Started in Newport

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Got a start on tapping yesterday...,first 6 on tubbing up n tapped.

Was kinda bumed when i went to next area and found one of my best 2 trees had been cut down.. So only 10 taps till i find more trees.

[3% Solution]

Hey Bill,
Long time no see!!!
How are you filtering your syrup?
I have a few long cone filters (orlon) that you can have if you would like them.
Just let me know.
If anyone else would like a couple of them let me know.
I would like to spread them around.

Dave

[KenWP]

You guys are slowly working your way north so that I can start to tap soon I hope.

[3% Solution]

KenWP,
Bill is the only one around here that has tapped, it's still going to be a while!

Dave

[Cardigan99]

At least another three weeks.

[Mac_Muz]

3% Solution (Dave),

I am a newbie pretty much and have a wool filter as a cone, and line it with paper. So what is orlon like?

This wool bag has tabs that I made hooks for so it can hang in a tomatoe plant stand. Bill Mason set me up with both the stand and the wool.

I didn't see anything made of orlon, but then i wouldn't know what I was looking at in the first place.

[3% Solution]

Mac_Muz,
It's just another fabric used instead of the wool.
I have some well used wool ones also.
If Mr. Mason set you up then your good to go.
We got about 4" of wet stuff here last night.
How much did you get up there?

Dave

[Mac_Muz]

We got about 9 inches and it seems to have just almost stopped. There was all of that when I plowed this morning, and the rest hasn't added up to much.

I have a desk outside the door that I keep clear, and measure there.

Snowman snow this time.

I took care of the woolen filter, washing it in cold water by hand last year. I turned it inside out to wash the seam as well. I expect many years of use from it, and am familar with wool.

I just don't know what orlon is, and or what it is like.

Before this woolen filter i made filters of a poly cloth used to pad quilts i think. That material let more solids thru than these paper throw aways with the wool do. I re-use the paper filters for so long as i can clean them too.

i wasn't asking for one, just was asking what it is like.

[3% Solution]

Mac_Muz,
I understand you asking about it and not wanting one.
Ok 9" ....... good for you.
We have always washed our filters in hot water.

Dave

[Mac_Muz]

Wool in hot water will distort and shrink, which if you know about it ahead of time can be useful to thicken the wook. This is called 'Fullering' which was one way to get horse blankes thicker, and to make other items like beaver dander thicker in making hats.

My wife likes many of my sweaters so well, she washed them all in hot water so they just fit her these days.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Put up the last of my taps yesterday....now it'll probly freezz up harder...lol

[NH Maplemaker]

Bill, Looks like we may get another big storm on Sunday !! Hope you put those tap up nice and high !! I'm Just up the road from you. One mile north of Claremont line in Cornish on the right.(NH Route 120 north) If you get up this way stop by and say Hi ..

Jim L.

[3% Solution]

Bill'sSugarShack,
Oh your making me feel bad!!!
Freezing up right now is a good thing, makes the sap sweeter!!!!!

Dave

[Mac_Muz]

Naturally I checked my 3 test buckets in the swamp yesterday, and one had about 3 drops of a tan fluid in it, which was sweet. I took it all by just touching my finger to the dob in the bucket.

I am not concerned of the color a bit since I have seen this happen before, usually in Fall on a deer scrape.

Then I wandered around in the swamp on snow shoes more and found 3 more trees I can access, and only fell thru all the snow into the water once. That's not too bad is it?

I filled the holes using my snow shoes, which should make a ok trail.

I lost count, of this section, but maybe it will take half of my 23 buckets.

I have another new section along the drive way into here, but haven't tested that place yet.

The idea is to get away from the town road trees as much as i can.

I don't know if the wear and tear the town road trees take makes a difference. I suspect being hit by town road equipments and maybe road salt if any will effect the trees there. So maybe i will try a few of these in time and see how they compare to last year and how they compare to real woods trees in the swamp.

[Mac_Muz]

Same day as the post above. The one bucket had a few drops more. Made more trails on shoes today and found a few more trees.. No run here yet, no new buckets out.

[KenWP]

Mac you need deer like I have. I use their trails as much as I can to keep out of the snow. Three drops is pretty good compared to here.

[Mac_Muz]

Ken I don't see deer tracks here at all as of late... None... Moose and turkey, some hares and that's about it.. I don't know where they went other than I didn't eat them all.

The weatherman is wrong, per ususal, and there will be no run here today either.. Still early, which I figured was the case.. Oh many if I had 500 buckets a few might run somewhere, but I don't, and won't hang any more till I see a sign.

Hey! if you see any deer's with a plate that says Live Free or Die their mine !

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Per my normal luck...i tap, n it turns cold. Never fails...watch forcast..shows warming up, so i tap n forcast/weather changes. If i hadn't tapped it probly be mid 40's not mid 20's...lol

[Stickey]

Oh, so you're the one to thank for this weather? lol What don't kill us makes us stronger. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a warm up this weekend.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Gathered up about 20 gal of sap this morning. Boiled for about 2 hrs...did good for 1st boil...

[3% Solution]

Bill,
That sounds good!
Do you need a couple of cone filters?
If so, stop by and we'll set you right up!!

Dave

[Mac_Muz]

20 gallons on a small rig seems pretty fast in 2 hours. What is the minimum gallons you need to light off?

[Bill'sSugarShack]

20 gallons on a small rig seems pretty fast in 2 hours. What is the minimum gallons you need to light off?

Didn't boil it all the way down in 2 hours...just to point where it's all in the pan. I kinda do it in batches, so won't have any finished till about the 3rd or 4th boiul.

I won't light up if less than 10 gal of sap.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Bill,
That sounds good!
Do you need a couple of cone filters?
If so, stop by and we'll set you right up!!

Dave

Can always use filters...will try to stop over after work one of these days.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Well 1st 1 n half quarts of '09 finished..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Getting there slow but sure...lol

Another quart finished off last night.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

I had saved up sap for boiling today..Boiled about 6 hr this morning. Finished off another 5.5 quarts. So up to 9 qts so far from the 10 taps.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Finished off another 3 quarts today..12 Quarts in all so far :)

[PARKER MAPLE]

well sounds like you guys are having a pretty fair season, im just across the river in vt. and also having a good season, it ran like crazy today, i have out 30 buckets and i gathered twice today. i think all together today i got around 35 gallons sap.. but thats enough for me sences how im a small opperation.

30 buckets
2x4 flat ss pan
2 double burner propane outdoor stoves

have made 5.5 gal and have enough in storage for another 2gal

little opperation with big hopes of making it bigger next year.lol
good luck the rest of the season

[KenWP]

Your doing good down there. I have managed to do a gallon so far. I have lots of trees but very little sap comes out of them so far.

[3% Solution]

Alright Bill keep it going!!!!

[Bill'sSugarShack]

10 day forcast not looking that good...night temps warming up...
Today
Mar 26


PM Showers

54°
34°

30%



54°F

Fri
Mar 27


AM Clouds / PM Sun

57°
33°

20%



57°F

Sat
Mar 28


Mostly Cloudy

60°
36°

20%



60°F

Sun
Mar 29


Rain

54°
36°

80%



54°F

Mon
Mar 30


Few Showers

51°
31°

30%



51°F

Tue
Mar 31


Mostly Cloudy

51°
34°

10%



51°F

Wed
Apr 1


Showers

51°
27°

40%



51°F

Thu
Apr 2


Showers

51°
31°

40%



51°F

Fri
Apr 3


Showers

51°
34°

40%



51°F

Sat
Apr 4


Few Showers

50°
32°

30%



50°F

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Will be busy boiling Sat...brought home 28+/- gal of sap... Not bad for 10 taps in a 48 hr period.
Good luck to all on Open House wkend.

[3% Solution]

Hi Bill,
Yeah that's pretty good for 10 taps.
Well I guess that mush sap should keep you of the street for a while!!!!!
Have a fun filled weekend!!

Dave

[Bill'sSugarShack]

The way the forcast looks and the location of my trees, think '09 season is over for me.

Boiled every thing down that i had.

Can't complain..in the 3 weeks of boiling, my 10 taps gave me a pint shy of 5 gal of syrup.



Will leave taps up till mid week in case forcast changes..

[PARKER MAPLE]

Well It Just Ended For Me Over Here Across The River From You. I Pulled All My Taps Today, Boiled All I Had And Am Cleaning Buckets Tonite. I Think I Ended Up With Around 9 Gal All Together, Out Of 30 Taps. I Dont Know ,but I Dont Think Thats To Bad For My First Year..

[3% Solution]

Hey you guys,
Hang in there for a few more days.
I doesn't look real promising, but may run a bit Wednesday.

Dave

[maple sapper]

maple rookie,
You running back out tonight to put your taps back in if we get cold on wed. ? LOL