Crawford County PA 2023

[Father & Son]

Got tapped today. Early for me but a couple of weeks late for this season. Nothing running mid afternoon, too cold. Going to set up the vacuum tomorrow then off and running. Hopefully not too short of a season.

[heus]

Jim how many taps do you have out this year? What are you using for vacuum?

[Father & Son]

Expanded a little. About 140, ran some new laterals and may be able to get 200. Same little vacuum pump I’ve ran for a few years a Bosworth single diaphragm Sap Guzzler. Was by your place yesterday around 2:30 - 3:00 but you weren’t boiling.

[heus]

Started around 5pm.

[Father & Son]

Ran 725 gallons through the RO, sweetened the pans and made 6 gallons of syrup. To most that’s not a lot but after missing last year I’m just happy to be making syrup again. Got to use my new filter press and I am very impressed. Had visitors from Albion, Sugarmaker and Scott R. Glad they stopped in to keep me straight. If you can believe the extended forecast then next two weeks for around here looks real good. Fingers crossed.

[Father & Son]

Trees slowed down again today. Long string of freezing nights starting Tuesday if extended forecast can be trusted. Spent today cleaning the RO and a little bit of basic maintenance to get ready for next week.

[Father & Son]

Everything slowed down around here today. Snow and low 30’s things never got going. Much the same for tomorrow.
The Maple Taste and Tour for NW PA is tomorrow and Sunday.
For a list of participating sugar houses go to www.pamaple.org.

[Father & Son]

After a couple of days below freezing, some snow, and otherwise winter weather today warmed up and the trees reset and woke back up. 185 taps on a Sap Guzzler brought 400 gallons of 2.0%. Low tonight in the 40’s, should run all night. Busy day ahead.

[Father & Son]

Ran all night Thursday into Friday. Over 3 gpt. Grade lightened up to Amber Rich. Saturday never thawed enough to run and now on Sunday 4-5 inches of snow and cold. We’re having February weather in mid March.

23071

[Father & Son]

Tank overflowing Monday at 10:00 pm. 325 gallons of 2.2%. Tonight looks like it might be the last freeze for at least a week. This will probably be the end of the season for this area. Set the pump up in the morning and run it till the trees shut down. Hopefully 36-48 hrs and see what I can end up with.

[Father & Son]

Made another 9 gallons tonight. Amber Rich/Dark Robust, won’t know till tomorrow put it all in the canner. Full tank of sap again at 9 pm tonight. No freeze so vacuum on all night. Should have 600+ gallons by morning. Start the RO early and try to get a jump on things. Best late season run I’ve had in the 17 yrs I’ve been making syrup.

[Father & Son]

Sap ran good until last night. Even on vacuum the trees gave up 0 sap. I think that woman has sung! Boiled the last 100 gallons without even running it through the RO just to get it pasteurized. Tomorrow will chase the rest through the rig with water and start cleaning up. Today was exactly 5 weeks since I tapped and very pleased with the outcome.

[DrTimPerkins]

Sap ran good until last night. Even on vacuum the trees gave up 0 sap.

Yeah...sometimes that's the way it ends. What were your temperatures the last few days?

[Father & Son]

Yeah...sometimes that's the way it ends. What were your temperatures the last few days?

Yesterday was high 30’s prior to that in the 40’s & 50’s. Last freeze was Sat 3/18. Extended forecast shows possibility of freeze Wed & Thur but iffy if sap would be usable if it even runs.

[Father & Son]

Well this year is a wrap. An excellent year and would have been even better if I would have tapped 2 weeks earlier. Timing was good I ran out of storage and had to buy a couple of 10 gallon barrels. Just enough fuel oil to clean up and simmer the vinegar/water solution. A few things learned this year one being I have automated enough that I am out of room in the sugarhouse. Time for a small addition which will incorporate an insulated RO room. One of my birthday presents this year was an on demand propane hot water heater. A small pump and a 55 gallon plastic barrel will more than cover my water needs. Pleased with my air diaphragm pump and filter press but I have been looking at the electric diaphragm pumps offered by the major manufacturers. This would eliminate the air compressor and that noise. More research needed. Upgrade to a larger RO to save more time. I see that the more I keep talking the more money I’m spending.

[heus]

Jim I have a CDL electric diaphragm pump on my filter press and I am real happy with it. I converted a Smoky Lake hand pump press to this. Let me know how your on demand water heater works out. I am interested in getting one in the sugarhouse some day.

[Father & Son]

Will do Jason. Is that electric diaphragm pump quiet? I never knew these were available till after I had purchased the air pump.

[heus]

Yes it is pretty quiet.