Backyard Maple Syrup Production in Traverse City

Whew! Another maple syrup harvest is behind me. This was my fourth--and best--season. By the time I bottled the last drop of liquid gold and washed the last pot I was exhausted. I dragged myself to the shower, chilled to the bone and smoky. I smelled like I had sat in a fire pit for hours, and in fact that wasn't too far from the truth.

Luckily the weather was beautiful this weekend since I logged 19 hours Saturday and Sunday tending the fire. Invoking the name of Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, seemed to help. We were blessed with a steady breeze all weekend that kept the fire burning bright. In fact, at times the fire was so hungry that as fast as I stoked it with wood it needed more. Keeping the sap at a constant boil is a real challenge with a wood fire. For me it's something of a game.

When all was said and done I was delighted with our yield--nearly two gallons from just two trees in our yard. Take a look at our photos and you'll see how simple our supplies and operation are. Hope you'll be inspired to try it next year.