Maple Syrup Making 2012

Maple Syrup Season is something we always look forward to every year around the farm.

The steam coming off the evaporating sap smells so so good! Its my favorite.

This year was a good year for those of us who are impatient because the season started about 2 weeks earlier than normal due to the warm temperatures.
For 3 weeks, our family and friends tapped, gathered, boiled, and canned almost 300 gallons of Maple Syrup!


Some of the future Syrup makers in front of the Shanty!

A friend of mine, who is a great blogger, came out to visit the end of February and documented her experience at the Sugar Shack. Click here to see photos, video and lots of details about the Syrup Making process.

Some older posts on Maple Syrup making at SwissLane:
Family Bonding...So Sappy!
The Sugar Shanty (behind the scenes)

Dinner in the Shanty! We cook on Old Cookstoves with wood(no gas/electric and believe me it's tricky!) and there's nothing like it! This is Blueberry Pancakes with syrup straight from the pan and to top it all off...a glass of MILK.

Farm Fresh Food Blog

Two months ago I was asked by the Michigan Ag Council to participate in their new Farm Fresh Food Blog! This blog is a collaboration of Michigan farmers who share stories and recipes right from their own farm! Very exciting! My first thought was "No problem- I already blog so this should be easy." Well here we are 2 months later...I think I was suffering from Blogophobia or something! Finally submitted my first post! We have lots to get caught up on and first up- Maple Syrup Season 2011! Better check it out...I even give out our 6th generation Swiss Pancake recipe!

Milk, Manure, and Maple Syrup in March

*Please note: This is a re-post from March 2009.

It is finally starting to feel like Spring at SwissLane!
Yesterday the guys got the Planter and Strip Tiller out to start getting ready to plant.
Jerry, Nate and Ryan have been spreading manure to fertilize the feilds and empty the pits.
At the Milk Improvement Meeting we talked about milk prices, quality and nutrition.
With milk prices about half of what they were at this time last year, things have been a little stressful around the farm. After some creative thinking we have been able to cut feed costs a little bit but this is always a risk. One little change can completely change the quality and amount of milk from the cow. Fortunately, we have an awesome team that knows their cows. This past month, even with the feed changes, quality and production have improved! The milk prices, not so much.
The most exciting thing about March at SwissLane is Maple Syrup! This is a family tradition that started with my great-great grandpa. I am not sure if the family obsession with Swiss Pancakes lead to the Maple Syrup making or the Maple Syrup making obsession lead to the Swiss Pancakes! Chicken and Egg kind of thing I guess!!