The Bovine Bugle

Bringing new meaning to the term "bucket brigade"

Today was a beautiful, sunny, warm day. A perfect day to have off from school, and a perfect day to wash sap buckets. After morning chores, we set up the bucket washer, rinsing tubs, and pulled the hay wagon in place to stack the washed buckets on to dry. We had an early lunch and then started in washing the buckets.

Karen, Ben, Justin, Noah, and I were the wash crew working on the buckets. Ben and I took turns at the bucket washer, holding the buckets on the large brush that was turned by the electric motor. After 10-15 seconds on the brush, the scrubbed bucket was rinsed twice and then stacked on the wagon to dry. Three and a half hours and two wash&rinse water changes later, all 427 buckets were washed and stacked on the wagon. Tomorrow, after the buckets are nice and dry, we will stack up the buckets and put them in the sugarhouse all ready for next season.

The boys were great, helping all the way through with this not-so-fun job. While we did the buckets, Mom was scrubbing the front pan and had that cleaned up before we were done. That leaves only the gathering tub to wash and clean-up of the sugaring operation should be about done.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at April 25, 2005 11:43 AM