Rich Rayburn

Hi M, glad you enjoyed the post!  
And yes hanging the containers does have the advantage of keeping most critters out of them, and prevents the containers from tipping on uneven ground, however whatever works is good, the main point is getting the sweet reward 😊.
Let us know how your season goes.

And Christopher, I tapped 20 trees on Monday, and I'm just south of you in pine county. Several of the trees were running sap before I could get the spile tapped in. Though only about a half of dozen of them ran and only an inch or so in the bottom of a number 10 tin.
The weather's been pretty weird this year, I thought maybe I should have tapped a couple of weeks ago when it was warm but I don't think the trees were running then either. I'm looking out the window and can see that a couple of the trees are running today barely above freezing, and then next week we've got Sub-Zero coming again!  I think your timing is going to be okay,  I think they're going to start running intermittently and they may go into mid April.
If it warms up too fast though the season could be short and we won't get too much.
Keep us posted on how your season goes too.
Oh, QUICK UPDATE: brought in 5 gallons of sap this afternoon, it's on the stove. MAPLE SYRUP SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED HERE 😄.

Hi Tess,
Some would say that woodworking has  been to many, contemplative, intriguing and relaxing, maybe most of all a creative outlet.
Many people including myself prefer hand tools to power tools for most woodworking tasks,  with hand tools you can feel the wood responding to the tool much more than with power equipment. Plus there is the sound of a plane shaving and a saw cutting that is enjoyable.
Liken to hand tools I'll keep my recommendation simple. A couple of books that can be picked up online (quite reasonably) and really explain the world of hand tool usage and early woodworking techniques and projects.

1. THE COMPLETE BOOK OF WOODWORKING, by Charles h Hayward.
2. EARLY AMERICAN FURNITURE YOU CAN BUILD,
By  Fawcett books.

These have been my go-to woodworking books for many many years, the book by Charles Hayward my grandmother bought me when I was 12 years old.
Really got me hooked!!
Happy woodworking!!!

What one word or sentence would you use to describe yourself?

I

Yes Paul, there are people out there with similar values, myself included .
Hold that juice up proudly!
Cheers ,
Rick

Hi Jack,
Thanks for your inquiry, I'll send you a purple message in a day or so.
Rick

Sent you a PM

Well for what it's worth , earlier this morning I got a purple message that sent me to a site about "water on the homestead", then I received the same purple message three times and now they all look like purple messages.
Also had some very strange format this morning.
Things seem to be sort of straightened out now.
Cross your fingers!!!😁

Hi Brook,
I'm a little older than you are, 68 to be exact. Although living a simple homesteading life has kept me in pretty good shape..
I'm living on a homestead in Minnesota that has a large acreage and a "creek running through it".
The homestead has no electrical infrastructure and everything is done mostly in the old ways.
It's comfortable once you get it all figured out.
I thought that maybe since you are in Ontario that you might be above Minnesota although it looks like you're located probably further east above lake Erie.
Anyways if you'd like to discuss homesteading on various levels I would be glad to open up a discussion with you.
Sincerely, Rick

I would concur with the first three items listed.
The fourth item concerning a reliable power source is the fly in the self-reliant ointment.
It's true that with an electrical power source you can bring everything with you including the kitchen sink with running water, however any power source needs maintenance, usually high tech replacement parts, and has a limited lifespan and the potential for failure.
To live securely off-grid would really mean to literally unplug, not just from the cultural infrastructure but from all plugs.
There are thousands probably tens of thousands or more people in the United States right now living without electrical power for their daily routines, and I'm thinking that the Amish the Mennonite and other such groups are happy and healthy.
To truly live off grid, takes a lot of planning, commitment and hard work, however though as the above mentioned groups prove every day it can be done quite satisfactorily.
Merely an observation from someone who has had first-hand experience in this area.