happy thoughts
03-10-2011, 08:17 AM
I've only been tapping on a small scale for about 5 years. This year we have a new place and have only tapped 2 trees with 2 taps each- a sugar and a black both large enough to take at least one more tap. These trees have been running like water so far. Last week we got over 25 gallons of sap over the 5 days the trees ran. Wish I had tapped more trees but am not set up to handle much more than this.
Once last week and again this morning there was no sap worth collecting in the evening but in the AM the buckets were almost overflowing. I've already collected over 7 gallons so far today.
On both days the temps the day before barely got above freezing with overcast skies then hovered a little above freezing at night. It's about 36F now with a light drizzle. Now my question is- is night flow normal and is there any difference in sugar content. It tastes as sweet as usual. I do not have a hydrometer. Is this sap worth processing? I'm pretty sure there was no rain contamination and even now the taps are flowing like faucets.
Once last week and again this morning there was no sap worth collecting in the evening but in the AM the buckets were almost overflowing. I've already collected over 7 gallons so far today.
On both days the temps the day before barely got above freezing with overcast skies then hovered a little above freezing at night. It's about 36F now with a light drizzle. Now my question is- is night flow normal and is there any difference in sugar content. It tastes as sweet as usual. I do not have a hydrometer. Is this sap worth processing? I'm pretty sure there was no rain contamination and even now the taps are flowing like faucets.