drip by drip
Each year there is a cadence and rhythm that is followed. As we are upon the Equinox, I truly think of this as the beginning of a new year. The winter rest is coming to a close and the awakening is upon us.
With the end of rest, we begin the first harvest of the season- maple syrup. Sap harvesting happens at the end of winter, early spring when the temperatures fluctuate between freezing at night and warming during the day. This has truly been a project for our boys. Drip by drip, they collect. They lovingly check the taps before school, ensuring the buckets will not overflow during the warming of the day. After school, they again gather, strain and bucket the collected bounty, scrubbing to keep the harvest sanitary and reset for the following day.
What is most magical about the harvest, in my opinion, is the boil. After weeks of gathering, families come together to literally watch water boil. Seriously- we watched the sap cook down for 7 hours, before it was taken inside for finishing for another 5 hours. Together, families gathered drip by drip, about 150 gallons of sap, yielding 3 gallons of beautiful maple syrup. 150 gallons collected one drop at a time, you see the importance of the little things and how they build up, only to be whittled down.
14 hours. 14 hours of stoking the fire, children playing, dads chopping wood, moms going out for walks, meals shared, plans made and friendships deepened, drip by drip. Just as the buckets drop glorious sap one drip at a time, bonds of community are also formed. Friendships, connections and memories made. The ripples of this boil will be felt for years to come. Those 150 gallons, 14 hours and so much love is what it boils down to.
As in every new year, I am grateful for the connections made of a time old tradition and look forward to sharing our harvest with those we love. Because drip by drip, the sweet nectar of the season is only the beginning.
This Week’s A Door Within
What is a sign of spring and renewal for me?
How can I deepen my relationship with nature?
What can I collect drip by drip, acknowledging I will need to boil down?
♥ Ashley
