at an angle on one edge of the lawn near the orchard. I have often hung something on it, a wreath in the summer made from a garden hose or a snowflake made with lights in the winter.   I have tried to get some flowers started around there.  I will plan to expand that area using some in ground perennials and some potted annuals and/or herbs.  This area is our pet burial ground.  Last year I found a cute post that will serve as a reminder/memorial of our beloved pets and livestock that is buried there.  I think I will incorporate a source for drinking water and maybe a native bee 'hotel' for the pollinators and some yard art for curb appeal.

The new vineyard is planted on each side of the second driveway.  So far it is just the first few plants with plans to expand.  Right now I have three short rows of four plants each.  None of the posts or wires have been installed yet.  Two rows flank the driveway on the east and one row is between the driveway and the pasture on the west.  The fence along the pasture needs to be replaced and the corner posts are deteriorating.  I am considering changing the fence line at that corner, perhaps cutting off the corner and putting in some plants there.  I think it would be cute and bring some pollinator activity to the vineyard.

Here is what I am starting early although I will probably add more later.  A lot of these have flowers in shades of purple. 

Jacob's Ladder (Blue Pearl)
Anise Hyssop (licorice  Mint)
Eryngium (Blue Glitter)
Phocelia (Bee's Friend)
Salvia (Transylvanian Sage)
Cilantro (Pokey Joe)
Marigold (Queen Sophia)
Sweet Alyssium
Nasturtium

Last year I tried a cutting garden but my plantings did really poorly along with the vegetables.  Maybe this year will be better and I can try again.  

The ignored perennial bed is only a few feet away from a massive maple tree and has been taken over by saplings that grew out of the helicopter seeds released every year.  This year I will be trying to rescue the perennials and relocate them in order to work to remove the saplings.

In all likelihood I will be putting up some fencing in my front yard.  I would like to put wood chips and plantings on the outside and wood chips for sure along it on the inside.  Some of the perennials will be relocated there.  My sister has an amazing flower border in her yard and I will have to try and get some suggestions from her.



  

Peppers are up, time for tomatoes

Last weekend I started my pepper plants.  They are starting to germinate so as they do so I am moving them under the lights which frees up space on the germination mat.  This year we are growing some old favorites and some new varieties.  Last year we grew a tomato called Siberian.  It was a tomato found by my friend Bobbie.  It is bred for growing in the north and it sets fruit at colder temperatures than many of the other tomato varieties, making it extra early.  It worked out pretty well so I am trying it again along with a couple of other early tomatoes.

We usually grow a combination of slicers, pastes, and cherry types.  Most of our choices are heirlooms or open pollinated. We do grow one or two hybrids. These are the varieties I am starting from seed this year:

Big Beef
Brandywine
Tigerella
Siberian
Moskvich
Speckled Roman
San Marzano II
Sunrise Bumble Bee
Costoluto Genovese
White Cherry
BHN 968
Black Vernissage
Matt's Wild Cherry



Next will be to start the flower plants to attract pollinators.

Spring seems so far away.  Snow is predicted again this weekend.  Supposed to start during the early morning.  We are in the 7-12 inch range.  At least the temperatures are mild.  I think we might hit 40 one day next week.

March came in like a...

So hoping that this is a lion so that we can have the lamb at the end of the month.  So tired of winter.  Had a bunch of snow yesterday.  Light, fluffy, pretty snow.  Lots of inches of pretty snow.

 But spring must be right around the corner.  So I am starting plants for the garden.

Last week I started some celosa and amaranth.  The week before I started eucalyptus.  Those, if they do well, will be for the wedding at summer's end.  I also started some onions, kohlrabi and asparagus and filled out the trays with some marigolds, greens and basil.  As they sprout I move them from the germination heat mats to under the lights.  That frees up space on the mats for the next round. 

So today I am starting peppers.  For the last several years I have started bell peppers and jalapenos from seed.  Last year I added another hot pepper called Lemon drop, a favorite of my kids.  This year we are trying several new hot varieties, a couple of new bells and some for paprika.  Most were ones that I purchased but we did get one as a free sample that looks fun too.  Some were requests, my sister wanted to try a hot banana,  My future son in law wanted to try habaneros and a Carolina Reaper.  My son wanted to try a mini bell for snacking.  There were a couple that were recommended by bloggers I follow and a couple that just looked interesting on the websites.  We ordered from four companies.  Should make for an interesting harvest.  I do not eat really hot peppers but some of my bunch are 'the hotter the better' types.  I am hoping that there will be interest in both the plants and the fruits at the farmers market.  The fruits will different shapes and very colorful.  Should make for a nice display.  I will have to be on the lookout for fun baskets when thrifting. And jars for pepper jelly.

So here are my 21 peppers:

Tennessee Cheese
Hungarian spice
Mini Bell Mix
Red Belgian Bell
Olympus Bell
Gourmet Bell
Sweet Yellow Stuffing
Ace Bell
Horizon Bell
Shishito Japanese Peppers
El Jefe Jalapeno
Peach Habanero
Chocolate Habanero
Fish
Chinese Five Color
Lemon Spice Jalapeno
Mustard Habanero
Carolina Reaper
Lemon Drop
Lipstick
Hot Banana

Tomatoes are next and then some flowers for pollinators.  Can't wait.  So fun to be getting my hands in the dirt. 

Each of these pots has a dozen or more pepper seeds planted.  When they are germinated and have a little size on them they will be repotted into their own pots.  It is a type of seed starting that saves space on the heat mat but also allows for a greater separation of similar seeds.  When seeding different types of seeds into the same tray the potential is there for seeds to fall into the wrong row and then confusion as to the variety is possible.  It is a method that I have not used before but I may continue to use when I start less than a whole flat of the same variety.  These will be covered with a plastic dome until they germinate and then they will be moved under lights.  When they have a couple of sets of true leaves they will each get their own pot. 

Shared with BNOTP here.

Hello February

Is it possible that February has me turning a corner?  Is this the day that I start to move forward with renewed vigor? I certainly hope so.  2018 was a challenging year and there was a lot of disappointment.  The garden was a disappointment.  The market was disappointing.  Oh, it was fun but the last minute chaos twice a week was so exhausting.  The weather refused to cooperate.  The unfinished projects glared at me as I walked past them all summer long with little progress.  Sweet little Libby was a challenge. Each year I plan to accomplish so much during the winter when I have more time.  I will plan to sew for the market and try new recipes and organize my supplies for my labels.  Figure out my pricing strategy.  Plan my summer garden.

January came and went.  After finishing my Christmas gift sewing my sewing machine has been idle.  I have watched a bunch of sewing videos on you tube but actual sewing, not so much.  I started watching Netflix.  I am new to Netflix but I binge watched a couple of seasons of a gardening show.  And I played some solitaire on the computer.  I think I needed to recharge.  I am starting to feel a little motivated.  Yesterday I got some good things done.  Today promises some more.  After I get groceries and check in on my folks.  I have not been off of my yard for a week and now that my driveway is cleared, not by me but by my neighbor, and my car starts, it is time.

 Just Getting Done

The polar vortex is done.  I know that most of the country seemed to have a few days of colder than normal weather.  In Minnesota where I live it was no different.  I don't think that I heard that we set any new records.  Our coldest night got to -30 as the air temperature and much colder wind chills.  During the worst of it the wind was from the north so my yard was protected and it was sunny during the day.  We didn't get above zero for several days in a row.  The coldest two nights I was setting my alarm and getting up every couple of hours to run water.  I did a couple loads of laundry in the middle of the night.  Wash, rinse and extra rinse kept the water moving.  Luckily the well kept working and the pipes didn't freeze.  I did carry water in pails from the house to the barn for my little herd.  All of the animals survived.  The last day the air temperature was higher, above zero but not above freezing.  Single digits maybe.  It was cloudy and the wind was now blowing from the south so it felt worse than when it was much colder the day before.  Saturday and Sunday it was +30 for highs.  Yay!  I did finally venture out to the greenhouse.  This year I am not growing much for greens.  Did I mention that 2018 was full of disappointments?  Self inflicted seed failure was one of them.  I am overwintering some herbs and strawberries in addition to a couple of tubs of greens.  During the cold days I watched from the house as the temperature in the greenhouse dropped to 10 degrees during the night.  I was running my two milk house heaters and usually it will keep it close to 30-32 degrees overnight even when below zero outside.  Saturday I trudged through the thigh high drifts to check on the greenhouse for the first time.  I expected to find everything dead but so far it looks like everything made it.   I know that the fact that it was sunny and the temps would climb during the day must have helped.  I am not sure if the wild temperature swings over a few hours will stress the plants.  I suppose we will see.  I withheld watering a bit before the cold hit so that the dry soil in the pots would be less likely to freeze.

Just Getting Started

Eucalyptus

 I took my Christmas trees down this weekend.  I live in a small house and my trees are all smallish and up on tables.  It has been several years since I had a full sized tree.  When my crew is all home for Christmas we have six, sometimes seven, mostly big dogs in the house.  Any tree on the ground would be in danger of being tipped over.  I needed the space for my seed germination mat.  I have shelving with lights in the basement where I usually have my seed trays but this time I decided to do the germination on the main floor.   So far I have only started a couple of trays of eucalyptus.  I have not ever grown eucalyptus before.  We have purchased seeds of two varieties.  My daughter wants to use eucalyptus for her wedding at the end of the summer so we are going to see if we can grow our own.

First Seed Order

I finally got my garden seeds ordered.  I am not done.  I haven't ordered the seeds that will be directly sown into the ground yet and I am sure there will be some remembered ones but I got the tomato and pepper seeds ordered so I can get those germinating.  It seems like each year we try a few new things.  This year I ordered a couple more early tomatoes, ones that are touted to set fruit in cooler weather.  There is a definite advantage to being the first one to the market with tomatoes.  I am also trying some new peppers.  I ordered two varieties for drying and making into paprika.  We will see how that goes.  This year I also ordered flower seeds that are good companion plants for an edible garden.  They are plants that attract pollinators but also plants that discourage garden pests or attract beneficial insects that feed on garden pests.  Some are perennials and some are annuals.  I intend to plant some near the big garden and near the orchard and near the grapes.

This is Ellie sleeping on the seed mat.  I had to put an empty cell liner on top of the clear covers to keep her from sleeping on top of the trays. 

 Seed Starting Equipment Sanitation 

Part of the germination process is getting my seed trays sanitized.  I wash them and then sanitize them in a bleach/water solution.  Because it is cold when I need to do use them I always end up doing it in the kitchen.  If I would think to sanitize them as I empty them so they are ready for the next round it could probably be done outside and save some clutter in the kitchen.  When I got the first of the trays done I decided to do some of the pots that they will go into for their first round of potting up.  My daughter's mother-in-law is now my good friend.  She is a volunteer at an arboretum and last fall they did a big planting and she helped with that and rescued the pots and the matching trays that they were going to throw away.  I guesstimate that there are 250 round 4 inch pots with matching trays and 150 slightly taller square 4 inch pots with matching trays. These will work so much nicer than my old system of red solo cups that tip over.  So excited to get these and put them to use.  Thanks Bobbie!!!  Each of the pots is washed and then soaked in a container of bleach water for 20 minutes and then air dried.  My container holds three trays at a time, and maybe 20-25 small pots, so I work in batches.  They are then set individually to dry.  Takes up a lot of room during the process.  I have the round pots done and before I put away the mess I will do the square pots too.  It will be nice having them ready to go.

lots of round and square pots!

Not quite a before and after but sharing with Susan at BNOTP here.

Hello 2019

Happy New Year.  We are, here at the farm, in the middle of a cold snap.  Today it is -12 with wind chills of -25 to -35.  The high is expected to stay below zero today but warm overnight.  Tomorrow should be better.  It sounds like a good day to stay in and catch up on some blogging.

The beginning of a new year is often associated with new starts and resolutions.  I have never been successful with resolutions but I am going to use today for some reflection and goal setting. 

2018 was a very challenging and discouraging year.  A lot of the challenges were out of my control but finding a better way to manage them is something that I need to learn to keep them from overwhelming me.  Last year I found myself running like a chicken with it's head cut off (is that a regional saying?) from one unfinished project to the next and one near disaster (okay that might be a little dramatic)  to the next.  Though I felt busy I sure didn't get stuff crossed of my list.

So here are a few thoughts on 2019.  I started following a blog a few years ago.  I found them by accident.  I saw a pin on Pinterest that was about dismantling a pallet.  I followed the link and found this garden/lifestyle blog.  The couple lived in town, but had a small acreage in the country and they were building, from scratch, a hobby farm.  I started using some of their garden ideas.  One of the things they have done every year since I started following them is to make a list of goals for the year. I think every year that is their first post of the new year. I tried one year to do the same and it was halfhearted at best--way too comprehensive and not realistic at all.   It was more like a brainstorming session where you list every single thing that comes to mind.  Here is a link to their blog

In the time that I have been following them they have built a house and moved to the farm, written two books, quit their day jobs and are about to embark on a year-long trip to visit each of the United States in a camper.   Well, maybe not Hawaii or Alaska in the camper.  I am going to create a list of goals for the year.

I tend to be a list maker but I don't always make good use of my lists.  Often it is a way to organize my thoughts, but once finished, never to be referred to again.  I recently read again about bullet journals.  I am going to give it a try.  All my stuff (goals and to-do lists) together in one place! The idea of a portable collection of all my lists is enticing but not very practical for me, who sees small print poorly.  I am starting my journal on the computer.  I can print individual pages if I should need portability.  I am going to take a week to gather my ideas and needs and then prioritize those into a hopefully achievable list of 12 goals.  One for each month.  Maybe the blog needs a bullet journal of its own. 

Thanks for visiting,

Lorri