Getting Ready @Bill'sSugarShack 2013

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Finnally went out and started getting sugar shack ready to go..
Havn't decided when I'll tap...know next couple days might warm some, but then cold again. Will keep eye on weather..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Sugar house all set to go...transfer pump all set...just watching forcast as to when to tap..

[Mark-NH]

Hi Bill. I just got done tapping one bush and plan to set up vacuum tomOreos. Last bush next weekend and then I will be ready for the season.

[NH Maplemaker]

Bill, have both my big orhards all taped in, Just 2 small ones to go this coming week ! This weekend almost every hole was running When taping.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Got my 15 taps in today...Debaited on waiting as we'll be out of town this wkend...but had to get em in sooner or later :-)

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Per the norm...as soon as i tap, it turns cold...lol

[Bill'sSugarShack]

1st boil of 2013 under my belt..
Brought home 20 gal of sap...fired up n boiled till all in the pan.
Do need to check smoke stack...acted like it was plunged..smoke every where except out the pipe..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Spent Sat afternoon redoing my smoke stack...alot better now.
This afternoon brought home 14 gal of sap...boiled it down so that pans are real sweet...should have syrup next boil!!!!

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Finished off first syrup for 2013 this morning... 4 and a half quarts......

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Another 2 quarts this morning..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

NO SAP...Havn't had sap since the 11th...went over yesterday n do have a 15 gallon block of ice...Dosen't look all that good till Sat or Sunday..Hope taps haven't dried up from being taped so long..
N here i had this week off n could have had plenty of time to boil...but no!

[MapleLady]

Not getting too much sap over here either. Hoping things thaw out this weekend!

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Brought home 10+/- gal of sweet sap(what had thawed)...boiled it till all in pan. Did finish off 1.25 qts from what had been sitting in turkey frier all this time. Was real surprised how light (for me) it was for having been sitting so long.
Season total to date 7.75 qts..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Brought home biggest haul of sap for season Mon..Boiled n finished of just over 3 qts..11 qts so far for 2013

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Another good haul of sap..not as sweet as last load(ice has melted)..
Did finnish another 3 qts...up to 3.5 Gal for 2013..

Had a few of my bucket taps slow today even after good freeze last night..think i might drill em out again n see what happens (did the 2 at home..were dry till i re-drilled n started running again right after).

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Brought home about 20 gal sap Fri..Boiled Sat am n finished off another 2.5 qts..4 gal+1pt so far for 2013.
Forcast looking so-so till mid week...will probly pull taps end of week then the fun part, clean up........ NOT!!!

[Greyfox]

Don't be to quick to throw in the towel this week. There's no harm in staying tapped in a week more, just watch for bud-break. I'm looking for good sap flow this week, and MAYBE another day or two of flow after that. Happy Easter, by the way.

Doc

[jgrenier]

Hi Bill glad to here you are having a good year thisat it this year

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Don't be to quick to throw in the towel this week. There's no harm in staying tapped in a week more, just watch for bud-break. I'm looking for good sap flow this week, and MAYBE another day or two of flow after that. Happy Easter, by the way.

Doc
Trees i tap are out in the open in city..tend to end earlier than others..Will watch n see what happens through the week n decide by Fri..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Decided to pull taps yesterday...boiled as far as i could on the evap last night ..will begin the long slow job of finnishing rest on turkey frier this afternoon..
At 19 qts so far..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Well...finished up the 2013 sugaring season to day..

Here's some of the statistics for the season;

Taped 15 taps Feb 19th..taps in for 45 days.

Gathered 200 gal sap..boiled 12 times. Made 5.5 gal of syrup!