Discovering my freedom in Minnesota

Have been building on the sugar shack / root cellar this week.



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About 6 gallons of maple syrup (sirp for the southerners) made so far. 14 more gallons to go to reach my goal.
Trying something new to separate me from other producers. We’re infusing other flavors in our maple syrup. So far we’ve tried cinnamon, ginger, vanilla beans and coffee beans. One more thing I want to try is jalapeno peppers.

Cinnamon

Coffee

Ginger

Vanilla

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Mouth watering BillS,
Just had to buy a new replacement bottle of Maple-Gold. Ran out. Used up the last on Sunday’s morning true free range egg-french toast.
Used up the very last of some really special made-in-Mississippi wildflower honey too. I do like wildflower honey on my morning bread-toast floating in real cows butter. Made-in-Oregon wildflower honey was the new go-to.

Nothing like indulging in the very-Best-in-Life’s.
Best Regards
Steve unruh

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looking good bill, that certainly is quite a process too make, should be well worth is healther than all the fake surup., how long will it keep, can it be frozen.

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It can be froze. I’m not sure how long it is good for when bottled properly. A friend of mine has one that has been bottled for 15 years and he states it appears as it did when he bottled it.

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A long time as long as the seal doesn’t break. Usually, you break the seal, then condensate from humidity creates enough water that mold can grow. Mold is what turns it cloudy.

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Realistically this is the earliest we should really be planting up here. We have another week or two of possible overnight freezing. So far the forecast says tonight will be the coldest at 36F (2.22C).
I will try and get the root veggies planted before Argos in the big garden outside.

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We had slightly warmer down here during the night :smile:
JO and Kristijan

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I’ve been watching the national news and seeing how hot it is done there. Really makes me appreciate northern Minnesota weather. We are at the 47th latitude which usually keeps the tonadoes away too.

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Thanks for the syrup Mr. Bill . It turns a plain old biscuits into a treat for a king :grinning:

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You’re welcome Wayne. I can’t wait to try the sawgum sirp. Maybe I’ll look up a recipe for some cathead bicuits. Thanks Wayne

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Bill
What was the name of the plant you showed me at Argos. I think I found some in my yard

It’s mixed in with the clover

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Pineapple weed
image

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That’s not the same plant as the wild / dwarf chamomile. The chamomile smells like green apples. It’s quite short, often grows down the middle of a lane.

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Now I am curious as to what it is

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I think I’ve seen that plant, I believe it’s actually a tiny prairie clover. If you look at the flowers real close (or magnified), they should look similar to other clovers and prairie legumes.

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Just about done with the outside of the sugar shack.
@don_mannes, here you can see the entrance of the root cellar under the building.

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Picking blueberries today to make syrup and jam.
The mosquitoes and horse flies are out in full force like it’s their job to protect these berries from getting picked…

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I now see I haven’t provided an updated picture of the sugar shack.

Also, my wife had a shirt made for me for selling at the farmers markets.

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