Preparations Continue - Lots of Repairs

We have been working hard every day, and we are getting closer to having all of our maple trees tapped and ready for the first sap run of the year.  Unfortunately, our preparations have been a little slower than we would like due to an extremely large amount of squirrel damage.  The squirrels chew through the plastic tubing and spiles creating holes which allow precious sap to leak out, and disrupt the vacuum pressure in the lines.

This must be the tastiest spot - we have seen a lot of spiles like this one.

We have had to replace many drop-lines and spiles;  a process which is both time-consuming, and an additional expense.

At least 200 drop-lines we have cut out and replaced.  Still lots more that need fixing.

If you are interested, here is a short video on the tubing repair process.  You can also watch it HERE.

Those pesky squirrels must have had itchy ears this week, as they were getting called all kinds of nasty names!  Despite the minor frustration while working today, at one point dad said to me, "You know, syrup making is really fun!"  Still having fun after 41 years, love it!  Mind you, he did caveat that by saying, "when you aren't in a race with Mother Nature."  Haha!  Well, as it stands right now, we are in good shape to be ready.  The forecast is looking promising for next week, but of course that can change quickly.  Stay tuned for more updates!

"Tapping" A Maple Tree

A quick little demonstration of what is involved in "tapping" a maple tree.

Back at It! 2013 Season Preparations Have Begun!

Mom & Dad - Snowshoes on and ready to tap!

The McCutcheon team is back to work again!  We were out in the woods yesterday, February 22nd, for our first day of tapping and also worked all day today.  Conditions are good right now for preparations -- warm enough that it's not too hard on the trees, but not so warm that the sap is already running.

So far, things are off to a better start then last year after a somewhat more "normal" winter.  We have had some cold winter weather that allows the trees to become dormant, and there is a good base of snow coverage in the sugarbush.  We hope that spring will continue to unfold slowly over the next few weeks, and that we will be ready for a typical mid-March start to the season.

Jesse & Colette - Tapping Teamwork!

We are currently sold out of last year's maple syrup, so the farm remains closed to visitors until we have a fresh crop.  Please continue to check the blog for updates, and check out our facebook page for more photos.  We are looking forward to a great season!

Evergreen Brick Works Farmers' Market

I am disappointed to let you all know that we will not be attending the Brick Works Farmers' Market this summer.  Unfortunately, due to the small crop this season, we do not have enough syrup to accommodate both markets.  We are still attending the Orillia Farmers' Market every Saturday, and we look forward to returning to the Brick Works next year.  I will really miss my Saturday mornings at the Brick Works and all of the friendly and now-familiar faces there.  Our farm is always open to visitors (please call ahead), and our products are also available online this year  It will be fun to visit the Brick Works as a leisurely Saturday morning shopper!  Hope to see many of you soon...

"Next Year Is Going To Be Better"

The 2012 syrup season is coming to a close even before April arrives.  We washed all of our sap lines during the heat wave a week ago.  It was good weather for that job, because you get soaked from head to toe!  This week, we have been busy bottling up this years' syrup, and we are almost finished with that job too. The syrup has great flavour this year, but unfortunately it will be in short supply - we wound up with about half of an average crop.  

We are finally getting syrup weather now - below freezing nights and mild days - but it is too late.  The buds on the maples have opened, and the trees are beginning to grow leaves.  Even though the sap is running, it has a 'buddy' flavour, the sugar content is very low, and it won't make good maple syrup.   "Next year is going to be better" - the farmer's mantra. 

Our sugarhouse will be open on Easter weekend, every afternoon from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Please call ahead if you are planning to visit at other times. 

Spring Peepers Sing An End To The Season -- The Earliest On Record

Unfortunately, as we feared, the warm weather did indeed produce a short season and the earliest end to boiling in our 40 years of sugaring.  Our final boil for the 2012 season was at midnight on Saturday, March 17th.  The spring peepers are singing loudly tonight, a sure sign that the season is over. It's an almost perfectly reliable (and fascinating!) piece of folklore -- when we hear the small chorus frogs' call begin to ring in the night air, the following day the sap run is finished.

Many hopeful maple followers have asked the question, "but what if the weather gets cold again now?".  There is a chance that more seasonable temperatures will return by the end of the week, but the warm nights have caused the maple buds to swell and give the sap a 'buddy' flavour, which is sharp and unpleasant.  The only silver lining to the season's end is that Dad will finally get a full night's sleep - the first one in a week.  With the lack of overnight frost, the sap ran slowly but steadily for days on end.

We were out in the sugarbush today, beginning the task of washing the saplines.  It feels like we just finished putting them out!  Our sugarhouse will be open most afternoons this week but please call ahead to check - (705) 835-5780.

Warm Weather Forecast Not Looking Good

Thanks to all of the visitors that came out to the farm for our opening weekend.  It was nice to see some familiar faces, and to hear some expert taste-test reports that this year's syrup has excellent flavour!

Unfortunately, the wacky weather that produced the "winter-that-wasn't" continues to bring above normal temperatures that may bring an early end to the maple syrup season.  Our earliest season end date on record is March 22, 2000, but 2012 may prove to be a new record if the weather forecasters are correct. After record breaking sap flows on Sunday and Monday, it is slowing down now as the temperatures have remained above the freezing mark since. We need frost at night and above freezing during the day to keep the maple sap flowing, but the long range forecast shows no below freezing temperatures for the next two weeks.  The concern now is that it will remain warm enough for the buds to begin growing on the trees, at which point the flavour of the syrup changes, and is no longer pleasant.

Although it is March Break, and you are all probably enjoying the unseasonably warm days, we ask you to cross your fingers that the weatherman is wrong this time.  We are hoping for just a few more weeks of cold overnight temperatures...

And as for those of you that are planning visits to the farm, we do have some fresh maple syrup bottled up for sale.  However, please keep in mind that the sap is not currently running if you are wishing to see the farm in operation.  Keep your eyes on the weather report and our blog to see if colder sap weather returns.

Sugar Moon

The first full moon in March is known as the "Sugar Moon" because it usually comes around the time when the sap flow is at its peak. This year the full moon in March is on Thursday, March 8th. Every syrup maker looks forward to boiling sap on a calm, moonlit night, watching clouds of sweet maple steam waft up from the sugarshack...

Opening Weekend 2012

The weatherman is predicting a bright and sunny weekend with above freezing temperatures in the afternoons. We expect that to get the sap running and it should make for an ideal opening weekend! It will be a perfect time to visit the sugarbush; bring your boots and enjoy an early spring walk through the woods, and of course enjoy some fresh made sugar-on-snow! We will also have some of the new crop, first-run syrup bottled up and ready for sale.

We will officially open Saturday, March 10th, and will remain open seven days a week until the end of the season. Our hours are 1:00pm - 5:00pm daily. It is a good idea to phone (705) 835-5780 on the day of your visit, as our phone message is updated each day with information on whether or not the sap will be running - remember, the trees require freezing temperatures overnight, and above-freezing temperatures in the daytime for good sap flow. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Getting sticky! Happy kids enjoying some traditional sugar-on-snow at the farm last season

Still Winter

We are living in anticipation, but in the struggle between winter and spring, winter is winning this week. The sap flow will begin when spring-like temperatures return to above freezing during the day.

Some fresh snow in the woods will hopefully help to

keep the ground cool when temperatures do eventually rise.

Our sugarhouse will remain closed this weekend, as we are yet to have any fresh maple syrup for sale. At this time, we hope to open March 10th, but please check back here at the end of next week to confirm.