Is It Time Yet?

The year begins with a harvest.

Only four months out of the year am I not gathering food from either the farm or our St. Paul homestead. Just here at the house we get syrup, rhubarb, raspberries, aronia berries and, when I remember to pick them, hops.

March is maple syrup month, though this year it’s off to a slow start. Two weeks ago the ground was solid enough for heavy equipment to roll over the yard and take out an ailing ash tree. Then, 50s over the weekend, but the maples weren’t buying it. From ten taps in five trees I collected about a gallon of sap yesterday. The photo shows approximately the amount of finished syrup from one gallon of sap. We’ve got a ways to go.

Every year I worry that this will be the year we have a poor sap harvest. But a friend who is wise in the ways of nature reminds me that plants know what what to do. (Thanks, Michele.) Still, it’s a gamble every year. Perhaps the best approach is offered by Robin Wall Kimmerer in her incomparable book, Braiding Sweetgrass, to “take what you get and be grateful for it.” It’s all gift.

That’s Eli on the left. He’s not much help but he is good company.