What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

My grandfather grew sugar cane every year. We'd sped three days cutting the patch down and then four or five days grinding and boiling it down into syrup. I may have a stash... Lol. I worked my butt off the last time I actually got to visit family and did a huge chunk of the work myself. They sent me home with a dozen or so jars of the stuff. This year was a no go with the new little one.

I watered my garden today and enjoyed the warm weather a bit. We were in the mid 70s. Wild Christmas, lol. My first really warm Christmas in almost a decade.

That's the way sorghum processing is. Crazy amount of work and HOT. Better if you have a mule or small engine to work the grinder.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

It sounds like it may be a wee bit easier than making maple syrup. I've never made it and when I suggested it might be nice to tap my own trees and give it a try, my friend who does this every year since forever cautions me that I really shouldn't. However, I guess I don't really need to because he gives me some of his own for Christmas. I especially like the grade B. It's so much better than the grade A stuff.

 

[WthrLady]

Tree tapping once they're tapped, it like only having to walk to the barn and pick up the bucket of milk, without having to milk the cow.
The collected syrup is then boiled, and simmered, and simmered, and simmered until the right sugar/water ratio is hit.
It's hot and steamy, and takes forever, like making boiled cider. (I do that every year.)
Worth the effort, but best left to big batches as it is a PIA.

 

[jerryse]

Foggy morning and cloudy now . Still sleeping in my recliner . Tried a nap in bed . Woke up hollering . Bent that knee too much in my sleep . I can not side sleep in my chair . So chair it is for awhile longer . Feeling well enough to be restless . Not used to being inactive .

 

[pennyJo1960]

Sorry for the slow recover @jerryse
We had snow in the night about 4 inches .. May venture to the garden brush snow aside dig a few onions. Making beef stew must have onion

 

[BullChick]

I think we might actually be out of luck now. So far, we have typically not seen snow here. If it does, it’s only a dusting, not the 3” they threaten. I taught Duckling to ride her bicycle finally, so today I put her on the riding mower w/o the blades engaged. She’s a bit too light apparently, but we managed to get most of the gas out of the tank. You know it’s bad for it to sit over the winter with fuel in it.

 

[Sally PB]

I especially like the grade B. It's so much better than the grade A stuff.

What's the difference in grades of maple syrup?

 

[Ascholten]

I think we might actually be out of luck now. So far, we have typically not seen snow here. If it does, it’s only a dusting, not the 3” they threaten. I taught Duckling to ride her bicycle finally, so today I put her on the riding mower w/o the blades engaged. She’s a bit too light apparently, but we managed to get most of the gas out of the tank. You know it’s bad for it to sit over the winter with fuel in it.

Another thing you can do is, drain what you can, then run it until it runs itself totally out, that gets the gas out of the lines, the carb and everything then. My dad when we were up north used to put a touch of diesel fuel in the tank then to 'lubricate' everything and keep it from just wet air exposure.

Next spring, put fresh gas in it, it'll smoke a little bit at first from the diesel you are burning off but after that, most things started right up, first or second pull when spring came.

aaron

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

What's the difference in grades of maple syrup?

The grade A syrup is more refined. Not sure exactly how it’s done, @WthrLady could chime in. The grade A is a lighter color and what is sold in grocery stores. The grade B is dark and has a richer flavor to me. I think it has to do with how long it is simmered.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Sorry your recovery is slow going @jerryse. This winter weather may have something to do with that. Best wishes for your improvement.