I know a little about a lot-organic gardening, chickens, maple syrup and natural living in general. We live light in the city. Questions? I’m happy to help. :)
My bible! Highly recommended..
A tip-when I find something online too, I print it out and just stick it in my book. I feel paper/hard copies are always safer in case of SHTF. My copy is messy and written in with notes on what has worked/hasn’t. You won’t regret buying it.
Hey anons, we tapped for syrup for the first time this year and it was easy. We have silver maples.
-started mid March.
-Bought two small lengths of pipe
-two small lengths of tubing
-a milk jug with an x in the cap - 2.
We drilled two small holes in tree angling upward, on south side of tree. Hammered in the taps, attached the tubing and stuck the tubing into the jugs.
It simply collects the watery sap. You look daily and when jugs are full, transfer to a pot and cook slowly (in essence you’re reducing the liquid). My tip is to pick a day you are home to watch the slate for safety..allow 8 hours or so. 1 gallon yielded approx 4 oz. We then poured into mason jars to store in fridge.
We stopped collecting once the buds start to come out.
This is just the basics..lmk if you need more details. Lots of links online too! Syrup is totally worth it and yummy, especially on raspberries which we harvest in a few months..actually wild black raspberries that I transplanted in.
to watch the flame for safety
Welcome :) sorry to hear about the chix though. That’s our biggest fear. We lost one to an owl or a hawk..not sure.
Your place sounds nice! It’s good to know how to do things “if”. Like no electricity or internet. I’m not worried about our family but worried about the loonies who freak out…the ones that don’t even own a non electric can opener, you know the type..
We have eagles too..they like to hang out in our tree and rip apart squirrels. The chickens run but no, the eagles have never bothered them. Hawks are another story but always a murder of crows is around to caw out a warning. I love those crows! They’re our EBS for chickens.
You’re living my dream! I’m trying to convince spouse to let us have bees as we don’t spray our yard…deathly afraid of them. I’m persistent tho!
I make an easy one with beeswax. I haven’t had any huge wounds but I know honey has healing properties. LMK if you want the recipe and I’ll post it.
Report back! Last year we planted potatoes, organic from the store, not specifically seed potatoes, but made sure to keep an eye from each piece. They sort-of grew. We will stick to the ones in the store specifically for,growing. Good luck!
We just put the pieces on the garden and cover with a bale of straw. No digging.