Ausable
05-07-2010, 10:41 AM
The location for my Sugar Shack was kind of by accident. After experimenting on the Wife's Kitchen Stove for a couple of seasons - She finally had enough and laid the law down - Outside or Die. About the same time some friends gave us a 2' x 2' open pan to use. So I built a stove out of a 55 gallon oil drum and a Vogelzang Barrel Kit and was kind of in business. Where the heck am I gonna put this thing - gotta find some kind of an open spot out of the hemlocks and balsam fir so I don't burn everything down. Had a spot in a low area with no trees overhead - set the stove on top of about three foot of snow and started a fire in it and kept it a roaring till the snow was melted - shimmed the stove level and started my first outside boil. Funny how a Sugar Shack starts - In my case in wasn't from brilliant planning like some of the guys do - but - rather from need. When the wind blew I put up a couple of 4x8 sheets and when it rained I rigged some poles and tarps and when weather improved started the sugar shack. By accident I picked a good spot without knowing it and the Shack has been enlarged some - but - is still in the same location -----