Author Archives: Reber Rock Farm

Follow me as Chad takes us down to the vacuum pump, which creates a vacuum (negative pressure) on the sap lines throughout the sugar bush. As we discussed during our tapping video our sap lines maintain a constant vacuum when the sap is running to let the maple tree know this is not a seriousContinue reading “Making Maple – Vacuum Pump”

Lewis, Lovett and I ventured across Lake Champlain to Burlington Airport on a wet and drizzled Sunday to watch the planes land and take off, with a careful eye for the plane that was bringing Mama back home. The airport is small and we could see all the way down the terminal to where theContinue reading “How we make Maple Syrup – Tapping”

There are many signs that this winter has been a different rhythm for the plants and animals of our region. The ground is fully thawed and the deep mud ruts that usually mark the beginning of April are here a month early. The snow is completely gone except for dustings on the mountain tops inContinue reading “March or April?”

The weather has been unpredictable this winter to say the least. Usually the beginning of March is our best skiing weather, but this year has provided other opportunities and some challenges. At the beginning of this week I thought to myself, the forecast is indicative of this winter. Highs in the 60s on Monday, thenContinue reading “Winter Pig Grazing?”

What fun to hear all the feedback from folks who watched the pig chore video. If you didn’t catch it last week, here’s the link. Racey and I had such fun making the video. According to google/YouTube more than 200 people have visiting us and the pigs for chores! That is pretty exciting. I wouldContinue reading “Winter’s Break”

I love writing and I love sharing and connecting with people. So when Racey and I went down to do pig chores on Friday morning, I thought to myself: I’m carrying a pretty amazing video camera in my pocket, I wonder if I could make a short video to share with our community. So IContinue reading “Come along for pig chores”

February is usually the month where we settle into winter. The pigs typically have built a deep nest of hay bedding and on cold mornings we often only see their ears poking up through the hay from the pile of pigs. The ground is frozen by mid February, and the early winter struggle of mudContinue reading “Cost of Weather”

Deep in the challenge of writing and reflecting weekly, is buried the question: what have I learned, what growth did I experience? The achiever in me is full of pessimism as I reflect on all that was NOT done because of the holidays, a family round robin of Covid and then an even nastier virusContinue reading “Rhythm”

It is heartening to report that Lewis and Lovett are back to full strength this week, although us parents are left dragging, envious of the vigor of the 6-8 year old body and immune system. My energy was so low this week that when Lewis and Lovett came down to the pigs to help meContinue reading “Resting”

In a haze of fever and body aches, our home and our farm is now blanketed in winter snow. I have little gumption for words this week. After a wonderful holiday break our vacation was extended with a family covid adventure that left us tired and ready for the return to the routine of schoolContinue reading ” Under the Weather”