DoubleBrookMaple
04-07-2013, 09:08 AM
Hi Folks,
First, thanks so much for helping me make my first attempt at sugaring a success! It started just two weeks ago today when I tapped 25 of my trees here on the mountainside. The last time I tried at age 14, it was such a failure! Born and raised in New England, I lived in L.A. for to many years of my adult life. Anyway.... I am at 2000 ft, and still 6-12 inches of snow this morning. I began maybe three weeks ago in earnest, and designed, built, and tested my steam pan, cinder block based arch in 8 days. I had 50 gallons last Tuesday, and boiled it down, filtered, and bottled hot off the evaporator in 7 hours into just shy of a gallon of Grade B (It is actually between A dark amber, and B on my Vermont Temporary Grading Kit). We use about 2-3 gallons/year here, and like Grade B. Mine does have a good flavor!
Today I have 60 gallons more to go again with some more improvements in my operation. I also tapped more trees, and up to 50. I am hoping for a couple good days here, as it has been sporadic on the runs, with little time left. It seems like it has been to cold most of the days, barely running into the 30's. I have a milk jug up the hill solid frozen still. That will change over the next few days it seems.
I will post pics and details of my operation later in another spot.
Here is a couple YouTube videos on my evaporator in operation...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnLdkUv02zg&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOI_SceenKM&feature=youtu.be
Again, Many Thanks. I gotta go. Busy day ahead
Eric
Eric7707
First, thanks so much for helping me make my first attempt at sugaring a success! It started just two weeks ago today when I tapped 25 of my trees here on the mountainside. The last time I tried at age 14, it was such a failure! Born and raised in New England, I lived in L.A. for to many years of my adult life. Anyway.... I am at 2000 ft, and still 6-12 inches of snow this morning. I began maybe three weeks ago in earnest, and designed, built, and tested my steam pan, cinder block based arch in 8 days. I had 50 gallons last Tuesday, and boiled it down, filtered, and bottled hot off the evaporator in 7 hours into just shy of a gallon of Grade B (It is actually between A dark amber, and B on my Vermont Temporary Grading Kit). We use about 2-3 gallons/year here, and like Grade B. Mine does have a good flavor!
Today I have 60 gallons more to go again with some more improvements in my operation. I also tapped more trees, and up to 50. I am hoping for a couple good days here, as it has been sporadic on the runs, with little time left. It seems like it has been to cold most of the days, barely running into the 30's. I have a milk jug up the hill solid frozen still. That will change over the next few days it seems.
I will post pics and details of my operation later in another spot.
Here is a couple YouTube videos on my evaporator in operation...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnLdkUv02zg&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOI_SceenKM&feature=youtu.be
Again, Many Thanks. I gotta go. Busy day ahead
Eric
Eric7707