Little Creek Maple Farm

[bcarpenter]

Since I am in New Hampshire I figured I would chime in for us small time hobby guys in the Bedford/Merrimack area.

I am still boiling outside. We have collected about 275 gallons of sap so far this year with about 50 taps on all Red Maples. We do about 60 to 1 so I am guessing we are about 4 gallons in syrup.

Trying to take tomorrow off to rig up a 2nd shurflo vac setup to get even more sap.

Hope everyone is enjoying the wild weather.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160228/1f53d875f48793cd6d73d58a99699b1d.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bcarpenter]

Another 60 gallons today. Finished boiling the weekends haul today on a day off. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160301/b2c5d28c5fc7d48f9846a562d7a996d7.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160301/3381927623702d06f074e1e0a3711dbe.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Bill Carpenter
Little Creek Maple Farm - Bedford, NH
www.littlecreekmaplefarm.com

[backyard sugaring]

When did you tap? We are in Hudson got a late start. Hope you have a great season. Lee

[bcarpenter]

When did you tap? We are in Hudson got a late start. Hope you have a great season. Lee

We put our first taps in January 31 this year. We have collected just under 450 gallons of sap. Boiled off around 380 of sap. We have actually bottled about 5 gallons of syrup so far. The rest of the sap is being boiled now in our sweetened pans.

Bill


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bcarpenter]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160306/9520367b0cba6744227fb443e3f99118.jpg

Did a little bottling last night. The syrup is a dark Amber. Low sugar content and boiled a lot. Next year we are going to try a homemade RO to help lessen our boiling time and hopefully lighten the syrup a little.

Bill C.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Its looking good, nice little spread you have going there....

[Russell Lampron]

There's nothing wrong with making dark syrup. In fact most of my customers prefer it. You've got to start using the new grading system,it's the law in NH now. Your syrup now is either dark/robust or very dark/strong depending on how dark it is.

[gmc8757]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160306/9520367b0cba6744227fb443e3f99118.jpg

Did a little bottling last night. The syrup is a dark Amber. Low sugar content and boiled a lot. Next year we are going to try a homemade RO to help lessen our boiling time and hopefully lighten the syrup a little.

Bill C.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Bill. What do you have in mind for an RO build?
The 5gph setup seen here https://sites.google.com/site/mattatuckmadnessmaplesyrup/home/homemade-reverse-osmosis-system

Or something bigger?
I used this RO for 2 years, it was great. Just outgrew it, going to build something faster for next year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bcarpenter]

There's nothing wrong with making dark syrup. In fact most of my customers prefer it. You've got to start using the new grading system,it's the law in NH now. Your syrup now is either dark/robust or very dark/strong depending on how dark it is.

Yep that batch was dark robust. The new grading is definitely interesting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bcarpenter]

Yep. That is the RO I am thinking about. Wanted to do it this year but got sidetracked with work and the early season. We are only collecting 30-60 gallons a day of red maple sap and run 60-1 so this would help lessen our boiling time. Especially if I bring one more shurflo online for the other 20 taps in our bush.

How hard was it to assemble the parts for the RO? It seems pretty straightforward from the write up.

Bill C.


Hi Bill. What do you have in mind for an RO build?
The 5gph setup seen here https://sites.google.com/site/mattatuckmadnessmaplesyrup/home/homemade-reverse-osmosis-system

Or something bigger?
I used this RO for 2 years, it was great. Just outgrew it, going to build something faster for next year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bcarpenter]

New labels are in!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160309/c573e5c97c60c30ebe29175f5e6b0f9c.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gmc8757]

Yep. That is the RO I am thinking about. Wanted to do it this year but got sidetracked with work and the early season. We are only collecting 30-60 gallons a day of red maple sap and run 60-1 so this would help lessen our boiling time. Especially if I bring one more shurflo online for the other 20 taps in our bush.

How hard was it to assemble the parts for the RO? It seems pretty straightforward from the write up.

Bill C.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That RO was great for me last year, very easy to source the parts - mainly Amazon. I think you will be very happy with it. I can send you my Amazon order details if you'd like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

My plan was also to try that RO system out and build it this summer or fall. My biggest concern was the speed. 5gph, ugh that could be running non stop for me if I continue with my 150 taps. I may have to do some research and see if there is something a bit faster but not too much more expensive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NHbassin]

My plan was also to try that RO system out and build it this summer or fall. My biggest concern was the speed. 5gph, ugh that could be running non stop for me if I continue with my 150 taps. I may have to do some research and see if there is something a bit faster but not too much more expensive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I built one this year that removes about 40-60 gph of water for around $1500. Depending on what you have on hand you could build it cheaper. I ordered everything new and built a frame so I can wheel it around. I used a 4x40 membrane, you could probably shave off a few hundred if you go with a smaller membrane. I am still working out the kinks, but its worked well for me this season. Expensive, but man does it make boiling faster. I only have a flat pan 2x4 and Ive easily kept up with 160 taps. I usually recirculate it up to around 10%.