New Brunswick Tapping 2021

[murferd]

Started in the woods yesterday. Lines are in fairly good condition, we started tapping, marked the deer & squirrel damage as we went. Pretty good start, probably a couple hundred in. My brother lugged the chainsaw around & did a bit of trimming & found some branches over lines to cut. Back at it Monday, looks too cold on Tuesday, but should be ok the rest of week. I usually take afternoons off from work the first week of March to get ready, now my daughter does the same. We should be ready to go, woods, shack, pump house by next saturday.

[erob]

Good to hear someone else is getting ready. I think I'm going to hold off on tapping until next Sunday. Looks like an early season

[ronnie 1]

We'll be taping next weekend also. could be an early start to the season.

[douglastmunn]

Good to hear updates from fellow New Brunswickers. I had attempted to join the site last year but was never approved. I finally reached a moderator this year and got it figured out.

We tapped 17 late last week and managed to get a few liters. We are looking forward to the warm weather coming next week. 22125

[Maple Lady]

I got one line of 3/16 tubing in this year with a shurflo pump set up, having a few issues getting the vacuum up but hopefully get it figured out Saturday. Tapped last Saturday with my buckets. Got a few litres but nothing much. Was hoping next week would be good but it's looking almost too warm and not dropping below freezing a couple of nights. Fingers crossed we get enough for a boil. Good luck to everyone.

[ronnie 1]

We'll be taping this weekend, hopefully we get a good season, good luck everybody.

[douglastmunn]

Was hoping next week would be good but it's looking almost too warm and not dropping below freezing a couple of nights. Fingers crossed we get enough for a boil.

Fingers crossed here too, Maple Lady. We'll see what the weather brings. Hoping for colder nights and to keep those higher temps

Good luck

[erob]

Tapped a couple of my trees this afternoon. Even though it was cold, some of them were running. Hoping to get the rest of my trees tapped over the next couple days.

[douglastmunn]

Tapped a couple of my trees this afternoon. Even though it was cold, some of them were running. Hoping to get the rest of my trees tapped over the next couple days.

Awesome, good luck erob. Where abouts in York county are you?

[erob]

I am located in Douglas. Some of my sugar maples were dripping this afternoon when I tapped but most of them are still froze up. Hoping for a good run the next couple of days. Beautiful day to be out in the woods anyways

[douglastmunn]

I am located in Douglas. Some of my sugar maples were dripping this afternoon when I tapped but most of them are still froze up. Hoping for a good run the next couple of days. Beautiful day to be out in the woods anyways

I agree, beautiful weather today. I'm not far from ya, over in Estey's Bridge. My wife said the same thing about ours. Hell yea, Wednesday is looking great and, if we get a freeze, maybe Thursday as well.

[murferd]

We finished tapping yesterday. Got the vacuum going late in afternoon. Had a bit running, but quite a few vacuum leaks to chase down. We've doing repairs all week, but until things thaw out, you really don't know if there's a leak. Need to get tanks cleaned out, hopefully will be able to collect some later this week, after the lines get flushed out.

[erob]

Just checked my taps. A couple of them were dripping but it seems like the tree haven't quite thawed out yet. Hoping it will pick up over the next two days

[Maple Lady]

Same thing here Erob. Thought I would've had alot more to collect but not even enough to boil yet. I hope it goes below zero tonight but looking too warm for Friday. I'm not having good luck with my first attempt at a shurflo vacuum setup. Can't seem to get good vacuum. I don't know if it's because it isn't running good yet or what. Murferd, would you have any tips since you have vacuum?

[murferd]

Never had anything to do with Shurflo, but have read a lot of the threads on here. Other than everything needing to be leak free & possibly needing a recirculation line, it seems quite simple.

Hasn't run much here yet, but has thawed out enough we can hear the vacuum leaks. We didn't think we had much line damage this year, but have found a bunch of teeth punctures in some sections of the woods . Never seen that before, have had lots of squirrel & deer chews in past, but this is new, wondering maybe a bobcat.
Hopefully gets most of leaks fixed today, so when it runs after warming up today, the lines get the flushed good & maybe collect sap tomorrow.

[erob]

Trees are running this afternoon in my area. Not enough sap to collect yet but I'm hoping to have enough by tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

[murferd]

Starting collecting yesterday around lunchtime. We figure we got 350 gallons or so. Filling the evaporator today & boil away, doesn't look like sap weather again until maybe Wednesday. Need to get what we got pasturized.

[Maple Lady]

I boiled about 100 litres Saturday. That was a couple weeks worth. But it was froze solid for a good part of that two weeks. Hope to get a decent run soon.

[erob]

Good to hear ya'll got some syrup made. I boiled down my sap yesterday and ended up with a little over a litre of syrup. Very light and super sweet syrup. Good to start to the season.

[Maple Lady]

Looking like it'll be over Sunday here. Collected a bit yesterday, hopefully it runs a bit today, but didn't get down Cold enough last night. Worst season for me.

[erob]

Looking like it'll be over Sunday here. Collected a bit yesterday, hopefully it runs a bit today, but didn't get down Cold enough last night. Worst season for me.

Have your trees stopped running ? or is the sap getting that off taste and look ?

[Maple Lady]

Actually had a good run yesterday/last night. Up until then it's been good sap just not much of it and the forecast isn't showing any temps below freezing after Sunday for an extended period. Freezing up tomorrow, hopefully will get recharged for Saturday. How are you making out Erob?

[erob]

Actually had a good run yesterday/last night. Up until then it's been good sap just not much of it and the forecast isn't showing any temps below freezing after Sunday for an extended period. Freezing up tomorrow, hopefully will get recharged for Saturday. How are you making out Erob?

The weather has been pretty inconsistent up here near Fredericton. I've only boiled once but my trees are just starting to give really good now. I'm hoping the weather can hold before I call it a season. Lets hope the weather man isn't right

[douglastmunn]

The weather has been pretty inconsistent up here near Fredericton. I've only boiled once but my trees are just starting to give really good now. I'm hoping the weather can hold before I call it a season. Lets hope the weather man isn't right

I agree erob, trees are just starting to flow better the past two days. Been slow so far and still a fair bit of snow on the group up here where I'm at. Sat-Tue are looking really good. Hopefully we'll get some colder lows those next few days so it's prime all week.22271

[murferd]

We bottled last night our first batch, only 27 litres (6 imp gal). Apparently we had our auto draw set too low, took forever on the finishing stove. Saturday thru next week temperatures look good as long as it gets cold enough at night. We do expect a short season though.

[douglastmunn]

We bottled last night our first batch, only 27 litres (6 imp gal). Apparently we had our auto draw set too low, took forever on the finishing stove. Saturday thru next week temperatures look good as long as it gets cold enough at night. We do expect a short season though.

Congrats on getting that first batch done murferd. How's is the sap flowing up there now? Weekend down here was alright, Sunday especially. Today was good as well.

[murferd]

Sap flowed good Sunday, yesterday & should be good & tomorrow. Not sure what to expect after that. Not calling for any frost at night at end of week. Hopefully we can get through that because night week temps look good.

[Maple Lady]

Glad to hear everyone is getting something. My weekend was decent as well. I was really surprised as warm as it was that it ran as well as it did. I see the night time temp changed for Saturday night to below zero. Fingers crossed we can go a bit longer.

[murferd]

Hoping we can survive this warm stretch, it has been hard on snow & sap flow. We've still been getting a fair amount everyday, but not like we were at first of week. We're up to 50 imp gals(227 lt) bottled, about on average for the number of days in operation. Next week temperatures look good, ice hasn't gone from river, so we should be ok for awhile.

[erob]

Finishing some syrup today that I started boiling down yesterday. It is pretty dark stuff which I like. Seems like it could be the last batch of the season down here. Hopefully the trees hold out and we can get another good run next week were as the temperatures are looking more normal for early Spring. Also I have a question for you all. What mentioned do you use to measuring when you have finished syrup ? Hydrometer, thermometer or something else. I'd like to know

[Maple Lady]

Erob,
I use the hydrometer. I find even when I calibrate the thermometer on my evaporator, 7 degrees above boiling temp of water is always too thin. I usually end up having to boil it down a bit further to proper density. If I can draw off a little heavy, I won't have to cook it down more. If it's a bit thicker than normal, I'm good with that. Last year it was way too thin off the evaporator at first, so I let it go a bit longer now. I'm hoping for a few more cold nights and a bit more sap. I'm going to bottle what I've drawn off tomorrow. I've kept it in the fridge until I have the time, it's only been this week, so it'll be fine.

[Pdiamond]

I use my smoky lake gold series hydrometer and murphy cup, just make sure the cup is warmed up with syrup several times then take the measurement. Fool proof system, will give you exact readings every time. Wouldn't be without it.

[erob]

Looks like I should invest in a hydrometer for next season. I bought a Dominion and Grimm thermometer from the Co-op for this season but it is clearly not accurate. It was reading 219 F but my syrup was clearly to thin. and watery. You would think Dominion and Grimm would put out a quality product but clearly its cheaply made. Very frustrating. I borrowed my neighbors old thermometer that is very old. Its one of the wooden ones made by D&G and it's right on. Made great syrup with it last night. Unfortunately they are rare now and my neighbor won't part with his spare haha. Seems like there is always something to improve on.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Once you get a hydrometer, you’ll find that the temperature of when syrup is made varies. We started the season at 218.9 and last batch was 220.1

[erob]

Just when we thought the season was over, the trees started gushing down here. Most of my cans were full or over flowing. Biggest day of collecting yet. Might me a good yield after all.

[Maple Lady]

Same down here Erob! It was amazing! My 60 gallon Barrell was full on the tubing and buckets full. Great run finally!! I'm boiling tomorrow. Hope it's another good day tomorrow.

[douglastmunn]

Good stuff Maple Lady! Not living too far from erob, we’re having the same deal here. Today and yesterday, the trees were gushing. I’ve been boiling down most of the afternoon and will continue in the morning.

[Maple Lady]

The trees ran ok today but nothing like yesterday. I boiled everything I had including what got collected today. Long day but I didn't want to risk anything spoiling. I got an RO bucket this year and it was a great help, works amazingly. The only way I can keep up with big sap days with a small 18X36 evaporator. Glad you guys are having a good run too.

[murferd]

Got sap running on the ground now, everything is full. Our 600 & 250 gal milk tanks, 2 plastic totes & 4 blue barrels are all full. Tried giving sap away, but they had lots too. Raining today, so hopefully doesn't run as much & can get ahead of it some. Supposed to cool off tonight, so should be good tomorrow. Looking like some late nights on weekend!

[Maple Lady]

I was wondering how you were doing Murray,lol. Nice to hear the sap tsunami hit up there too. I think I will end up with more than last year now. My only crazy day was Monday then it tapered off. Hoping the weekend will give some more. My shurflo is pulling much better now that there's more sap in the line. Hope all goes well getting it all boiled down.

[erob]

Trees are still running good in my neck of the woods. Had another long day boiling sap today. Going to finish off what I have left on Monday and call it a season. Hope everyone else has had as good a season as I've had

[Maple Lady]

Still running down here too, but I think today or tomorrow will be it. Might run over night with the bit of snow coming. Turned out to be decent after all. I'm glad I had this weekend off to keep up with it. Boiling today. Lots of nitre again this year. The sap this week is very foamy too, using lots of defoamer.

[murferd]

Had an average year, we stopped collecting yesterday. Boiled off most of what we got Sunday yesterday, got 50-60 gals to finish boiling today and chase through evaporator. Probably finish the last syrup off tonight, which should put us over 140 imp gals.

[erob]

I find its bitter sweet when the season comes to an end. I produced the most syrup this season since I started in 2018. Very good year for me. I pulled my taps on Monday and now I just have the pan to clean. Just curious what ya'll use to clean your stainless steel pans. My pan got real dirty this season.

[Maple Lady]

Sounds like everyone did ok this season. I just have my pan contents to finish. I boiled everything tonight just to keep anything from spoiling until I can finish it this weekend. I collected more sap this year than last but sugar was lower, might not get as much syrup. I dumped some of the ending sap, it was developing a funny smell and I didn't want to chance it. Erob, I clean my stainless pans with water and vinegar. I boil it on the stove and dump into the pans. I might place it on the propane Turkey fryer this year to heat the pan with it in it.i use oven cleaner on the bottom and hose it off.

[erob]

Sounds like everyone did ok this season. I just have my pan contents to finish. I boiled everything tonight just to keep anything from spoiling until I can finish it this weekend. I collected more sap this year than last but sugar was lower, might not get as much syrup. I dumped some of the ending sap, it was developing a funny smell and I didn't want to chance it. Erob, I clean my stainless pans with water and vinegar. I boil it on the stove and dump into the pans. I might place it on the propane Turkey fryer this year to heat the pan with it in it.i use oven cleaner on the bottom and hose it off.
Ok thanks I will give that a try

[murferd]

We finished off everything last night, ended up with 146 gals or 663 litres. The weird thing this year, the color hardly changed from start of season to end. I agree the sugar was down quite a bit from last year. Now the fun of clean up!

[Maple Lady]

We finished off everything last night, ended up with 146 gals or 663 litres. The weird thing this year, the color hardly changed from start of season to end. I agree the sugar was down quite a bit from last year. Now the fun of clean up!
I found this to be a strange season. Sap ran when the weather didn't necessarily say it should and when it seemed 'ideal', didn't get much. My syrup did change colour, I guess that was normal. My neighbour down over the hill from me barely got any sap, just a strange year. Murray, was that a good year for you? I'm hoping to make 8 gallons, lol and you're at 146!!

[murferd]

Vacuum makes a big difference when saps runs some days. It was an average year for us, last year we were down 20 gals for this. We're in a bit of a weird area weather wise. Most other people around had a great year last year, and this year some are complaining. Who knows!