Sap For Maple Syrup - Too Sour?

We've been collecting sap the last week. More than half the sap is cloudy and sour tasting - apparently this happens when the trees start to bud. But it's good enough to make it worthwhile to boil down. We've collected about 1,000 gallons of sap and delivered it in 50 gallon drums to a neighbouring retired farmer, Don, who boils it down in his wood fired evaporator.

Nine Days Later

Have had a few moments where I wondered, what the hell am I doing here? And it wasn't easy to leave Deborah behind in Toronto. But reminding myself why I decided to take this path helps to remove any doubt. And every day I'm here I like it more and more, including the daily clearing of manure from the barn, forking hay to the cows, feeding the chickens, seeding trays and weeding in the greenhouse, collecting sap and repairing the outhouses. On top of it all the other interns and intern manager are great, and Johann and Maggie, the farmers are very gracious and knowledgeable.

New Born Calf

Around noon one of the cows, Sam, gave birth to a calf - Jerika. Sam was a little weary of my presence. I got this shot by lying down on the floor outside the stall and shooting between the boards.