Central Ontario Tapping [Archive]

Jerome

02-26-2014, 06:08 AM

Another non-starter this week we are now under a wind chill warning and snow squall watch, I have to get out the tractor once again to blow out the driveway as it is drifted in. Foe some reason I kept track last year of how many times I had to blow out the drive (11) so far this year it is 42 not including today.
It is looking good according to Accuweather after the 7th I will believe it when I see it.

Jerome

03-04-2014, 06:37 AM

Just looking at the long range forecast. Looks like we will finally be getting some sap flow after the 15th of March, the good thing is it looks like a good long run after that. I guess I will finish cleaning out the shack this weekend and tap next, finally.

Brent

03-05-2014, 03:31 PM

I was taught that the rule of thumb for our area was tap on St. Patty's Day.
The last couple years and climate change made that a joke, but this year it looks
like it on the mark

Jerome

03-08-2014, 01:00 PM

I tapped today, man that wind was cold this morning, sun is out now and has been for about 3 hours just at freezing so not really expecting much today.
Brent I saw on your website that you are not doing it this year, hope everything is OK.

Jerome

03-08-2014, 02:02 PM

9068
First sap of 2014!!!

Run Forest Run!

03-08-2014, 02:53 PM

It's a beautiful thing Jerome. We all needed to see that after such a long winter.:)

Pablo

03-16-2014, 10:44 AM

I'm just south of Huntsville, saw some sap flow on Friday afternoon for the first time.
It is -10 in the sun now.
As this is my first time I was excited to see sap.

Chainsaw Baby

03-16-2014, 03:33 PM

Tapped last weekend. Although it ran on Friday (March 14), I only got about 200L of sap - not enough to start the evaporator.

Maple Restoration

03-18-2014, 08:36 AM

Well looks like were on the slow start to 2014, we taped the fist of march and it warm up enough last weekend to vacuum out the lines, got home last night to see that the sap had run and by the looks of things the lines are fully charged, I think we are a step in the right direction!

All the best to every one this year!

Wilfred

03-19-2014, 12:19 AM

Jerome

03-19-2014, 10:24 AM

I tapped a week go as it looked good now it does not looks so good till the end of the month.

cavescott

03-20-2014, 11:56 AM

Ya I have been tapping doing a bit of an expansion. Did 300 last year going to at least 600 this year. I want the sap to flow but I wouldnt have made my numbers if it did. Been laid off for 4 weeks now and would love it to flow to get a bit of cash in my pocket. Its so late this year I have a feeling we are going to get it all at once. I would say put your taps in by next tuesday by the look of the weather forcast. Your taps are usually good for 4-6 weeks anyway. I am just about 30 minutes north of huntsville but the temps here are always about 5 degrees lower then huntsville. Some of my taps have been in for two weeks and some are going in today.

Maplesapper

03-21-2014, 09:15 PM

Hi all. I'm in muskoka - looking at the weather forecast and it looks like it's going to warm up a bit then drop again for a few days and pretty cold a few of the nights coming up. Is anyone tapping in this areas yet or is it too soon? Thanks for any advice

15 Minutes north of you in Parry Sound.
Tapped today- very little flow- more likely just pressure in the tree.
Looks like it will not start until we get past the pending -17 nights in the next while

Chainsaw Baby

03-28-2014, 02:13 PM

Should be running today! I'm hoping/expecting to start the evap tomorrow. Let the season begin!

Note: I checked my recent records and the latest I started boiling down since 2000 is March 15. A new record by 2 weeks! Hope the season lasts more than a week.

Run Forest Run!

03-28-2014, 02:50 PM

Checked all of my taps and they are slowly waking up. I had to replace one of my sap bags as the sap was dripping out of the bottom faster than it was dripping into it. Can we not have some warm temperatures without all of the wind? Please?

With this light drizzle the snow is receeding, but leaving us to walk on the newly exposed glare ice from December. Never a dull moment out there.

TurkeyJohn

03-28-2014, 03:55 PM

Hey Karen,

Tell me about the wind,

Having to retrieve buckets and bungee cord the suckers to trees. My wife is questioning my resolve,

TurkeyJohn

Jerome

03-31-2014, 11:17 AM

I just finished collecting about 3 gallons of sap I had to modify the way my tubes were entering my buckets as I was losing sap down the tube I should get better results now.

Jerome

04-01-2014, 05:56 AM

Collected another 4 gallons yesterday afternoon from the 18 taps i have this year. Looks like this week will be good weather wise.

franks sap

04-01-2014, 03:56 PM

slower in haliburton

Run Forest Run!

04-01-2014, 03:57 PM

Locked up tight here in Caledon. I suppose that two decent days in a row is out of the question?

franks sap

04-01-2014, 04:04 PM

Karen you are right

ridgerunner394

04-01-2014, 05:06 PM

picked up 10 gal here yesterday and nothing today :{(

NTBugtraq

04-01-2014, 05:32 PM

Lolz, so am I in Central Ontario? Kirkfield? I've been posting in the Eastern Ontario forum...;-]

Anyway, didn't drop below 32F overnight and didn't get any sap today. For weeks we couldn't get above zero, now we can't get below...crazy. Forecast calls for a low of 25F overnight but nothing higher than 32F in the day...so??

Cheers,
Russ

NTBugtraq

04-01-2014, 05:51 PM

Is this the wrong place to ask what people in central Ontario are going to charge for syrup at a farm gate? I'm on a major highway so good farm gate potential, but Home Depot sells 1L for $16.99 in a can, which just strikes me as cheap. Can I, should I, charge more? I was thinking $10/500mL, and at least $18/L...thoughts?

Cheers,
Russ

Jerome

04-01-2014, 09:40 PM

Very slow today only about 2 gallons. Suppose to be a good freeze tonight hope it helps.

Run Forest Run!

04-02-2014, 12:04 AM

Jerome, it's midnight and has now dipped just below freezing. With sun and 7C anticipated for tomorrow, let's hope that the wind doesn't show up like it did today. We might get a good run in the late morning and afternoon. Fingers crossed.

NTBugtraq

04-02-2014, 05:51 AM

I'm really getting fed up with my local forecast. According to it, its 22F outside...but alas, my own thermos all agree its 35F...another night that we didn't get below freezing...

Cheers,
Russ

BrutemanAl

04-02-2014, 05:51 AM

I collected 7 gallons yeaterday afternoon here in Codrington , not as much in my buckets as I thought there would be, but everything was running around 5:30. Take what I can get :)

Jerome

04-02-2014, 06:17 AM

it doesn't look like we got below freezing either. Tonight is forecast for -10c here's hoping

Jerome

04-02-2014, 06:31 AM

I just got back in from walking the dogs and the puddles are frozen I hope it was enough.

NTBugtraq

04-03-2014, 06:33 PM

I'm kinda surprised nobody has offered up the price they plan to charge, maybe everyone in Central Ontario makes syrup just for their own use?

I was just outside of Fenelon Falls yesterday and someone was selling syrup at their farm gate. I stopped, and they're selling 1L for $22.50, and 500mL for $13.50...

Cheers,
Russ

Jerome

04-04-2014, 05:47 AM

So far with 4 days of run on my 18 taps I have only 15 Gals I would normally have about 80. Not sure it got below freezing last night forecast for 7c here today 0c tonight 2c tomorrow -5c tomorrow night and 10c and sunny on Sunday but just above freezing for two nights Not sure how much I will get this year I am going to have to dump what I have soon as I don't have enough to boil.

Jerome

04-04-2014, 05:56 AM

Just looking at the long range on Accu weather it looks like the season is over Sunday maybe Tuesday if we are lucky. :(

Maplesapper

04-04-2014, 09:12 AM

Just looking at the long range on Accu weather it looks like the season is over Sunday maybe Tuesday if we are lucky. :(

Where is Elmvale ?
Sunday calling for low -6, and low -8 next Wednesday in Parry Sound.
We only started Wed- hope it don't end SUnday.....

Jerome

04-04-2014, 12:27 PM

Elmvale is just north of Barrie about 1/2 way to Midland.

NTBugtraq

04-04-2014, 04:14 PM

Jerome,

Hope this isn't too harsh, but could you pull your taps and stop talking here? I'm still going to get 11 good days in April, no matter what you're accu-whatever says...

Cheers,
Russ

owemon

04-05-2014, 08:53 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am somewhat new to this site. Just want to connect with the local syrup producers in the area. I have been using this site on and off for the last couple of years to help with our production. I am from Christian Island (Beausoleil First Nation), located on Georgian Bay.

Just wanted to drop a line to introduce myself. I am looking forward to connecting with you guys in some way.

Thanks,
Owen

Jerome

04-05-2014, 09:01 PM

Welcome Owen I hope things go well out on the island.
It looks like tomorrow is make or break for us good luck.

owemon

04-05-2014, 09:03 PM

Going good so far. Took us a while to build up our sap stock but we have a few barrel to boil down as of right now.

I live in Elmvale as well. Maybe we can get together sometime

Welcome Owen I hope things go well out on the island.
It looks like tomorrow is make or break for us good luck.

owemon

04-06-2014, 06:27 PM

Lots of Sap today!!! Just finishing up a batch right now. Should get us about 2 gallons once it's done.

What does everyone finish at? I've been finishing at 228 degrees F. The last couple of years we were finishing at 226 degrees F. Curious to know why? Any ideas?

Clinkis

04-06-2014, 06:34 PM

Wow...that seems high. Your thermometer sounds like it might be off. I finish between 218-220. I have an auto draw off and adjust temp each day with a hydrometer. The temp will fluctuate a couple of degrees but never that high. Have you tried boiling water to see what it boils at?

owemon

04-06-2014, 07:32 PM

NTBugtraq

04-06-2014, 07:50 PM

I paid C$34+tax for mine just last week. You'll need a tall cup that can take > boiling water, I paid C$35+tax for that. Oh, mine was not a hydrometer, it was a hydrotherm, self compensating for different temps.

Cheers,
Russ

NTBugtraq

04-06-2014, 08:04 PM

Owemon,

So you should calibrate your thermometer every day. If you don't have boiling pure water handy, then calibrate it with the sap as soon as it starts to boil. Whatever number that says, add 7F-7.5F. +7.1F is 66 brix, +7.5F is 67 brix. So, if your thermometer says boiling is 220F, then 227.5 is 67 brix. IOWs, even if your thermo is horribly wrong, it can still work fine.

Cheers,
Russ

Jerome

04-12-2014, 06:20 AM

well I pulled my taps yesterday with only 35 gallons of sap for the year which is about half of normal I boiled it yesterday and will finish it up today I hope the sugar content is high I usually am around 5%.
All I can say is the syrup was really dirty coming off the pan. :(

BrutemanAl

04-12-2014, 07:35 AM

I also found it was very dirty, the last week has been brutal for me and filtering, the last batch of sap I boiled Thursday night, it was extremely dark and after getting it all filtered and doing a taste test, it was very very sweet,it was almost like liquid brown sugar.

Jerome

04-12-2014, 11:34 AM

Just finished up cleaning the bottleing operation ended up with 3 gallons of amber. according to my calculations the sap must have been 7%, I was 7.6 over the boiling point of water.

Clinkis

04-12-2014, 01:38 PM

7% seems a little high (although not impossible). Usually anything over 4% is considered amazing. Between 3% and 4% is a great average for sugar maples. Thermometers are a good guideline but unfortunately they can vary drastically from day to day and some days I need to go 10-12 degrees above boiling point of water to hit syrup. You may want to consider a hydrometer or a refractomete as this is the only way to confirm density. You will know once syrup cools it will be very runny. That said, maybe you have some exceptional trees!

Jerome

04-12-2014, 02:32 PM

I did check my density's with a hydrotherm so I know they are good, but thanks for your concern.

Clinkis

04-13-2014, 01:03 AM

I did check my density's with a hydrotherm so I know they are good, but thanks for your concern.

Glad to hear! You are VERY lucky to get an average that high. Today I finished my last batch of the year and had to hit 223'F before hydrometer said it was syrup. I figure my average was 3.2% for the year and I though I was doing good!

Maplesapper

04-14-2014, 08:56 AM

We've collected about 40% of a crop and the syrup is quite dark this year.
Even the first boil was fairly dark.
Syrup almost seems super sweet but very stringy this year vs Mapley like last year.

Looks like our season ends at Easter this year again.
Funny that Easter is 4 weeks later than 2013.
This all makes 2012 look not so bad....

Pablo

04-14-2014, 12:53 PM

This was my first year making my own syrup. I am glad that I decided to go with lines, the snow was deep and now real wet. I made about 2 gal. boiling 3 times. The syrup tastes great. My neighbor a few doors down has been sugaring for 10 years and told me not to get discouraged, it has been a poor year. He also is impressed that I did make some good syrup and didn't burn any (the other neighbor was sure I would burn it). I hope to get one more boil as the sap is flowing a bit still and looks clear.
Thanks to everyone who posts here as I have done tons of reading and answered many questions that only experience would teach.

NTBugtraq

04-14-2014, 04:45 PM

Pablo, wtg!...but we're not done yet in Ontario, I see 6 sap flowing days in the next 8 day forecast...we can hope.

Cheers,
Russ

Pablo

04-17-2014, 01:45 PM

Yesterday I got about 25 gal (it only got to about 2 c) and at noon today I have about 30 gal and the lines are the fullest I've seen them this year.
Good thing it is a long weekend.

Run Forest Run!

04-17-2014, 03:09 PM

The sap is running the strongest it has all year! Tomorrow really is looking like it will be a 'Good Friday', following a most 'Excellent Thursday'. :)

I haven't had the time to collect all of the sap yet today, but so far I've got 37L from 8 taps. There is two to three times that much still waiting to be gathered. One of my silvers is offering 4% today. Thank-you trees. :D

Clinkis

04-17-2014, 06:31 PM

Glad your finally getting a good run! Sounds like its going to pay off for sticking it out. Hearing that makes me kinda wish my taps were still in the trees.....

NTBugtraq

04-17-2014, 07:08 PM

I had my best sap day ever today. Boiled for 9 hrs, and still have 100 gal of sap...and its still running but I'm pooped. Made 7L of syrup today.

Cheers,
Russ

Run Forest Run!

04-17-2014, 08:33 PM

WOW. What a day.

I collected 83L from 8 taps down the street. After emptying them at noon, 2 were overflowing at 6pm and the other 6 were close to the top (these are 2 gallon buckets).

I emptied the buckets on my property twice today just to make sure there was room for the sap tsunami. After emptying everything here again at 4pm there is somewhere near 10L already replenished out there. Total for the property here was 36L.

Grand total for the day was 119L. Boiled my brains out today - but was at least smart enough to get the propane tanks refilled before the end of the day as nothing will be open tomorrow. That would have been a brutal mistake to have made.

Can't wait to get boiling again tomorrow, I'm done for today. :)

sapdrink

04-18-2014, 08:14 AM

Dear all; I am looking to buy sap from anyone willing to sell. Our sugarbush is in the lanark area but has turned milky. Anyone with clear sap? Looking for large amounts. Thanks!

owemon

02-24-2015, 06:49 PM

Counting down the days now.... Hopefully only a few weeks to go *finger crossed*

Has anyone put their taps in yet?

Brookmaple

02-25-2015, 08:26 PM

Nowhere near ready here in Grey County--still too cold. Danger of splitting taps.

At earliest, maybe toward the end of the first week of March.

Jerome

02-27-2015, 05:07 PM

I'm hoping next weekend forecast is still looking good with all the cold i am not expecting much though for a week or so.

NTBugtraq

03-04-2015, 04:17 PM

Sap here today, north side of Balsam Lake. Hi 38F, but plenty of sun. My forecasts sucks, they have nothing to do with my actual weather.

Run Forest Run!

03-06-2015, 04:56 PM

Put a couple of test taps in this afternoon. The snow was deeper than I thought and the temperature was colder than I thought, but I couldn't help myself. Once I see these two start to drip I'll tap the rest.

JWB27

03-08-2015, 09:43 AM

Karen

Any sap yet?
With th coming warmer weather I am going to tap today.

Run Forest Run!

03-08-2015, 10:49 AM

Karen

Any sap yet?
With th coming warmer weather I am going to tap today.

Nothing yet John. I'm sure it won't be long now!

MustardSeedMum

03-08-2015, 08:50 PM

Hi everyone,

I really thought this would be my 2nd year in a row NOT sugaring.
Last year we took a break because of the crazy winter and lots of cleanup we needed to do from the ice storm. This year I was feeling plain lazy.

Drove out this morning and see buckets out on a property a few streets away and suddenly get the itch again :p. So I get back home, get the kids on board and agree to scaling it down this year.
This afternoon we put in 27 taps and all except 4 were dripping! :D

But man the snow is really deep especially on the slopes.

So yeah, the trees beckoned and I succumbed.

Here's to a great season everyone!

MarkReynolds

03-09-2015, 03:13 AM

Yup I got my 46 taps in Saturday, wish I could of done it Sunday with the sun out but was busy. But glad their in and waiting on the sap to flow!

daverobitaille

03-09-2015, 06:14 AM

Nothing in the buckets yet but my lines started to fill up! Still needs a bit to make it's way to the storage tanks.

Maple Restoration

03-09-2015, 09:01 AM

All taped here in Trout Creek lines all tweaked and the shack is set! Let's see what happens this week.

watsey

03-09-2015, 10:37 AM

60 taps in

Couple of buckets with 1" of frozen sap this morning, here's hoping for a good week!

Run Forest Run!

03-09-2015, 11:04 AM

Nothing in the test buckets yet, but I'm drilling more today 'cause this week's weather is going to be fabulous.

twoducks

03-09-2015, 06:30 PM

160 taps in . near clifford

sap dripping this afternoon . some buckets have 1 in

Run Forest Run!

03-09-2015, 06:57 PM

My two test taps are still dry, but two of the others I drilled today are dripping like champs! Made a quick trip to the local TSC store for......uhm.....more taps. You know........just in case.

daverobitaille

03-09-2015, 07:03 PM

The machine got going today! All the tubing rand good in mid afternoon. Not so much for the buckets. Take a look at the video I took.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009185342458

JWB27

03-09-2015, 11:27 PM

Put 10 taps in yesterday. Two started today. Hopefully this warmer weather will get them all going.

watsey

03-10-2015, 01:17 PM

Just checked my buckets - 30 L of sap, only a couple of buckets with nothing in them.

MustardSeedMum

03-10-2015, 01:58 PM

Most of the buckets are dripping. Yay!
Some of my plastic spiles are leaking. Boo
I always have trouble with them each year.
Am I supposed to drill the holes for these level or at a slight angle??
I think I get confused because I was taught to drill at a slight angle but that was for the black spiles with tubing.

Also quick question - I'm noticing a whole lot of tiny black bugs on the snow around my 5 gallon buckets.
Anyone else? And should I be worried? It's like the trees are raining bugs.

Run Forest Run!

03-10-2015, 02:02 PM

Hi MSM! The bugs are snow fleas. They do no harm other than look like you've sprinkled the snow with pepper. The plastic spiles should take up sooner than later. Don't worry.

MustardSeedMum

03-10-2015, 02:07 PM

Thanks Karen! Good to know. It's kinda gross and some are making their way into the buckets.

How's your taps doing? I'm scrambling here since I didn't think I was going to join in the madness this year. :)
Just ordered a grate from amazon last night and signed up for the free trial for prime just so I could get it shipped here pronto. Haha

Run Forest Run!

03-10-2015, 02:16 PM

Hi again MSM. I'm sure snow fleas have always been a part of our winters, but it's funny that I never noticed them until I started to make syrup. They are kind of like the robins of sugarmaking. Once you see them, you know that the sap is quickly following.

One of my trees is dripping really well. The others are still fast asleep. I'm going to tap another ten today but suspect they are also frozen solid.

Galena

03-10-2015, 05:25 PM

My two test taps are still dry, but two of the others I drilled today are dripping like champs! Made a quick trip to the local TSC store for......uhm.....more taps. You know........just in case.

Just curious, Karen, how's your Freeman doing? The 3 new trees I am tapping are, I think, Freemans...if they are, they're pretty old. Only 1 spile of 6 was dry this pm.

NTBugtraq

03-10-2015, 06:10 PM

Hiya all, nice to see most ppl back again.

I've got 168 taps in on an entirely new bush line system, and have added low vacuum via a Guzzler and vacuum boost tank. Tomorrow I will be adding another 33 taps, at least. I had really high expectations for today as the temperatures were perfect both yesterday and today, but alas, I only got some 10 gallons. They're still running though, so it will be interesting to see what I end up with in the morning. The forecast is still ideal till the 18th...so fingers crossed. At least the season has finally started.

Run Forest Run!

03-10-2015, 06:22 PM

Just curious, Karen, how's your Freeman doing? The 3 new trees I am tapping are, I think, Freemans...if they are, they're pretty old. Only 1 spile of 6 was dry this pm.

The Freeman is locked up tight but, go figure, the sugars are all running quickly. That's Mother Nature for you.....just when you think you've got this thing figured out she goes and throws you a curve ball. I was going to wait another week to tap those - glad I didn't.

Canada Maple

03-10-2015, 09:03 PM

First year trying to make syrup. Purchased a hybrid pan from Smoky Lake and built a homemade arch from a 275 gallon oil tank. Thought I better give an update from Simcoe County.
Tapped 60 trees outside of Barrie ON on Saturday. About half were running today, only a total of 20 litres of sap. They are all large trees on fence rows so I think they may take a few days to thaw. It reassures me that a lot of other people's trees are not running yet. I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but did not want to upgrade and purchase another pan when I got the addiction that everyone speaks about. I hope your season in Ontario goes well. This site has been vital from information, thanks to everyone who posts.

Run Forest Run!

03-10-2015, 09:22 PM

Welcome to the forum Canada Maple. Way to jump in with both feet!

NTBugtraq

03-10-2015, 09:48 PM

Canada Maple,

You can do 60 taps on a BBQ or Turkey Fryer, so chillax...;-]

Run Forest Run!

03-11-2015, 07:09 AM

It looks like the wet taps dripped through the night. I just looked out and can see drops falling in the glow of the streetlights. Sounds like a song in the making .:lol:

MustardSeedMum

03-11-2015, 08:28 AM

From last night before dinner to this morning @ 7am, collected another 30L from 40 taps. That's in addition to the 40L collected yesterday.

I should update my siggy - we went to 40 taps because I won't be able to use my woodstove and had to revert back to the
bigger block arch - 3 pans. Need more sap to get it started...well that's the way my mind thinks anyway. :lol:

Maple Restoration

03-11-2015, 08:34 AM

Well yesterday was a great star with 108 gallons of sap collected here, looks like were on our way, today should be a great day!

Run Forest Run!

03-11-2015, 04:38 PM

Today I gathered 40L from the sugar maples (9 taps in a total of 6 trees). Taps are dripping well. The sugar is on the low side, so tonight I'm going to put the sap in several smaller containers in hopes of making use of tonight's freeze up. I'll peel off the ice in the morning and save myself some unnecessary boil time.

My Norway Maple has pumped out 12L so far today from two taps. No complaints here.

daverobitaille

03-12-2015, 06:30 AM

11031I was able to keep up with the sap flow and boil for the last 2 days. Finishing the first syrup this morning. Expect 3 gallons of liquid gold!

pauliwalnutz

03-12-2015, 11:23 AM

I put out 38 buckets on Saturday and another 12 on Monday for a total of 50 buckets. So far I have a couple of wet holes but that's about it. Maybe have a 1/2 cup of sap.

Run Forest Run!

03-12-2015, 11:51 AM

The soft maples just let loose 15 minutes ago. It looks like the season has now officially begun for me.

MustardSeedMum

03-12-2015, 12:19 PM

That's great Karen! Crazy how the weather can vary for us. I'm probably not too far from you but the trees are still sleeping for me this morning.
11042

Jerome

03-12-2015, 02:46 PM

I just got tapped only 14 this year not much of a run but there is still ice on the puddles and it is almost 3.

NTBugtraq

03-12-2015, 06:13 PM

Well, so far this season (4 days) I've gotten 176L of sap off 192 taps. My arch takes 32.5L, so I am going to start a boil tomorrow. Today was disappointing as we only got to 33.5F late this afternoon. Forecast is good for the next 5 days, so
fingers crossed...still.

Maplesapper

03-12-2015, 08:40 PM

Parry Sound-
Trees seemed locked down still.
30 gallons on 300+ taps.
Heading down to -14 in the long term forecast .
I hope this isn't 2012 all over again.

Run Forest Run!

03-12-2015, 10:53 PM

I've collected a combined total of 75L from ten taps yesterday and today. It's a nice gradual start to what will hopefully become a flood of sap and late night boiling sessions.

Clinkis

03-13-2015, 12:13 AM

I've collected a combined total of 75L from ten taps yesterday and today. It's a nice gradual start to what will hopefully become a flood of sap and late night boiling sessions.

Karen, did your sugar content improve any today?

Run Forest Run!

03-13-2015, 10:20 AM

Karen, did your sugar content improve any today?

No, it was the same as the day before. However, dumping the ice in my storage bucket has improved what remains. Hopefully that will do the trick until the sugars catch up with the season.

NTBugtraq

03-13-2015, 05:31 PM

Well, so far this season (4 days) I've gotten 176L of sap off 192 taps.

As of now, I'm at 320L, so almost as much today as in the past 4 days. My diaphragm burst at noon and it took me nearly 3 hours to replace it, so didn't get as much as I could. Current forecast only has it going down to freezing overnight, so not sure how that will affect sap overnight or tomorrow. Definitely going to boil tomorrow though.

Run Forest Run!

03-13-2015, 06:51 PM

Collected another 55.5L this afternoon, not counting what I poured down my pantleg and into my boot. :confused: I will start boiling tomorrow as all of my main storage pails are full to the brim.

The great news is that the sugar content has begun to rise. While the forest sugar maples are still at 1.5%, the sugars out in the open were just over 2%, my silvers were at 2.5% and 2.6% and my Norway beat out the crowd at 3%. Hopefully this trend will continue not only for my trees, but for everyone else who had low sugar readings for their first few sap runs.

NTBugtraq

03-13-2015, 07:26 PM

Karen, I want your bush!!!

But tell me, I bought a fractometer to tell me when my syrup was good, what benefit to you get from determining how much sugar is in your sap? Do you toss sap that has little sugar content? Just curious why you test sap.

Run Forest Run!

03-13-2015, 07:43 PM

I test the sap so that I can better plan my sugaring, for example:

* If I get a consistently low tree, I will not bother with it.
* I will most likely toss sap less than 1%.
* If I get a superstar tree, I'll put in two taps if there is enough diameter to warrant it.
* If the sap in my storage pails is really low in sugar content I'll freeze it for several days in a row and chuck the ice from the top. Last year I did that with 15L of low sugar sap. After 3 days of 'chucking and checking', what I had left was 8L at 5.1%.
* Knowing how much sugar I've got helps me to know how much propane I'm going to run through so I can plan on a good time to run for refills.
* Knowing the sugar content lets me know in advance how many hours I need to plan for my boiling sessions.

etc etc you get the idea.

But, most importantly, it's really fun to be checking your trees' sugar every day. Honestly, it really is.

Lespetras

03-13-2015, 08:04 PM

Hi karen!! I have ask you if you still have 20 taps? You are really getting a great yield.. I'm jealous!
Lesley

Run Forest Run!

03-13-2015, 08:08 PM

Hi Lesley. Yes, I still have 20 taps. Four of those are still asleep, so the yield is from 16 taps. Three of the taps today gave me 2 gallons each - not litres - gallons! The blue collections pails were full to the brim. I'll be boiling tomorrow and hope to yield 3L of syrup if all goes well.

MarkReynolds

03-13-2015, 08:10 PM

I agree 20 taps and just hauling it in, I've gotten maybe 40L this week from 46 taps... Makes me cry

Galena

03-14-2015, 10:49 AM

Apropos of nothing, Mark, but I love your profile pic! Good way to check that those spiles are securely in ;-)

Run Forest Run!

03-14-2015, 11:10 AM

Started up the burners for the first time this year at 10am this morning. Going to be a sweet day!

NTBugtraq

03-14-2015, 03:41 PM

But, most importantly, it's really fun to be checking your trees' sugar every day. Honestly, it really is.

Thx! That's awesome.

I'm up to 500L now, and did a boil today but decided to cut it short (to do other things more pressing, tomorrow sap won't flow so it will be a full boil day.)

MustardSeedMum

03-14-2015, 06:21 PM

Galena

03-14-2015, 06:32 PM

2 hours of boiling yesterday (had to stop because my chimney came crashing down).
Today we got new blocks for it and started boiling at 11:30am.

Hoping to finish boiling about 250L by night fall. The wind today is not helping the trees...rather quiet on the sap front.

Eek hope nobody hurt when the chimney came down!! And just as well the sap's going to slow, give you some time to catch up on the boiling.

MustardSeedMum

03-14-2015, 06:50 PM

Eek hope nobody hurt when the chimney came down!! And just as well the sap's going to slow, give you some time to catch up on the boiling.

Thankfully it went backwards away from the steam pans. Or there might've been some unlady-like exclamations. :lol:

I am resisting the temptation to put in more taps. I'm up to 40 taps and it's manageable right now. Getting a really good boil on the block arch. Only problem is it wasn't built air tight and I've got smoke coming out of every crevice top, side, front, everywhere. I feel like I'm smoking a couple of packs of cigarettes each time I'm out there. Kinda takes away from being able to enjoy the maple steam.

Run Forest Run!

03-14-2015, 09:47 PM

Fun day!

Boiled a total of 155L of sap. I have two pots of 'nearup' gently simmering on the stovetop. My Norway was the only soft maple giving up sap on this overcast and breezy day. However what it did give me was admirable - 5L @ 3.5.%.

The sugar maples were stars today. Two of the trees had overflowed their 2 gallon buckets and were offering 3%. That meant 6 gallons of 3%! The day's total from 8 trees was;
5L Norway @ 3.5%
2L Norway @ 2.5%
10L sugar maple @ 2.5%
18L sugar maple @ 2.25%
19L sugar maple @ 3%

With a collection total of 54L, increasing sugar content and my first boil of the season, I had a great day. :D The nearup will become syrup another day. Oh yeah, I almost forgot that I added a second tap to one of the sugar maples that overflows its bucket with 3%. That brings my tap total to 21.

MustardSeedMum

03-14-2015, 10:10 PM

Run Forest Run!

03-14-2015, 10:20 PM

Thanks MSM! The sugar maples that gave 3% are out in the open. The other sugars are in a forest. The soft maples on my property are lawn trees. The Manitoba maples (box elders) on my property are in a forested area and I've not yet tapped them this year. I'm kind of maxed out with what I'm getting at the moment and my soft maples haven't even really kicked in yet.

The $30 I spent on ebay to buy a refractometer was worth every penny. Many days it makes my boiling decisions for me. When I collected up the 3% and 3.5% sap today it was the first sap I put into the boil. I can highgrade my sap in order of quality so that I make the most of my day. Tonight the sap with the lowest sugar count (2.25% and 2.5%) is in the big sap bucket to hopefully get a little ice on it tonight. That should spruce it up a little bit!

Clinkis

03-14-2015, 11:05 PM

Run Forest Run!

03-14-2015, 11:33 PM

Great news for you Clinkis! Here's to more sugar content coming your way soon. :) Keep us posted.

daverobitaille

03-15-2015, 06:12 AM

Finished to boil 0ver 65 gallons of sap yesterday to end up with only 1 gallon of finished syrup. There is no sugar in the sap so far. However, the quality of it is fantastic! Very light and smooth flavor. Was also easy to filter. Hope the sugar content will go up.

Run Forest Run!

03-15-2015, 11:38 AM

Dave, that's a lot of sap! I'm sure the syrup is delicious. I have finally caught up with the sap in my containers and cheated a little this morning - I put 'nearup' over my buttermilk crumpets at breakfast. I couldn't wait until it was the proper brix. It was wonderful. First of the season.

The wind is vicious here today so I'm not sure what the sap collection will be like. There is ice in the buckets so that ought to recharge the trees.

Run Forest Run!

03-15-2015, 07:17 PM

The taps were on the slow side today, not surprising considering today's windy conditions. Collected 41.75L of sap with sugar content of 2% - 3%. In general it seemed that sugar, on average, was down a quarter point today across the board. I started boiling the sap just before dinner and should be finished up within the hour. I'll bring it onto the stove and add it to yesterday's 'nearup'. That will then be the yield from boiling of 224L of sap. I think that's the most I've ever boiled within a 24 hour period, and already about 45L more than my entire first year. Yeah, let's not talk too much about 2012. It was a great year to learn because the sap volume never got away from you, but beyond that.......well.....

Clinkis

03-15-2015, 08:05 PM

My sugar was down about a quarter point too. Sounds like weather will be good tomorrow so should be a good day.

NTBugtraq

03-15-2015, 09:08 PM

Well, my brix tester doesn't work on sap, so I've no idea what I'm at. I boiled for about 4 hours yesterday, and then started boiling without taking the ash out of my arch (dumb idea), so my temps were off during the 10 hours I boiled today. Add to that the fact I forgot to adjust my float box, so was trying to boil some 4" in the arch...and all and all I was feeling pretty dumb today...;-] That said, I had 20 gallons more sap tonight than I did this morning...so I guess the trees were running all day (wasn't expecting any sap today.) 29F now and all indications it will be another good sap running day tomorrow. I decided to shut it down early tonight and get ready for a good day tomorrow...float box adjusted and I have to remove the ash in the morning, but I got a full stack of wood ready to go in early.

As an aside, I am running on low vac this year with a Guzzler and Booster Tank. I can't tell if its giving me anything more than I would get on gravity. The vacuum appears to stay low (e.g. 10") until the secondaries warm up enough to release sap, then the vac goes up (I got to 16" today). I gotta believe that any vac is better than none, but these things to be as much smoke and mirrors as fact.

Run Forest Run!

03-16-2015, 12:56 PM

The taps are dripping big time today. All my propane tanks have been refilled in anticipation. *fingers crossed*

MustardSeedMum

03-16-2015, 01:05 PM

Taps are dripping nicely. Kids collected 70L from 50 taps (yeah, we're up to 50 now) before lunch and I can see the buckets filling up again.

Busy cleaning my pans to get ready for the next boil later this week. I tried the soap trick on the pans before my first boil and I think I might not have put enough soap on some parts of the pans. Ugh. Sprayed some baking soda solution last night to let it sit. Scraping is going a little easier today.

*Fingers and toes crossed for everyone for a great week*

Jerome

03-16-2015, 05:48 PM

Just got in, it was not as good as I was hoping I only got about 3 gallons on 14 taps. The rest of the week looks like it will be closed down.

Run Forest Run!

03-16-2015, 06:38 PM

Got 65L from 18 taps. A respectable showing, but thought I might be inundated given how quickly the Norway was dripping all day. Sugar content is excellent. Got readings from 2.5 to 3.75 with a slight sugar increase in the evening collection vs. this morning's collection. I've got plenty of sap to boil and keep me busy tomorrow while I'm also finishing off my pots of 'nearup' into the real thing. BTW, the best sugar of the day was, in fact, my Norway at 3.75% which gave me 7L today.

Run Forest Run!

03-17-2015, 02:31 PM

psparr

03-17-2015, 02:35 PM

Lesson #36659. Watch the elbows.

MarkReynolds

03-17-2015, 04:20 PM

Wish I was boiling instead of being stuck at work right now... :( tomorrow morning when I wake up I'll start things up :) and that sucks about the syrup all over the floor!

NTBugtraq

03-17-2015, 05:51 PM

Guess I've had some 1600L of sap so far. Boiled ~900+L of sap so far, no syrup yet...but the finishing pan has gotten to +5.5F so should have some soon. Still got another 700L to boil.

Run Forest Run!

03-17-2015, 10:11 PM

After cleaning up my syrupy mess on the floor, and factoring in some heavy sampling over the past few days, I ended up with just shy of 3.2L of what my grading sample box says would be 'light'. It's actually slightly 'lighter than light' and slightly 'darker than extra light'. Kind of in between.

At 70:1, this first batch is a lesson in determination to say the least. I've never had sugar levels in the 1.5% range, and hope I never do again. It's a lot of work when boiling with propane burners. At least the sap I'm getting now should yield twice the amount of syrup as that first batch did. Once the weather warms up and the wind dies down I hope to be back in business for batch #2.

MustardSeedMum

03-17-2015, 11:27 PM

I can't believe what I did.... :cry:

I had just finished getting the perfect brix for my syrup using my hydrotherm, when my elbow knocked over the hydrotherm's cup which was full of syrup. The only good news is that the hydrotherm was not in the cup at the time.

Fast forward a full hour later and I'm still trying to clean up the syrup which is all over the floor, the island, the cupboards, the stove........ everywhere except inside a bottle where it should have been. :mad: What a mess.

Ugh. I feel for you. And so glad your hydrotherm was out of harm's way.

ennismaple

03-18-2015, 12:54 PM

I can't believe what I did.... :cry:

I had just finished getting the perfect brix for my syrup using my hydrotherm, when my elbow knocked over the hydrotherm's cup which was full of syrup. The only good news is that the hydrotherm was not in the cup at the time.

Fast forward a full hour later and I'm still trying to clean up the syrup which is all over the floor, the island, the cupboards, the stove........ everywhere except inside a bottle where it should have been. :mad: What a mess.

That sucks Karen. I did an equivalent thing on Monday night when I accidently opened the bottom of my Sirofilter canister with my foot. It's amazing how fast several Liters of syrup can drain onto the floor while you curse and try to figure out WTF went wrong!!!

Run Forest Run!

03-18-2015, 12:58 PM

That sucks Karen. I did an equivalent thing on Monday night when I accidently opened the bottom of my Sirofilter canister with my foot. It's amazing how fast several Liters of syrup can drain onto the floor while you curse and try to figure out WTF went wrong!!!

Well that's even worse! Several liters?! Mine was tough enough to clean up.

Jerome

03-18-2015, 03:39 PM

You need a dog ;)

Run Forest Run!

03-18-2015, 07:44 PM

You need a dog ;)

Borrowing one for clean-ups might be easier still!

Things were frozen solid here today with only a couple of minor drips close to 4pm. No collections necessary, but the weather provided the perfect opportunity for multiple ice removals from the storage containers. Sugar level in those containers is getting better each time. :) One is already up to 4%, so I'm pleased.

Run Forest Run!

03-18-2015, 08:15 PM

Here's the first batch, which was completed yesterday. Hopefully the first of many more batches. :)
11190

Lespetras

03-18-2015, 08:26 PM

Oh my gash karen, that looks great!!

Run Forest Run!

03-18-2015, 08:28 PM

Thanks Lesley. :)

Jerome

03-19-2015, 07:44 AM

Looks great Karin wish I had some as I am still waiting for my first boil.

Jerome

03-19-2015, 03:48 PM

I'll be waiting a while longer just went to collect yesterday's and today's run maybe 2 gallons from 14 taps

MarkReynolds

03-19-2015, 06:05 PM

I'm with ya Jerome I've had slow and low sap yields, I'm doing continuous flow so my pans are sweet atm but I haven't finished off my first batch yet.. My 6 day work week keeps getting in the way..

Run Forest Run!

03-19-2015, 06:43 PM

Collected from the trees at my house and got 10L of 4% (after dumping out the ice in the buckets). Removing the ice in my large sap storage container over the past few days has left me with 4% in there as well. Can't get to my other trees due to ice and a fallen tree over the roadway. I'd be quite sure that they are mostly frozen as well so it's not a problem to wait for a day or two more. Mother Nature's the boss.

daverobitaille

03-20-2015, 06:35 AM

Clinkis

03-20-2015, 07:44 AM

Excellent video! Very well done.

TurkeyJohn

03-20-2015, 09:00 AM

Great video guys,

Helps the city folks appreciate why syrup is so expensive to buy in a store...

TurkeyJohn

Lespetras

03-20-2015, 11:55 AM

Love the video!

Run Forest Run!

03-20-2015, 12:54 PM

Drip. Drip. Drip. I'm ready.

Run Forest Run!

03-20-2015, 10:38 PM

A decent day with some trees producing well, and others just waking up from the two day cold snap. I hadn't yet tapped any of my box elders, but today was their day. Put in 7 to start with and the holes were running to beat the band. My Norway was pumping out 4% and my silvers were running 2.5% and 3.25%. Who knew that when I planted all my trees 25 years ago that I'd be getting so much enjoyment and deliciousness out of them aside from nice shade in the summer.

Boiled 103L of sap today in just over 6 hours, so I'm pleased with that evaporation rate for my setup. That puts me at 2 gallons per hour, per hotel pan. That's about the maximum I could expect. Batch #2 is finishing/simmering on the stove and will be ready for bottling tomorrow. A great day. This season has been just perfect for me so far with a few days of sap and a few days to boil and catch up. My sap storage containers are now empty and ready to go again.

MichtonTree

03-21-2015, 06:38 AM

Nice video.

...Karen sounds like, you have things well in hand.:cool:

Galena

03-21-2015, 09:02 AM

Way to go Karen! And at this end of the province, ain't hardly nothin since I did up those two batches a couple days ago. *sigh*... back to thumb twiddling. Anyone want their taxes done?

Run Forest Run!

03-21-2015, 10:42 AM

Hi fellows maple syrup makers! Last Sunday a man walked up to our shack and asked if he could make a documentary video. We agreed and he pulled out his gear to film ours!

Take a look. It is very well made.

Dave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ha1mCHNBDE

Dave I really enjoyed the video. You were so informative and at ease in front of the camera that Peter Mansbridge had better watch out! ;)

Jerome

03-21-2015, 10:55 AM

Just got in, holly mack it is raw out there, I got about 10 gals from my 14 tap yesterday now it will freeze up for a couple of days

Run Forest Run!

03-21-2015, 05:21 PM

Temperatures are decent for sap flow, but the howling winds have shut everything down. Going to be -12 tonight so that ought to lock up the sap for a while longer.

NTBugtraq

03-21-2015, 05:45 PM

Karen,

What makes you think there is no sugar in the ice? I'm not sure I understand that reasoning. Personally, I'd just thaw the ice on a large volume of sap and expect the ice to have sugar. Teach me, please.

Dave, great video. One small comment, I get tons of sap overnight on certain days, you kinda made it sound like a daytime nighttime thing, but its really just getting the temps to shift...imo.

Run Forest Run!

03-21-2015, 05:58 PM

Karen,

What makes you think there is no sugar in the ice? I'm not sure I understand that reasoning. Personally, I'd just thaw the ice on a large volume of sap and expect the ice to have sugar. Teach me, please..

When you get ice forming in your buckets there is always less sugar in that ice than in what remains in your bucket. (I always check the sugar content in the melting ice with my refractometer to make sure I'm not dumping anything that is over 1.5 - 2%). If I get some slushy or crystally ice I usually end up dumping all of it, but it you get a hard freeze and the ice is a solid block then I let it melt down to about half or a third and use what melts off because more sugar is trapped in solid ice than in slushy ice.

NTBugtraq

03-21-2015, 06:03 PM

Run Forest Run!

03-21-2015, 06:06 PM

You're measuring between 0 and 4%. there kinda huge margin of error in there.

What are you referring to? You've lost me.

NTBugtraq

03-21-2015, 06:14 PM

So I made my first syrup today after boiling some 2500L. In a whiskey bottle, its very dark except at the neck, which is what I've gotten in past years. Still playing with the brix (my first 5+L was 69.2), but as tasty as its always been. Actually got to crack the tap on my arch and let it drip drip drip into the finishing pan, and after 6L it finished in like 2-3 mins on propane. Not expecting sap tomorrow but hoping for a good boil day.

67HEAVEN

03-21-2015, 07:07 PM

daverobitaille

03-21-2015, 08:16 PM

Hi Folks! Thanks for all the nice comments about the video! I was pleased myself!

Dave

Run Forest Run!

03-21-2015, 09:19 PM

The 103 litres of sap I boiled down yesterday gave me 3L of lovely light syrup when I finished it off today. That's 34:1 instead of the miserable 70:1 that I had with my first batch. What a difference in boiling time!

cbhansen

03-21-2015, 10:49 PM

You're measuring between 0 and 4%. There's kinda huge margin of error in there. Water with 2% sugar freezes pretty much the same as water with no sugar. Have you ever taken the ice and thawed it, and tested it?

For years I'd always thrown out the ice out of habit / tradition. Last year I saved some ice / slush one morning after moderate freeze letting it thaw during the day. The thawed "sap" had a sugar content of ~0.2%. Out it goes.

Run Forest Run!

03-21-2015, 11:10 PM

When you get ice forming in your buckets there is always less sugar in that ice than in what remains in your bucket. (I always check the sugar content in the melting ice with my refractometer to make sure I'm not dumping anything that is over 1.5 - 2%). If I get some slushy or crystally ice I usually end up dumping all of it, but it you get a hard freeze and the ice is a solid block then I let it melt down to about half or a third and use what melts off because more sugar is trapped in solid ice than in slushy ice.

You're measuring between 0 and 4%. There's kinda huge margin of error in there. Water with 2% sugar freezes pretty much the same as water with no sugar. Have you ever taken the ice and thawed it, and tested it?

Like I said, I always check the sugar content in the melting ice. There are lots of threads on here discussing the issue of sugar trapped in the frozen sap, including this current one http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?25432-survey-how-many-of-you-throw-away-the-ice. Perhaps a quick search on this topic will explain things better than my attempt. Sorry I've obviously missed the mark on answering your question.

Galena

03-22-2015, 08:54 AM

Four trees; total of 8 taps; in southwest Northumberland County.

Mar. 12 - 3.8 L
Mar. 14 - 40.7 L
Mar. 15 - 7.5 L
Mar. 16 - 25 L
Mar. 17 - 9.5 L
Mar. 20 - 26.5 L
Mar. 21 - 39 L

Total of approx. 150 L so far - first year.

Wow, good work so far! BTW, you're more than welcome to visit and chime in on any regional forum here, I just thought this one would be most relevant for you in a geographic sense. Feel free to pop in on Eastern Ontario and share your stories and questions anytime :-)

NTBugtraq

03-22-2015, 03:43 PM

Like I said, I always check the sugar content in the melting ice. There are lots of threads on here discussing the issue of sugar trapped in the frozen sap, including this current one http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?25432-survey-how-many-of-you-throw-away-the-ice. Perhaps a quick search on this topic will explain things better than my attempt. Sorry I've obviously missed the mark on answering your question.

Karen, my apologies for the confusion. I couldn't see why sugar would separate from water while the sap froze (still don't understand how that happens, but I see that it does). I also didn't see where you said you tested the frozen sap. I have one bucket that collects from 8 trees and often contains a block of ice. I'm going to test that myself to see what my results are. My sap is averaging >3% atm.

I finally got my arch firing on all cylinders, boiling 15 gals/hr now. Since I corrected the issue at noon yesterday, I've boiled 9 hrs and now have 4.1 gals of my typically dark amber 68-69 brix syrup. I really gotta learn how to add some sap to bring it down a tad (although I like it sweet). But I guess for the price I'm charging ($25/L) its better to be on the high side. At least now the pans are sweetened, so I should be getting 4 gals a day each day I can boil.

MustardSeedMum

03-23-2015, 01:14 PM

Using the cold weather to finish my 2 weeks' worth of near up.

Batch 1 from week 1 (Mar 8-14) yielded 3.25L of syrup (257L of sap, 1.09% sugar content)
Batch 2 from last week yielded 9L of syrup (420L of sap, 1.84% sugar content)

I sure hope sugar content goes up before it starts its march downward.

Need to figure out a way to get the syrup through my filters though. Had a rough time getting the last 2.5-3L through. I ended up having to re-heat the filtered stuff to bottle.

Run Forest Run!

03-23-2015, 03:35 PM

Hi MSM. I've had more trouble with the filtering this year than in other years too. After the first batch of ridiculously sluggish filtering, I waved the white flag and and am now letting the batches settle out in large bottles and will decant the clear stuff off in a day or two and then gently reheat to 180F for a final bottling. I don't know why this year is causing filtering problems, but I've decided to not even bother fighting with it. The syrup I've made so far is settling out just perfectly in the jars and I'm confident that what I'll eventually bottle will be crystal clear and delicious.

BTW, my sugar content greatly increased last week so my second batch was much quicker and easier to make than my first batch. I suspect you'll find the same thing with your next run of sap - once these frigid temperatures ease up a little.

MustardSeedMum

03-23-2015, 04:17 PM

Karen, I was hoping it was just me, really. Then there'd be some hope that maybe I was just having equipment failure - like maybe I need a new prefilter or something.
I was even thinking I'd go the jelly bag route, if it was a problem with my thick wool filter.

The other thing I'm struggling with is figuring out when to finish. Use my hydrotherm or my thermometer? I was boiling to 219/220 but my hydrotherm would say it's not quite ready. But I'm getting the sheeting and my finished product looks really thick going by my hydrotherm.

If I am on the thick side, then maybe my sugar content is a lot better in my sap than I'm calculating it to be.

I say filtering is the thing I love the least with sugaring. Maybe someone can come out with a marketing scheme where we can all sell unfiltered maple syrup and tout it as a health product. Charge more too since it's all natural. Oh wait, I think there was a guy on kijiji last year or the year before who was doing that. Wonder if he's on there again this year.

Run Forest Run!

03-23-2015, 04:29 PM

MSM, I defaulted to the hydrotherm. I like to take the syrup a little thick and then thin it down when cool to the exact brix that I want. There's a lot less drama thinning down cool syrup than trying to get things exact when boiling hot. My syrup was acting strange this year when I tried to filter. It gooped up really quickly - that's the technical term. lol I ended up dumping it back into the pot with only three bottles successfully and properly filtered. I've resigned myself to decanting this year. If future batches behave more like the batches of previous years I might try to filter them like I always have done, but until then I'm not going to stress myself out fighting with it.

If your finished syrup is thick according to your hydrotherm, then it is. Trust that over what your thermometer tells you. Like I said, I really prefer to boil my syrup a little thick and then thin it the next morning. Once it's reheated, settled and bottled it's perfect. :)

Jerome

03-23-2015, 04:35 PM

Are you using the prefilter liners in your filter? I suspend my filter in the caner to keep it warm it helps a lot with flow. Then again I have not tried to filter this year so I don't know how bad the niter is.

Run Forest Run!

03-23-2015, 04:52 PM

Yes Jerome, that's how I've done it in the past but the syrup is ceasing up quickly this year. Sugaring always seems to be a moving target, so I just go with the flow. :)

daverobitaille

03-24-2015, 06:43 AM

Filtering..... Always a misery. However this year seams to be the easiest year since I make syrup. It always depends on the year and many, many factors. I use a pre filter before finishing and an Orlon filter when done. This year I am able to filter 3 full gallons before the filter is to clogged up. In the past I was doing about 2 at the most.

Run Forest Run!

03-24-2015, 01:53 PM

Taps on the south side of the trees have just started to drip after being frozen solid since the end of last week. Here's hoping. :)

Run Forest Run!

03-25-2015, 09:51 AM

MustardSeedMum

03-25-2015, 10:41 AM

I collected up my frozen bucketsicles yesterday in anticipation of a sap run today. I'd need the space in the buckets if it lets loose. What has melted off from that ice so far is registering off the scale of my refractometer - somewhere in the 11% sugar range. OMG. I'm going to let the ice melt down until a lot more of the locked in sugar has been released then get rid of the watery icy bits.

WOWIE! That makes up for the first week doesn't it?!
Makes me wonder about my frozen sap that's been sitting in the buckets since Saturday.
I used about 4L of it the other day to mix in with a little syrup that I was cleaning off my filters. Was surprised that it didn't reduce as much as I thought it would.

MustardSeedMum

03-25-2015, 05:01 PM

While I bemoan the lack of sap today, here's a question for you regarding grading of maple syrup.
Here I have the same batch of syrup (my 2nd batch from the past week) in 2 different sized bottles - 125ml (¼ pint) and 500ml (1 pint)

11353

How would you grade this? Light? And if I didn't have the smaller bottle as a comparison, wouldn't I be grading incorrectly?

Run Forest Run!

03-25-2015, 05:12 PM

MSM, check out this archived article put out by 'Ontario Maple Syrup'. Grading is done using a standard small glass bottle. You would be correct in assuming that grading your syrup based on how it looks in a 500ml bottle would be incorrect. That smaller bottle in your picture would get your closer to the actual grade. It looks very much like a light syrup from what I can tell online.

https://onmaplesyrup.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/maple-syrup-production-report-for-march-31-to-april-6-2014/

MustardSeedMum

03-25-2015, 07:13 PM

Thanks Karen. Yes, it's light according to my sample bottles. The light bulb went on when you mentioned testing in small glass bottle. My sample bottles came in a wooden box and also included an empty bottle...maybe I'm supposed to use that. :)

Run Forest Run!

03-25-2015, 07:25 PM

That would be a "yes" MSM. That's what the spare bottle is for. ;)

MustardSeedMum

03-26-2015, 04:21 PM

80L collected from about 35 taps. The others are sleeping.

Just heard on 680news that a Quebec producer is predicting an awesome season...once the sap starts to flow.

Run Forest Run!

03-26-2015, 06:06 PM

I collected a total of 33L today. More than I thought I would get. The best part was that because there was a little bit of ice to throw out, all 33L averaged 4.25% sugar. I'll take it!

67HEAVEN

03-26-2015, 06:08 PM

35 litres today by 5:00 p.m., from 4 trees (8 taps total).

Fingers crossed for the weekend.

MarkReynolds

03-26-2015, 10:46 PM

I had a pretty good haul 40 gallons (151L) today pretty good! I don't have a refractometer but I taste the sap and all of it was very sweet! Lots of boiling tomorrow!

BrutemanAl

03-28-2015, 07:58 AM

Good morning everyone, just checking in to see how everyone is doing, must admit, I have been on everyday for the most part just not posting, but I am happy to say, last weekend the boys and I went and tapped 7 tree's, it was an adventure that's for sure !!! I drilled the holes and they took turns hammering in the taps, they had a hard time walking in the snow carrying the hammer and buckets with lids, 1 almost got the other with the hammer when he tripped in the snow, at that point daddy Alex held the hammer while walking in the snow.

Didn't get much last weekend to even bother with, but I went over on Wednesday after work and collected 40 ltr's. Boiled most of it last night, and realized just how much I didn't miss filtering lol... my goodness its slow and painful lol. When the filtering is pretty much done I should have about 3 cups for the start of my year. Going to collect more today with the boys and boil it.

The 2 pictures are 1 of the boys last weekend while we were checking the buckets. I let him taste the sap in 1 of the buckets... bad idea... could keep his head of them after he had a taste lol.

1142811429

67HEAVEN

03-28-2015, 08:58 AM

BrutemanAl,

Hello from the other end of the County. Awoke to -10*C this morning. I have a feeling not much sap is going to flow today. :lol:

I did collect 44 L on Thursday and 12.5 L on Friday. I went a bit long on my boil and it crystallized, so I'll add sap and redo it. Being new to this game, I'm still learning. The acquisition of some sap and syrup testing instruments is next on my list.

What kind of Spring is this anyway? http://i39.tinypic.com/123nqcn.jpg

Run Forest Run!

03-28-2015, 02:23 PM

Hey Al. I think you've hooked a little sugarer in those pics. I was wondering how it was going for you. Figured you couldn't keep your hands off the drill. Have fun with the boys!

Run Forest Run!

03-28-2015, 08:46 PM

No sap today, so I'm decanting my first two batches and bottling them properly for long term storage. Long term storage. :lol: hahaha :lol: Who am I kidding?

Galena

03-28-2015, 09:11 PM

Attaboy Al, get em hooked early...;-) He looks so happy, glad things are going well!

Still zilch-o at this end. Some frozen sap in the pails but leaving them there til this stoopid weather lets off. Thumb twiddling during sugaring season is awfully boring and frustrating.

And sadly I think my hydrometer is busted - I was trying to scrape off what looked like a slight line of residue at the bottom where the dye/mercury/ballbearings etc are...and though I don't see anything leaking out, things look all kinda muddied together, so I'm afraid it's a hairline crack. Doubtless caused from all the torpedoing it did last year. So think I will take that as a hint and just chuck it out, don't plan to replace it :-/

BrutemanAl

03-29-2015, 07:18 AM

Galena

03-29-2015, 08:08 AM

So my first batch I boiled Friday night is starting to turn to sugar, took it a little to far in the boiling process, can I add it to the sap I collected yesterday so it mixes with that and doesn't all go to sugar? Not that I dont mind maple sugar, but I was hoping to give the finished stuff to the boys so they can give it to their foster family. Or the sap I am boiling right now I can always just give that to them and just let the syrup sugar do its thing and use it in my coffee :)

Al, go right ahead and decant that sugary syrup into some fresh sap and reboil! Adding fresh sap to fix an overcooked batch is perfectly normal, just like adding more water to a pan that's starting to boil dry when you're braising beef.

And when there's no sap left and you have crystallizing syrup, you can use distilled water instead, with a clear conscience ;-) Bahahahaahaaaa....*sorry still on first coffee of the day*

Actually Karen made a good point in another thread on sugar and syrup: ...If your syrup filtered nicely and is clear, don't reboil the syrup with sap or you'll create new niter and have to refilter. If you use distilled water to thin down your heavy syrup and heat everything up slowly to 190F (without having your syrup boil) then you can rebottle into clean jars.

Have fun with the munchkins!

ETA: Sorry if you've already posted the info about them, but how old are they? Are they brothers?

Run Forest Run!

03-29-2015, 09:43 AM

So the sun is shining, but we are -3. The forecast is calling for a high of 4. Sounds promising for later in the day, but that's when the gusting wind is supposed to start. Wonderful. :-|

. . . So. . . I've hauled all of my frozen sap storage containers into the house in hopes of thawing them out. Maybe I can boil them down to 'nearup' while the sun attempts to brighten the frigid landscape.

Galena

03-29-2015, 10:01 AM

LOL and like always, Karen, we're at opposite ends of the spectrum...I've collected nothing for the last two days, even though it was +4 and sunny, cause the 20km N wind killed any chance of a flow. But starting later today we're getting SW winds, and they're meant to be going all night and we finally have a half-decent forecast for the next week. About freakin time!!!

BrutemanAl

03-30-2015, 06:18 AM

SNOW :mad:

NTBugtraq

03-30-2015, 07:11 AM

The other thing I'm struggling with is figuring out when to finish. Use my hydrotherm or my thermometer? I was boiling to 219/220 but my hydrotherm would say it's not quite ready. But I'm getting the sheeting and my finished product looks really thick going by my hydrotherm.

MSM, maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anyone suggest that perhaps your target number for the thermo hasn't been calculated properly. Every day you need to check the boiling point of water as near to where you are using the thermo as possible (e.g. beside where you're boiling the sap). Atmospheric pressure, caused by weather conditions, can change that normally 212F number into 210F or 214F. So find out today's number (I boil my thermo in a kettle, with fresh water every day), and then add 7.2F to it to get to minimum maple syrup brix point.

Also, there temperature corrections that should be done with Hydrotherms if your syrup is not boiling when measured. Fill your hydrotherm cup with boiling syrup, wait a few seconds for the cup to warm, then dump and take fresh syrup...then measure.

As Karen says, if it looks good, its probably good, but if you're thinking of selling any, you really should resolve the two measurements to your satisfaction so you know what you've ended up with.

Big_Eddy

03-30-2015, 08:24 AM

Actually with a hydrotherm there are no adjustments needed for temperature. The Hydrotherm includes a thermometer and is "temperature compensating" while syrup is hot but not boiling (i.e 50-100C).

A hydrometer reading needs to be adjusted for temperature.

The March 20th ONMapleSyrup report has a good writeup on the subject. https://onmaplesyrup.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/ontario-maple-syrup-production-report-on-march-20-2015/#more-427

MustardSeedMum

03-30-2015, 09:29 AM

MSM, maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anyone suggest that perhaps your target number for the thermo hasn't been calculated properly. Every day you need to check the boiling point of water as near to where you are using the thermo as possible (e.g. beside where you're boiling the sap). Atmospheric pressure, caused by weather conditions, can change that normally 212F number into 210F or 214F. So find out today's number (I boil my thermo in a kettle, with fresh water every day), and then add 7.2F to it to get to minimum maple syrup brix point.

Also, there temperature corrections that should be done with Hydrotherms if your syrup is not boiling when measured. Fill your hydrotherm cup with boiling syrup, wait a few seconds for the cup to warm, then dump and take fresh syrup...then measure.

As Karen says, if it looks good, its probably good, but if you're thinking of selling any, you really should resolve the two measurements to your satisfaction so you know what you've ended up with.

Thanks NT. Yes, I know the water bp can change day to day. So I do take that into account. And yes, as BigEddy says, I've got the hydrotherm which adjusts for temperature. I'm so glad for it. :) 1 less thing to worry about at finishing. It is always a chaotic event in my kitchen - finishing syrup.

MustardSeedMum

03-30-2015, 09:33 AM

So is what's happening in my neck of the woods the sugar snow EnnisMaple was referring to??!!

Need that wind to go away though...

Run Forest Run!

03-30-2015, 09:43 AM

Had snow last night, everything froze up tight, the wind is vicious, you'd think that the jugs would be empty.......... Then why are some half full and the drips picking up speed?

Don't know, but I'll take it! :lol:

NTBugtraq

03-30-2015, 11:08 AM

Well, I got no sap yesterday, but got another 40gals between 7:00pm last night and 7:00am this morning...and snow also. Low was 30.5F overnight...is 36.3F now. Unfortunately the diaphragm on my Guzzler blew in that time also (that's the 2nd one that's gone so far this season)...so not collecting as much as I might be getting. The diaphragms are almost non-existent, so I'm having 2 shipped in from quite a distance, how suppliers cannot have replacement stock of these at this time of the season is beyond me.

Jerome

03-30-2015, 12:26 PM

Still waiting for a halfway decent run just dribs and drabs here. I still don't have enough to start a fire.

MarkReynolds

03-30-2015, 12:35 PM

MustardSeedMum

03-30-2015, 01:06 PM

4C here but snowing now. Weird. A few taps dripping. Thinking I should go and empty whatever little bit of sap we've got in the blue buckets from the last week, in case the dastardly wind takes them off the trees.

Run Forest Run!

03-30-2015, 02:26 PM

Galena

03-30-2015, 03:02 PM

My buddy texted me a work and said that the wind blew all my buckets off last night. Lucky for me, he is a good friend and hung them all back on the trees. So I take it what was in them is now on the ground...

That may be so, Mark, but think of it this way...those buckets would've spilled pretty close to the trees, so they're just going to re-absorb it and produce it as sap again :-)

MarkReynolds

03-30-2015, 03:11 PM

Lol good point

Jerome

03-30-2015, 03:52 PM

if they blew off the trees there was not enough in them to worry about.

I just got in from collecting I had about 8 gallons for 14 tap over 5 days, I finally have 35 gallons of sap in the storage tank so it looks like I will spend Easter boiling.

MustardSeedMum

03-30-2015, 05:14 PM

I know it's a total pain in the neck, but the jugs that I have here on my property are tied to the trees. A few years of chasing empty buckets got the better of me and I just deal with the string. The wind up here is nuts.

Yeah, so my sap haulers will go on strike if I do that. :lol: Already I pepper them with reminders everytime they go out to collect...."make sure the lid goes back on properly, make sure the bucket is secure on the ground so it doesn't tip over. Make sure you don't yank the blue bucket off the hook too hard, make sure the tubing sits properly in the bucket, remember to....hey where'd everybody go?... :rolleyes:

Wind is picking up, some taps are excruciatingly slow...could the holes be drying up in some of these??!!

My tubing in the 5 gallon buckets seem to be doing a little better. Kids gathered about 60L earlier today (this is from the whole of last week to 1pm today) I just went out to check and it looks like I've got another 30+L out there.

So I've got about 200L to start boiling tomorrow. Still hoping for a good run this week.

67HEAVEN

03-30-2015, 08:09 PM

Collected twice today and got a total of 50 L from 5 trees (10 taps). In spite of its reputation for low sugar, I tapped my neighbour's Manitoba Maple. Beggars (only 4 trees on my property) can't be choosers.

Run Forest Run!

03-30-2015, 11:25 PM

Hey 67Heaven, don't poopoo that Manitoba Maple. My dozen or so usually sit around 2.5%. As for other softs, my Norway gave me 6L of 4% today. My neighbour wanted me to tap their Norway too so I did. That one is lower in sugar content and output but still decent compared to a forest sugar maple. My silvers and my Freeman maple are currently in the 2.5-4% range. The main difference with soft maples vs. sugar maples is that they taste less 'mapley' than a sugar does. They give a very mild and buttery syrup. Delicious on their own, or blended with sugars.

MSM, I wouldn't think that any of your taps are drying up yet. You'll be swimming in sap soon and your brood will be running for their floaties. Between my trees here and the ones I tap down the street, the 28 taps gave me a whopping 26L. Respectable but not spectacular. This year has been very easy to keep up with so far. I did a mini-boil today and then refilled two propane tanks at Costco tonight so I'm ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at me for the next few days.

Run Forest Run!

03-31-2015, 11:38 AM

Sun is out. No wind. Temps in the plus. Taps have just let loose. :) I'm going to stop now before I jinx the whole thing.

Run Forest Run!

03-31-2015, 01:06 PM

Things are picking up speed here in The Golden Horseshoe. Two burners are going and the sweet smell of victory is in the air today.

JWB27

03-31-2015, 05:40 PM

I boiled about 30 gallons down on Sat. Had some things come up so I put the unfinished sap in the fridge. Do you think it will still be good to finish tonight or tomorrow.

Run Forest Run!

03-31-2015, 05:48 PM

Absolutely John. If it was cold you're likely just fine.

Lespetras

03-31-2015, 06:02 PM

Things are picking up speed here in The Golden Horseshoe. Two burners are going and the sweet smell of victory is in the air today.
Yes Karen, here too in The Kingston area.. Very exciting!

Run Forest Run!

03-31-2015, 11:07 PM

At the moment I've got two pots simmering on the stove with the final results from 150L of sap collected today and over the past week. I collected 60L today. Bucket results were all over the map. Sugar is excellent.

Run Forest Run!

04-01-2015, 08:43 PM

Hmmm. Well not what I was expecting today.... I collected a total of 57L. Respectable, but not overwhelming. A couple of taps really came to the party today, but on average things were sluggish. Didn't even start the burners. I am, however, finishing off what looks like a gallon+ of syrup that I started last night. I'm anxious to total it up. Gave away a couple bottles of syrup to friends today. That's always fun.

MustardSeedMum

04-01-2015, 08:55 PM

Trees didn't start dripping around here until 11am. But those that did went gangbusters. Collected 120L from about 45 taps by mid day, and then had to empty some of the same buckets a few hours later...another 40L. There's still more out in the 5gallon pails that we didn't collect. I've got about 25 dud taps...all blue bucket spiles. grr.
There were several taps that were real champs - probably close to 8L from each tap..

Ice was a little crunchy when I came in for the night. But the muck is still soft. Forecast is for it to remain above 0. We'll see if it drips through the night.

Run Forest Run!

04-01-2015, 09:47 PM

That's a great haul MSM. One thing that I was thrilled about was my great sugar content. Some of my super stars of the day were 4.25% (silver maple) and 4.0% (two sugar maples). My Norway offered up 3.5%. I'll happily take less sap at a high sugar content than more sap with lower sugar. All in all a good day.

MustardSeedMum

04-01-2015, 10:25 PM

Gosh Karen, you had to tempt me with the refractometer again! ;)
I feel like I'm boiling blind with my sap. Haha. I must say that I noticed that some of the rims on the buckets where the sap had dried off felt a little sticky. Maybe it's a higher sugar content? Or maybe just my imagination?
But didnt take long for the colour to change in the pans though - compared with the first boil of the season.

Well Im heading off to la la land. Want to get a headstart tomorrow before its supposed to drizzle. Not going to fight the rain boiling without a roof over my head.

Run Forest Run!

04-01-2015, 10:31 PM

I've now put my 3rd batch in containers so the niter can settle out before filtering, bottling and proper heat-sealing. I'm thrilled with my total of 5250ml from 146L of sap. That's a 3.1% average sugar content. That yield of 28:1 was SO much better than my first 2015 batch of 70:1. Now I get to update my signature!

Hey MSM, that stickiness on your buckets is just residue left from the evaporation of past sap. Nice try though. lol Get a refractometer! You know you want to.

Rob Walton

04-02-2015, 05:23 AM

That is awesome Karen!

Run Forest Run!

04-02-2015, 09:34 PM

Thanks Rob. I boiled up 110L of sap today and have a big pot of 'nearup' on the stove right now. It was a long day outside in the wind, drizzle and rain. Thank goodness I could position my boilers under the eaveline. That helped. The neighbour kids were taking selfies in front of the boiling pans of sap when they got off the bus. The aroma drew them in. :lol:

Run Forest Run!

04-02-2015, 11:09 PM

Well this was a long day. My syrup finished off nicely on the stove. Tomorrow I'll measure it all out. Looks like at least 2L, maybe 3?

Lespetras

04-02-2015, 11:24 PM

Well this was a long day. My syrup finished off nicely on the stove. Tomorrow I'll measure it all out. Looks like at least 2L, maybe 3?
Hey Karen,
What happened to the really late night boils? We are gonna be up until 3 a.m. In our home with our syrup!! I pegged you for a dusk til dawn boiler.. Lol
Lesley

Run Forest Run!

04-02-2015, 11:36 PM

Run Forest Run!

04-03-2015, 01:35 PM

This morning I adjusted the density of the syrup I boiled last night and measured it all out. I got another 2.385L from yesterday's boil of 90L. That's a 2.3% sugar content at 37:1. Next step was to happily update my signature stats. I'm now at .49L per tap. Considering that a couple of those taps haven't begun to run yet my numbers will only improve.

The taps are dripping very slowly at the moment so today might be a boil-free holiday for me.

Lespetras

04-03-2015, 02:03 PM

You've definitely got me pegged Lesley. I'm a nighthawk, but when it's done it's done. I'm not about to add more water to the syrup so that I can boil it longer. :lol: So you are at 20.4L and counting! My goodness! You've created a monster! You'll have to let me know how much you end up with tonight! Good thing you've got a long weekend ahead of you. :)
Okay so I need to eat my words.. we both fell asleep last night at midnight and had to shut it down. We bargained with each other for a while first... You know 'if you stay up tonight... I'll get up with the kids in the morning' business but at the end of the day.. We both went to bed with tons of sap left to boil.. This was one of our rookie mistakes! Because we are so behind in our boil that we are considering refilling our propane tanks at uhaul for $26 as it's Good Friday!
Anyhow gonna be done that batch soon and will report on amount and sugar contents!
By the way good job with bringing your ratio up!

Run Forest Run!

04-03-2015, 02:36 PM

Lesley, you and I are in the same situation. I've got 2 empty propane tanks and two almost full. I had hoped to fill up the four at Costco tomorrow, but don't have enough sap today to empty the two fullish tanks. That means when we get sap tomorrow I'll be running out on Easter Sunday. :o A gas station fill up will KILL me. I just can't do it! Perhaps I need to suck it up and only fill two tomorrow at Costco. It's still worth the drive to save the $16 for two compared to filling at the local Home Hardware. Dropping $27 or so per tank at the local gas station on Sunday is just so wrong.

NTBugtraq

04-03-2015, 03:05 PM

I'm curious, do either of you see a difference in the sap if its left unboiled for a few days?

Run Forest Run!

04-03-2015, 03:29 PM

I'm curious, do either of you see a difference in the sap if its left unboiled for a few days?

Not really, no. If I don't have enough to boil, the sap is always kept cold.

Lespetras

04-03-2015, 03:31 PM

I'm curious, do either of you see a difference in the sap if its left unboiled for a few days?
I've not ran into that situation until now.. So I'll let you know...

NTBugtraq

04-03-2015, 03:44 PM

I ask because I have had ~180 gallons of sap in my storage tanks for a couple of weeks now. During that time I have had lots of new sap arrive (in 3 tanks it enters from the bottom, 1 it enters from the top, all are drawn equally from the bottom). I've made 46.5L of syrup, so I've consumed a lot of sap. I have been assuming nothing bad is happening to my sap in storage.

Run Forest Run!

04-03-2015, 04:11 PM

NTBug, we've had next to no warmish weather this season so far so I'd doubt there's been any chance for your sap to go funky, especially since it's constantly being refreshed by newer sap.

Lespetras

04-03-2015, 04:38 PM

Hi Karen, here is the colour difference of my latest batch(dark) compared to tewo weeks ago(light)
11543

Run Forest Run!

04-03-2015, 04:56 PM

Lesley, check out my reply in the other thread. It might give you some food for thought.... or syrup for thought.......

Jerome

04-04-2015, 03:43 PM

started out this morning with about 65-70 gals of sap, started boiling at 730 collected another gal at 1pm the trees were not running. about an hour ago i got a major burn on my hand trying to pick up a very hot fire brick I had about 8 gals left in the tank and the pan was flooded I will see what I have left tomorrow,not worried about burning the syrup but will probably have about 8-10 gals to finish. its very hard to type with just you left hand.

Galena

04-04-2015, 03:57 PM

Ouch, a bad burn on what sounds like the palm of your hand sounds very nasty, Jerome. You may want to get to the local ER.

Jerome

04-04-2015, 04:18 PM

no need for ER I have first responder training, so I know there is really nothing to do after the ice water but keep it clean. It is just the pads of my fingers and thumb.

Galena

04-04-2015, 04:51 PM

Oh good, glad to hear that you know what to do, and that it wasn't any worse.

Run Forest Run!

04-05-2015, 12:11 AM

Well, the Christmas lights finally melted out of the ice on the front lawn today. The fact that it's been snowing for the past three hours makes me wonder if I should just leave them there and plug them back in. They should help the Easter bunny see where to leave the eggs.

Had some moderate sap flow today. Thought there would be more, but I'll take what I can get. Tomorrow I'll boil no matter what.

Bruce L

04-05-2015, 09:01 AM

Karen what are you doing up at 12:11 in the morning? I was counting sheep long before then getting ready for today. good freeze last night, soon time to get the vacuum turned on.

Run Forest Run!

04-05-2015, 09:56 AM

Karen what are you doing up at 12:11 in the morning? I was counting sheep long before then getting ready for today. good freeze last night, soon time to get the vacuum turned on.

Yeah, I'm a nighthawk and was up for another two hours after that. :cool: I'm pleased that you are hopeful for some good sap today. I was watching the thermometer last night and it was looking good. Just hovering around freezing here now, so I hope things will kick into gear soon! My propane tanks are all full and my pans are clean and ready to go!

Jerome

04-05-2015, 05:06 PM

I pulled my taps yesterday before I burned the hand. I had about 65 Gallons in the storage tanks and finished off today ended up with 3.5 gallons. The Hydrotherm was showing it as a little heavy So I had great sugar content again this year some where around 4.5%

Run Forest Run!

04-05-2015, 05:30 PM

That's an impressive haul Jerome, and a super sugar content. Too bad about the hand. Hope it doesn't negatively impact your tractor jumping season. ;)

Jerome

04-05-2015, 05:56 PM

No problems on the tractor jumping. Unfortunately it will be the last year at this bust as the house is for sale, hopefully the next place will have some maples.

67HEAVEN

04-05-2015, 06:40 PM

Harvested 27 L from my 5 trees this afternoon. Prior to that, while the trees weren't running, I propane-boiled all day Friday and late Saturday afternoon to end up with 2.25 L of dark-amber, very-smoooooth syrup.

I have got to stop eating this stuff. I'm out of holes on my belt. http://i43.tinypic.com/2wfu2o2.jpg