Great Read & Time for Sugaring?

One of the blogs I follow is that of a determined young woman in Jackson, NY just over the Vermont line.  She is becoming a sheep farmer.  27 yrs old, single, a graphic artist and author, away from family, but surrounded by friends; she is a farmer.  She purchased a small farmstead this year.  She tells of her wins and her losses learning experiences, appreciation of the little things and of each new adventure she has taken.  Jenna writes of an inspiring book which my sister gave me for Christmas this year.  Gene Logsdon’s The Contrary Farmer.  His writing is delightful and his common sense, practical, albeit ‘contrary’ approach to small farms is refreshing.  He reminds us that there was a time when farming was done by hand and by hoof.  There was no need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on equipment when a little people power and a little time was all it took to get the job done.  Highly Recommended!

Jenna and Gene remind me that it is the little steps that get us to where we want to be.  Every step in the journey has learning experiences and more importantly moments which require savoring.  It has been four and one half years since I have been back on the family farm.  There have been trials and tribulations, but in the end I can say that I am content.  Some days it is difficult to get motivated and there are days when the wind is howling and the snow is blowing that I want to stay cuddled warm within the covers, but the chickens, cats, dog, husband and I all need feeding.  Today teased us and started out nice and warm with southern breezes tipping the thermometer to just over 40 degrees this morning.  As I got ready for bed this afternoon, the winds has increased and the rains were falling.  I thought about the sap buckets and taps which DH had washed earlier this week which were still not on the side of the trees.  Tonight as I was leaving for work, the temperature had fallen below 20, the winds and snow were blowing and the weatherman forecast tomorrow’s high at 13 degrees.  The end of the week is predicted to be perfect weather for sugarin’, daytime temps into the 40s and nights below freezing.  Those taps will be in tomorrow or the next morning early!  If we can make maple syrup for all of our household needs this year, next year we will plan on cleaning up some older sugar bush and building a small evaporator for farmers market syrup in 2012.