While winterizing this year, confident in my acquired skills of maple syrup making, spotting and marking of maple trees on my own property (more than four I have tapped in the past). Thinking of my resources on hand to start building my sugaring supplies, not wanting to spend more money, I decided to take one of my rain barrels and keep it out of storage for sap gathering. I will need to buy one large barrel to put in the shanty for holding sap while cooking it down. But I decided to spread the idea so that you can take advantage of my newly thought of idea.
In truth, maple syrup making is a skill handed to me by my grandfather. So as you might know, I planned to be at this point a year ago, but the murder of my parents put my life on hold. My feelings of their deaths has been a roller coaster at times, and time does allow us to learn to except the way things are. I still get angry and upset at times, if I didn't I wouldn't be human. I miss them and wished they could share life with us. Being as it is, perhaps they were saved and are watching us from heaven.
Realize that putting a hold on my path of being self sufficient has not taken hold of my ideas and made me put it down and surrender my diet and lifestyle to big corporation. Learning the skills needed by pioneers of the past days keeps me excited and the rewards of my hard work keeps me going. I will have a plan to share with you for what/where I want to be in the next year. I know that I want to expand my diet to include more dried beans.
I am in a better mental state and find myself getting back to normal something to look forward to. I miss my folks but I know although they are gone, they would want me to keep moving forward in my own life.
Hope you hang in there with me while I get things back together in my own life. Peace be with you, and spread some love. Life is too short to hate. Jason
Wow, Jason, I did not know about your parents. I'm deeply sorry. I searched for a post on maple syrup making, and wound up here, as I thought it was cooked, but not sure. I guess that's why you never see "Raw" on maple syrup. I grew up eating the Aunt Jemima maple-flavored corn syrup junk (course it's worse today than it was then cause all the corn is GMO). We also ate a ton of molasses, which were so good. All cooked, though. As much as I love maple syrup, I do wish it wasn't heated. Still, organic maple syrup has lots of nutrients, right? - Kaye
ReplyDeleteYes, Linda (what a great friend to me)and Dad were Murdered a couple years ago, and in my heart I know they loved me just the way I am. I inspired my Dad to grow a garden after their dream home was built. He gave most of it away, but he always tried to out grow me. I enjoyed that part of him, what a bragger he was.
DeleteLinda was a woman of wisdom and a open heart. She loved people and food, I miss her a lot because she was nice, but really great to talk to when I needed understanding. Linda was a huger, she loved to hold me for a minute or more.
I wasn't ready for them to leave just yet, but I had to just except what I was left with. Sometimes, I get mad and upset, I feel like I have been treated unfair and if I could take a teaspoon and dig them up and talk to them I would. But that isn't going to happen... Perhaps I will see them again...
Yes, in order to make maple syrup, the sap has to be cooked down to concentrate the natural sugars.