Welcome to Back Creek

It’s Maple Season!

They say that Maple Season starts when the crows start to caw in the springtime… everything is right on schedule this year!!  Yesterday, a flock of seven crows flew overhead just squawking their hearts out, like they could SEE the warm weather just around the corner…

And we are tapping our trees!  So far, we have tapped our sugarbush, Bob’s, Gibby’s and Thorstad’s.  Pat is trying something new this year - Stubbies!  These new two-part spiles include a check valve… Let me explain -   For a sugar tree to run, the sap is pushed up and out because of the pressure within the tree. When the sap stops running (due to below freezing temperatures) the negative pressure draws sap back into the tree.  These new spiles were developed (in Vermont, of course!) with a check valve which helps maple syrup production in two ways:  1. It keeps the sap from running backward, thereby increasing sap production and 2. Bacteria in the sap will close the tap-hole, keeping the bacteria out of the tree keeps the tap-hole open longer.  I’ll let you know what happens.  Right now we are just waiting for this cold front to pass through…