Yea it's the vat, wood fire and straining that takes a bunch of labor.

We don't have the location yet for bees, but planning for them when we get the acreage over at Clarion Co to develop. Not so much for the honey (would be a side product for us) as much as for the pollination. We want a variety of fruit trees and berry bushes so the bees will help that along. Plus if we have the right location for them I am happy to help preserve the species, so to speak. Honey bees are having a rough time of it lately so a few more protected hives can't hurt, lol. 

Clint S
First try at syrup and I think the boiling down will be what makes this a limited endeavor.  Just want to see how it goes. If I get half gallon I will be happy.  

Generally a 40 to 1 ratio Clint. 40 gal of sap yields 1 gal of syrup. A healthy Maple Tree with one tap averages 20 plus gals of sap in a season.

Really easy to identify Maple Trees in my area during syrup season. Amish have buckets and wine bags hanging everywhere.

After watchng those folks make Maple Syrup I think I'll wait for thier product to hit the roadside stands.

I was going to try and use my turkey fryer for cooking down the sap until I learned I would need 10 gal of sap for just a quart of syrup. Not sure how much propane that might take but I'm thinking the cost might be more than a quart of Amish Maple Syrup. Plus, I need a 10+ gal pot.

Good luck, have fun and I hope all turns out well.

Fella from up past Orwell used to tap my trees and give me a quart every year.
 

Well day one yielded about 4 gallons of sap from 5 trees. 1 tree gave 2 gallons the others about a half each. Going to try to boil outside on an old woodstove and then finish it up inside. I am guessing if I used propane it would be cheaper to buy it.

The guys I work with usually wait until they get about 30 gallons or so before they start boiling it down. They use a stainless steel "bird bath wash tub over a brick fire pit.
It's a lot of work and usually employs a 30 pk., lol.
You need to stir , skim and strain .
I wish you luck and hope you have fun
For myself, if I used a quart of syrup a year , that a lot so not really worth my time

 One yr. my son forgot to take it off the heat. The syrup turned to solid, best tasting candy I've ever tried & a tiny piece seemed to last forever. Heard ov Rock Hard Maple before but that stuff was like having a sm. river gravel in your mouth.
 
 He prob. sells a truck load ov taps & hose a season. Have a place near Linesville on Maple Rd.
 
crappy

Get on the internet and pick out different recipes for Buck Wheat Cakes, there's plenty of em, and try a couple a week for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  I recommend the yeast style wheat cake batters, warm your Maple Syrup (don't boil (unless you want maple sugar)) before pouring it over your hot cakes and for the sausage lovers heat the sausage grease, mix in some flour if preferred, and pour into a small bowl for Au Jus sauce.  Guaranteed yinz won't find anything served like that, at Arby's!!!

I'm using everything I can find to put dirt in.
The 1 picture on. The floor is herbs.
The other is veggies. We ate some spinach tonight.
My total investment has been about $50-75 in.. I bought some strawberries, asparagus and more garlic today. I'd be happy and think the berries will be the producers. Sorry crappie, I got junebearers. It's all about a jam harvest and they produce the most. I still have 2 peach trees to purchase this spring.
I am going to look into more berry shrubs.
Any thoughts ? Not sure if I can pull it off this spring though. I understand you need netting.

After I get back from this steelhead itch next week, I will be building the pig pen. Hopefully it's complete by first weekend in April. From then on its getting the soulshine ready to splashdown on stripers. She goes into dock the week of April 15th

Thoughts, experience with outdoors greenhouse. I'm looking to build 1 , and probably 2 after my son wants 1 also.
I'm thinking a design like this on a 20 w ×16 L scale. Less wood,centerline, split header.
Got environmental control figured out, wondering on design- pros cons.
My goal is late season harvest like cabbage, potatoes,, carrots , Brussels and fall crops. Shouldn't require much heat.
I'm pretty sure this will be a late summer project. Given that picture of design. Is there a particular direction you'd set ?

Thanks. All your contributions have been helping and fun

Ps. I'm thinking of blocking/ enclosing the entire north side. Good / bad ?