Wyatt and Jr.
It is a frosty morning here, but promises to be a lovely day. The sun is bright and already warming the house through the new south facing windows. We're on our way to a sunny 46〫by Wednesday. I am pleased it has been such a mild winter. All the critters here on the farm are elderly and winter can take a toll. Wyatt and Jr. have yet to even take cover in the barn.
Yesterday the Rotary Club in Union City starting tapping trees. A welcome reminder that spring renewal is on it's way. With chilly nights and warming days, the weather has been perfect for the sap to run in the sugar maples. One of these days I want to identify the trees in our woods and try my hand at making maple syrup myself. My cousin already does this on her property and I should hit her up about an apprenticeship this year so I will be knowledgable enough to tap here next year.
The men who come out to tap the trees here in Union City are a fun bunch; hard working, loyal businessmen committed to both our community and to sugaring. They are accompanied by our area youth to assist, which is a great way to "tap" their enthusiasm (translation-abundant energy), easing the physical nature of the job and ensuring the process continues in the years to come. The sap is collected in a tank that was painted by the local boyscouts and taken to the sugar shack where it is boiled down and bottled in jugs to be sold with sales directly supporting our community. Truely a community effort and it warms my heart.
Southern Michigan Bank & Trust president Ken Brooks and dentist (retired) Doc Morton.
With only three weeks left to our first seeds being started, I pulled out my garden and cook books this morning to refresh and inspire me for the upcoming planting season. I tend to be organized and it is helpful for me to plot thoughts and intentions on a weekly garden calendar. It keeps me focused on what needs to be done when and acts as a check list for me to keeps things running along smoothly, including times set aside for preserving. If I don't do this, other activities crowd in on me and the pressure is on. This year we are commited to eating "clean" - fresh, homegrown and local food as much as possible and preserving the bounty for next winter.
There is a book coming out called "Greenhorns" that I am interested in. For those of you interested in the same, below is a book trailer for it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X8J9Ciuxoac
On that note, I am off to read and later get a Sunday roast started for supper. Have a wonderful day!
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