TooManyIrons...
03-14-2016, 01:32 PM
2016 Summary
This was my fourth year.
Season 1 (2013): Produced 3 gallons of syrup using a shielded fire pit.
Season 2 (2014): Produced 13 gallons of syrup using my custom built arch.
Season 3 (2015): Failure. Only got enough sap to produce 2 gallons of syrup. The first run gallon was the best syrup I have ever made, the second run gallon from later sap ended up being the worst tasting syrup I have ever made and I threw it away.
Season 4 Details:
Timeline:
02/20/16 Installed 6 Test Taps
02/24/16 Installed All Taps
02/28/16 First Production Run 17 Hrs.
02/29/16 - 03/04/16 Cold weather shut down sap flow.
03/07/16 Second Production Run 15 Hrs.
03/09/16 Third Production Run (Split Run, Day One) 8 Hrs.
03/10/16 Fourth Production Run (Split Run, Day Two) 10 Hrs. Heavy sap flow.
03/11/16 Fifth Production Run 15 Hrs. Heavy sap flow.
03/12/16 Sixth (Final) Production Run 12 Hrs. Sap flow ceased, pulled all taps. First day the trees were in bloom.
Statistics:
19 Silver Maple Trees
42 Taps
22 Collecting Buckets
Total Sap Collected and Processed: 300 Gallons
Average Sap Collected Per Tree: 15.78 Gallons
Average Sap Collected Per Tap: 7.14 Gallons
Total Sap Collected, Most Productive Tree: 50 Gallons From 4 Taps, 12.5 Gallons Per Tap (48" Diameter Tree, Yard)
Total Sap Collected, Least Productive Tree: 2 Gallons From 2 Taps, 1 Gallon Per Tap (48" Diameter Tree, Woods)
Total Syrup Yield: 10 Gallons (Actual 10 Gallons 1.5 Pints, rounded down for ease of figuring.)
Niter Amount: 5 Pints (This quantity is not included in the total syrup yield.)
Average Syrup Yield Per Tree: .53 Gallon (Approx. 2 Quarts)
Average Syrup Yield Per Tap: .24 Gallon (Approx. 1 Quart)
Sap/Syrup Ratio: 30:1
Total Processing Days: 6 (Includes one two-day split processing run.)
Total Processing Runs: 5
Average Syrup Yield Per Processing Day: 1.67 Gallons
Average Syrup Yield Per Processing Run: 2 Gallons
Total Processing Hours: 77 (Includes daily prep and cleanup.)
Average Syrup Yield Per Processing Hour: 1 Pint/Hr.
Arch Preheat Capacity: 6 Gallons
Arch Main Capacity 12 Gallons
Maximum Evaporation Rate: 5 GPH
Approximate Total Firewood Usage: 3/4 Cord
Notes:
Jar Size/Quantity Breakdown
Qty. 07 - 1/2 Pint
Qty. 30 - 1 Pint
Qty. 20 - 1 Quart
Qty. 02 - 2 Quart
Each processing day is a batch run from a fresh start to finished syrup. I prefer doing it this way, I think it makes better product. A split processing run is when I simply shut down the operation at quitting time and start up and continue the batch the next day and finish it that day. I do not like doing split runs. It reduces efficiency by screwing up my methods, and it screws up my stats, so it only happens if there is some kind of unavoidable scheduling conflict.
I am in the process of switching from 5 gallon sap collecting buckets to using plastic 5 gallon water carboys. The carboys work great for a small operation - they are food grade, they are tinted but a person can still see at a glance how full they are, the tinting helps delay spoilage, they are easy to fill up and top off with a filter funnel, tight necks and caps keep bugs and debris out of the sap, new ones have a built-in carry handle, they are easy to reseal which eliminates splashing and spillage during handling and transport.
The sap flow shut down for one week due to cold temperatures. Started again slowly and inconsistently, last two days of sap run were the heaviest production days (03/10 & 03/11). Sap was good quality and usable right up to the last day it ran (03/11). The next day (03/12) the trees were in bloom and everything shut off, so I pulled the taps.
My initial goals turned out to be very unrealistic due to my making estimates based on an unusually good season two years ago. I consider this year's season to be more in the line of average, one which I had yet to experience due to my lack of long-term experience. Two years ago the season was exceptional to the good. Last year's season was exceptional to the bad. This year was right in the middle, and therefore will be a much better guide for my future planning and estimating. I am satisfied with the results, my goal for the foreseeable future will always be a syrup yield in the 10-14 gallon range with the ideal goal of 12 gallons. I feel this is in the maximum range I can handle physically.
I plan on increasing my tap count to 50, and will be ordering pre-made combo tap/lines soon. A few will be set aside as spares for emergency use. I have enough trees on site to use that many taps but I will have to tap a couple of box elder trees. I have a few neighbors that have silver maple trees I can tap but in the near-term I have no interest in dealing with the hassles of collecting sap off-site and transporting.
Injuries: Minor. A few slightly scalded fingers, one finger burned while stoking the fire. Dropped the splitting wedge on my toes once, that was a really enjoyable experience. Mild sunburn.
Total Investment for Season: Approximately $55 (One new candy thermometer, three new stainless steel stock pots, canning lids.) This equates to approximately $5.50 per gallon of syrup yielded, or 4 cents per ounce. Note zero fuel costs for processing (!), but some electricity cost for use of electric range during final finishing and for the canning process that is not quantified here (but could realistically double the cost per ounce).
Syrup consistently turned out very dark. Very good flavor. Average to somewhat heavy amounts of sugar sand/niter.
Still have final cleanup to do...
Later this week I will pull the remaining syrup stock from last year off the storage shelves and match that quantity with new syrup. Those 3 to 4 gallons of syrup will be processed into maple sugar. :)
Just like that, another season is over. It is all a blur to me...
This was my fourth year.
Season 1 (2013): Produced 3 gallons of syrup using a shielded fire pit.
Season 2 (2014): Produced 13 gallons of syrup using my custom built arch.
Season 3 (2015): Failure. Only got enough sap to produce 2 gallons of syrup. The first run gallon was the best syrup I have ever made, the second run gallon from later sap ended up being the worst tasting syrup I have ever made and I threw it away.
Season 4 Details:
Timeline:
02/20/16 Installed 6 Test Taps
02/24/16 Installed All Taps
02/28/16 First Production Run 17 Hrs.
02/29/16 - 03/04/16 Cold weather shut down sap flow.
03/07/16 Second Production Run 15 Hrs.
03/09/16 Third Production Run (Split Run, Day One) 8 Hrs.
03/10/16 Fourth Production Run (Split Run, Day Two) 10 Hrs. Heavy sap flow.
03/11/16 Fifth Production Run 15 Hrs. Heavy sap flow.
03/12/16 Sixth (Final) Production Run 12 Hrs. Sap flow ceased, pulled all taps. First day the trees were in bloom.
Statistics:
19 Silver Maple Trees
42 Taps
22 Collecting Buckets
Total Sap Collected and Processed: 300 Gallons
Average Sap Collected Per Tree: 15.78 Gallons
Average Sap Collected Per Tap: 7.14 Gallons
Total Sap Collected, Most Productive Tree: 50 Gallons From 4 Taps, 12.5 Gallons Per Tap (48" Diameter Tree, Yard)
Total Sap Collected, Least Productive Tree: 2 Gallons From 2 Taps, 1 Gallon Per Tap (48" Diameter Tree, Woods)
Total Syrup Yield: 10 Gallons (Actual 10 Gallons 1.5 Pints, rounded down for ease of figuring.)
Niter Amount: 5 Pints (This quantity is not included in the total syrup yield.)
Average Syrup Yield Per Tree: .53 Gallon (Approx. 2 Quarts)
Average Syrup Yield Per Tap: .24 Gallon (Approx. 1 Quart)
Sap/Syrup Ratio: 30:1
Total Processing Days: 6 (Includes one two-day split processing run.)
Total Processing Runs: 5
Average Syrup Yield Per Processing Day: 1.67 Gallons
Average Syrup Yield Per Processing Run: 2 Gallons
Total Processing Hours: 77 (Includes daily prep and cleanup.)
Average Syrup Yield Per Processing Hour: 1 Pint/Hr.
Arch Preheat Capacity: 6 Gallons
Arch Main Capacity 12 Gallons
Maximum Evaporation Rate: 5 GPH
Approximate Total Firewood Usage: 3/4 Cord
Notes:
Jar Size/Quantity Breakdown
Qty. 07 - 1/2 Pint
Qty. 30 - 1 Pint
Qty. 20 - 1 Quart
Qty. 02 - 2 Quart
Each processing day is a batch run from a fresh start to finished syrup. I prefer doing it this way, I think it makes better product. A split processing run is when I simply shut down the operation at quitting time and start up and continue the batch the next day and finish it that day. I do not like doing split runs. It reduces efficiency by screwing up my methods, and it screws up my stats, so it only happens if there is some kind of unavoidable scheduling conflict.
I am in the process of switching from 5 gallon sap collecting buckets to using plastic 5 gallon water carboys. The carboys work great for a small operation - they are food grade, they are tinted but a person can still see at a glance how full they are, the tinting helps delay spoilage, they are easy to fill up and top off with a filter funnel, tight necks and caps keep bugs and debris out of the sap, new ones have a built-in carry handle, they are easy to reseal which eliminates splashing and spillage during handling and transport.
The sap flow shut down for one week due to cold temperatures. Started again slowly and inconsistently, last two days of sap run were the heaviest production days (03/10 & 03/11). Sap was good quality and usable right up to the last day it ran (03/11). The next day (03/12) the trees were in bloom and everything shut off, so I pulled the taps.
My initial goals turned out to be very unrealistic due to my making estimates based on an unusually good season two years ago. I consider this year's season to be more in the line of average, one which I had yet to experience due to my lack of long-term experience. Two years ago the season was exceptional to the good. Last year's season was exceptional to the bad. This year was right in the middle, and therefore will be a much better guide for my future planning and estimating. I am satisfied with the results, my goal for the foreseeable future will always be a syrup yield in the 10-14 gallon range with the ideal goal of 12 gallons. I feel this is in the maximum range I can handle physically.
I plan on increasing my tap count to 50, and will be ordering pre-made combo tap/lines soon. A few will be set aside as spares for emergency use. I have enough trees on site to use that many taps but I will have to tap a couple of box elder trees. I have a few neighbors that have silver maple trees I can tap but in the near-term I have no interest in dealing with the hassles of collecting sap off-site and transporting.
Injuries: Minor. A few slightly scalded fingers, one finger burned while stoking the fire. Dropped the splitting wedge on my toes once, that was a really enjoyable experience. Mild sunburn.
Total Investment for Season: Approximately $55 (One new candy thermometer, three new stainless steel stock pots, canning lids.) This equates to approximately $5.50 per gallon of syrup yielded, or 4 cents per ounce. Note zero fuel costs for processing (!), but some electricity cost for use of electric range during final finishing and for the canning process that is not quantified here (but could realistically double the cost per ounce).
Syrup consistently turned out very dark. Very good flavor. Average to somewhat heavy amounts of sugar sand/niter.
Still have final cleanup to do...
Later this week I will pull the remaining syrup stock from last year off the storage shelves and match that quantity with new syrup. Those 3 to 4 gallons of syrup will be processed into maple sugar. :)
Just like that, another season is over. It is all a blur to me...