Bigsap Warning 2009

Ok you guys. Russ claims it March today. NO MORE EXCUSES. I EXPECT BIGSAP REPORTS FROM ALL OVER NOW. GOD PUT US ON THIS EARTH TO BRING DELICIOUS MAPLE PRODUCTS TO THE MASSES, for a fair return on our investment, AND WE NEED TO BE DOING IT. IVE BEEN DOWN HERE BUSTING MY HUMP, ME AND DAVE Y AND THE REST OF US PENNSYLVANIANS, AND WE COULD USE A LITTLE SUPPORT FROM UP NORTH. HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO FEEL WHEN A LITTLE BOY AT CRACKERBARRELL ONLY HAS ENOUGH SYRUP TO COVER HALF A PANCAKE BECOUSE DAVE AND I ARE SO SHOT TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENTIRE NATION WE CAN HARDLY GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. GO!!! GO!!! BIGGGGGGGGGG SAPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Theron,
I'd love to help out but the temp right now is -3 and the next 3 nights are to be similar. I hear your comments about frozen pump lines and worry what will happen here. I have over a mile of pump lines. Great when they work.... In the wait time until our Spring catches up with yours, I will be doing finishing touches and try to streamline things. Not real easy without sap but I'll try.
March is pretty much coming in like a very cold lamb. Ok by me. By the end of the month a real nice March snowstorm will really extend the maple season. I have an old neighbor who has records written on the sugar house walls for over 50 years of production. In all but 2 years he made more syrup in April than in March. That indicates you may have to wait another month for much help. In the meantime, you guys are doing a fine job of existing without sleep and keeping steam in the air. Keep up the good work!
Doug

Just think of us as the second shift. Let us know when yours is over.

I know thats the deal with you guys. Just a difference in climate. Seems like you guys really are about a month behind us. Maybe Ill be done and I can have fun hearing your stories. Theron

and as far as the poor kids in cracker barrel their not getting pure maple syrup any more their getting 50/50 maple/canesugar

Well it was -3 F here this morning when I got up at 5 to put wood on the fire. I figure it will be May before sap flows around here at this rate.

I got my speedo I just need some scuba gear, heck a snorkle would do to!

I just got done with another 6 hr boil and then went to collect the sap, I thought it wasn't supposed to run today! I am back to having 70 gals to boil once more.

I can safley say that it is go time down here if you haven't tapped already.

Theron Hopefully and I mean hopefully bigsap weekend coming up. Until then keep putting syrup on half of the cracker barrell kids pancakes us northerners will get the rest covered for you.

Dennis- Your making us proud down there. Your not afraid of some BIGSAP! Thirdgen- Looks like it comes on in stages. Kind of starts with Brandon and comes on up the line as you head north. Fun to watch with the website how the weather works during the season. Starting to get a little better handle on things now. Yesterday wasnt quite as bad. Had 2000 gallons of sap and started the R.O. at about 1230 by 8 oclock had around 200 gallons plus or minus of 19% in the head tank. Not bad to take 20 hours of boiling and turn it into 2. Really like that a lot. Watched episodes of ax men all afternoon with Booy While im chugging out 300 gallons per hour. Gotta love it. Got the R.O. figured out perfect now. Go half and half on the concentrate and perm and the thing performes like crazy. It never works hard. Just let it go till its putting out the number you like the looks of and hit the valve to the head tank. Last night when I got to where I could shoot it to the head tank I was getting 7 gallons conc, 2 gallons perm and 380 psi. The thing was idlings through the thick stuff. Dad says its pretty much syrup when it leaves the flue pan. Were getting no sugar sand. Usually a constant draw and it makes density a piece of cake. Say its 221 just open the valve and the syrup comes off and it just stays 221. Dont forget to swap out pails and your all set. Other day dad had a 10 gallon draw before it finally petered out and we were only doing 15 percent that day. Gonna keep playing with it maybe I can get it high enough to just draw off the flue and get rid of the syrup pans. When you can grade it in the float box coming off the flue you know your not messing around. Ill keep you guys posted. All cought up tonight. Looks like this last run basically got the equivalent of 6000 gallons of 2%. Something like that Ill know better tonight. Got a couple days off then next big run. So far big success becouse its all in the barrells. Theron

Theron---It's good to hear that you can RREEELLLAAAXXX and enjoy sugar season. Maybe you won't throw in the towel early this year!!!