The Woods are Lovely, Dark & Deep
A lot of folks ask us what we do in the off-season, specifically meaning when we’re not harvesting maple sap and boiling it down into delicious maple syrup. Maple season, when the sap flows from deep roots underground to feed the developing buds high up in the branches, historically begins in mid-March and runs through April in our part of Southwest Wisconsin, but the work to support our small family farm is year-round.
January, that familiarly cold, dark & seemingly lifeless month, is when we methodically prepare for the season to come. Clearing fallen trees (thanks Emerald Ash Borer!), fixing holes in sap tubing (gnawed by nosey squirrels who lost their nuts), cleaning sap tanks and maintaining equipment is all steady slow work, but that constant plodding through frigid temps is what keeps us moving forward. A lot of time is spent walking the woods and “taking inventory” of the beauty, letting the natural landscape soak deep into our souls, not just because we’re working, often gloveless, with cold metal hand tools, but because We Get To Be Here.
The farm is as central as adventure to who we are. With a January and February full of volunteering at Winter Ultras (6 events totaling over 3 weeks of time commitment), the weird “winter” of 2024 forced us to rethink our sap season scheduling strategy. Sap flow began in late January while we were supporting Checkpoint 3 (The Embark Oasis) at the Arrowhead 135 in far Northern Minnesota, and came to a close just after supporting TWO checkpoints at the mid-February Polar Roll Ultra in Dah UP. Our season was done before it was even supposed to begin.
The uncertainty of changing seasons can feel heavy, and adapting to new normals dire & difficult. The Embark Maple forest, this wild little piece of Woods in Wisconsin, is the source of our Good Energy. It’s where we feel grounded, where our work has purpose, and where we shed our temporary tribulations to make best of our ephemeral existence. This year we’re being more intentional with the time we spend in the woods, being more present & deliberate with the effects of our actions, and more grateful for the opportunity to share this Good Energy with you, as you embark on your journeys.
If you’re looking for us, come to the woods.
