Feb 23 2018 The earliest tapping ever!

Spring is here!!

We've been tapping and the sap started running!

We started collecting sap on Wednesday. We just don't have enough to get the evaporator fired yet.

Now we need around 1000 gallons of sap to do what's called our "priming boil." It's usually not a productive boil, but after that, the evaporator is ready.

The steam stack is up.

 The camp is ready to go. Wood is stacked, gloves are ready.

Some of the tools of sugar makers: the thermometer shows both indoor and outdoor temps. The orange cord dangling below is wrapped around the sap line between the tanks and the building. It's a heat tape that prevents the sap coming in from freezing mid-boil. 

It's always exciting to know that spring is truly here but it's also pretty strange to have it here so early.

Scott was interviewed by CBC along with Matthew Harrison of Hidden Mountain Maple Farm in Southampton, Cumberland County, to talk about the unusually early season. "Scott Whitelaw of Sugar Moon Farms said 2018 has brought the earliest tapping since he and his wife Quita Gray bought the Earltown property more than 20 years ago." Yup! Crazy.

So now we wait to see what the weekend brings. Check out our Home page now for all the "must-knows" about visiting this season. Happy spring to all!