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Much like our 2017 season, we got an early start this year in February, but then sap slowed back down again and things got cold and snowy again. We'll have to see what the rest of the season brings!

Living in Northeastern Vermont we are no strangers to cold. But this week of historically low temps has been a bit much, even by hardy Vermonter standards! It's 10am and -10. In weather like this, you run the furnace higher than usual so pipes don't burst. You burn more wood than you might have rationed. You bake something not because you want the bread or cookies but because you want some extra heat in the kitchen. You run the car for at least 20 minutes before driving somewhere so the engine block doesn't crack (highly unlikely, but you really don't...

I did a blog post years back with this recipe using pumpkin, but butternut squash makes a just as lovely cookie so I suggest trying either. Or both! Jump to the blog post here (there are some other pumpkin ideas mentioned), or just read on for the recipe.... 1/2 c butter, melted 3/4 c maple sugar 1 tsp vanilla 6 T squash puree Mix these together first, then set aside. Next, combine 1.5 c whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger Add the dry mixture to...

It might be fall, technically, but on Stannard Mountain winter is pretty much here. This time of year it is always a guessing game about whether or not the snow is here to stay. End of November, it pretty much is. Snow tires are on the vehicles, the sugarhouse woodshed is packed high with wood. The sap tanks are all cleaned out, and we spent Thanksgiving weekend in the woods taking fallen branches off of lines, removing old spouts, shifting lines up higher along the trees in preparation for snowfall, and putting new fencing around our fledgling apple trees. Who...

Well, we blinked and there went summer. With haying, packing maple syrup, witnessing new calves, and making plans for fall and winter we haven't had a chance to post anything lately. So we're starting back up, fall resolution! A post a day! Okay, maybe just a post a week. Deep into fall, the leaves are full of color and all over the ground. Tree branches are more and more bare and the view from the farm confirms what we all feel in our bones: winter is coming. Time for cousins to chase each other through the leaves, to drizzle maple...