This spring has mostly been hot and dry. The sap flow ended suddenly again this year and we were able to pull-up (pull and plug the spiles) and get out of the woods in 2 weeks. Our evaporator had a good cleaning, engines were serviced, tanks cleaned and items repaired to get ready for the 2011 season.
The spring foliage is always special with the young leaves delicate and a special shade of green; the redbuds were especially beautiful this year. After Hurricane Ike in September 2008, there is a large volume of downed and heavily damaged trees in the woods. We have worked out most of the easier wood and have acquired an older 4-wheel drive pick-up to access the over 100 cords of available firewood. A cord is 4' X 4' X 8' or 2.5 to 3 rick in size.
We can normally get about a cord cut, loaded and unloaded in a little over an hour. Most pieces are cut 3 - 4' in length to fit the evaporator. Production is slower when we have to split larger diameter pieces as we usually have to cut them 18" or so in length. We probably will work in the woods until the end of May, on cooler days. So far we have brought out 20 cords of wood from the front area.
We have so much good firewood to harvest that our son Caleb is starting a firewood business. Mike sold firewood when he moved to the farm in 1979 and Leane and Mike cut and sold firewood through 1984. After that, the firewood needs of the sugaring operation used all of our available supply. So, if you need some good hardwood firewood and are reasonably close (within 40 miles), give Caleb a call.
We continue to bottle and sell syrup. We are attending a function in Louisville on May 23 at the water plant on Zorn Avenue. We will have some of this year's syrup available. We are making plans for the 2011 festival; an additional children's building seems to be a priority, along with other minor projects. We hope you are enjoying the spring weather. We will be giving monthly reports of activities at Leane and Michael's Sugarbush, so check back often.
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