a·bun·dance /əˈbənd(ə)ns/ #zafafarm #zafavineyard #zafawines #sap #maplesyrup #fermentablesugar #vermont #islelamotte #abundnace (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQBtJDOD_9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

babies 👶🏾 first jar of maple 🍁 syrup made from the maple trees located here at the ZAFA vineyard /farm. only (what seems like) 100 jars to go 🫠. Golden—delicate flavor and lightest color this is the lightest color and is usually associated with the first sap flows during the sugaring season. it is golden in color and with a subtle maple flavor, often with hints of vanilla. the delicate flavor often surprises people who expect a strong maple flavor found in other grades. #fermentablesugar #zafawines #zafavineyard #zafafarm #counterspell #mongoose #wineisfarming #maplesyrup #vermont #islelamotte (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CptE_purqcA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. Exactly how they do this, we don’t yet know. But what we see is the power of unity. What happens to one happens to us all. We can starve together or feast together.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass) #wineisfarming #vermont #maplesyrup #fermentablesugar #zafawines #zafavineyard #zafafarm #braidingsweetgrass (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpcn-FgrpPP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

sunrises 🌅 like this morning makes morning chores 👩🏾‍🌾🐓🥚🧹🪵☃️ just a lil 👌🏾 more tolerable. especially when it’s - 8° 🥶 #zafawines #zafafarm #zafavineyard #wineisfarming #vermont #islelamotte #lakechamplain #champlainislands (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpF2-Y9rCt4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

vermont had the warmest January in 129 years of records 🌡️ and February appears to be following January’s pattern. 🫠 it’s going to be interesting to observe how this impacts the growing season. 🌾🍅🍉🍏🍇 in the interim i’m enjoying observing the chickens 🐓 forage for morsels 🪲🐜🕷️ #zafawines #wineisfarming #vermont (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8K_iTPpQT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

initially was v curious when one of the hens 🐓 laid this big ass egg 🥚 (pictured on the left) last week. albeit curious 🧐 i was not intending to make a 3 egg 🍳 scramble this morning. but here we are… when i cracked open the bigg ass egg, not one ☝🏾 but two ✌🏾 yolk’s plopped out. naturally i asked google “why does my egg have two yolks?” and this is what google had to say: What are the odds of getting a double yolk? Without any outside interference, the odds of getting a double-yolker are about one in every thousand eggs. Why do double yolks happen? Double-yolk eggs are a byproduct of rapid ovulation. That means two yolks are released in quick succession into a hen's oviduct (aka fallopian tube) and end up in the same shell. Typically, yolks are released about an hour apart, but hormonal changes or a hyperactive ovary will cause double releases. Who lays double-yolkers? Usually, young hens are responsible for double-yolkers, but heavier breeds like the Buff Orpington are also known to produce double-yolk eggs more regularly than other breeds. Additionally, hens that experience an abrupt, drastic increase in hours of light exposure are more prone to laying eggs with two yolks. 🌈 the mo you know 🌈 #zafawines #counterspell #wineisfarming #vermont #layinghens #doulbleyolk #oneinathousand #themoyouknow (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn7Nba0LZvi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Her name is Gordon and her egg 🥚 “song” squawk and cluck can be heard daily from a mile away. v distinguishable from her (7) sisters, because she sings for minutes on end. needless to say she is a character and v grateful for her. #zafawines #counterspell #wineisfarming #layinghens #blacksexlinkchicken (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnrsmu_Lwqa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

day 1 of the experiment (as mentioned in the last post) of a native yeast fermentation of pine needles (mostly white pine and a dash of red) 🌲water and maple 🍁 syrup (hence the current brown hue). once the fermentation really kicks off the glass jug will be caped to trap the C02 and the end result will be pine needle soda 🥤. 🙃 #zafawines #counterspell #vermont #pineneedlesoda #islelamotte #conifers #pinefermentation (at ZAFA Wines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnh5v4Ipcsv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=