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Why do we do it ? because its all about the experience, and making some great syrup from our own woods. You mentioned putting wood in every 2 hours at night, our evaporator takes an arm load of wood every 6 minutes. So my day dreaming cost time, syrup, and money. Had 3 above this morning in Lodi hope the sap I gathered Sunday is still liquid. its covered up with tarps and snow. Keep in touch.
Wednesday, March 15th....It took about 8 hours to finish yesterday's boil. We were able to finish it inside on Thursday morning. It's been cold and freezing rain and toss in a little snow so I stayed out of the woods for the past few days.
Friday, March 17th...Finally a little better temp but no relief from the wind. Anyway, I figured I better check and collect any sap before the continued freeze. Pleasantly surprised to find my 5 gallon buckets all full which meant a very long day of collecting. Tossing some ice found in the buckets will reduce a bit of time in front of the fire.
Saturday, March 18th...continued freezing temps all day and the steady north wind kept me inside all day.
Sunday, March 19th... The plan for today is getting a fire and boil going this afternoon, listening to Marquette win around suppertime, and continue through the night, all day Monday, and be caught up sometime early Monday evening.
Glad you were able to make some syrup with the cold temps, I knew we would have had a problem with those cold temps, from the bulk tank valve to the evaporator the sap turns to slush and creates a supply problem.
Tuesday, March 21st, Well we did get done with the outside work Monday just before supper. Tuesday morning was finishing on the gas stove. A short time later we had just over 2 gallons of additional syrup for the season. We have now begun riding the bell curve up and hope to crest our average on our next boil. Speaking of boiling, got one going right now after yesterdays collection. Sap is running strong and clear yet. Some buckets still have ice in them but I am not complaining about that with the warm temps.
I was all set to pull buckets Monday afternoon but sap was just pouring out of the trees so I just could not get myself to do it. The season continues on Irish Ridge.
Monday, March 27th.....It was a long week of collecting sap and boiling. We have three unfinished pans of sap to put on the gas grill. We are still getting a nice 2% sugar content on average and still a lighter color of near finished product. Sap is still clear but the moths are definitely out. We have topped our bell curve of yearly production. It will end as better than average but the game plan is to pull taps midweek before the weekend storm and the very warm extended forecast.
Thanks for the report, Yes some moths in the sap but my biggest issue were the snow fleas. They got under my top tank tarps, and were so thick the white tanks were black . If you try to brush them off they smear and smell like garlic, all I could do was blow them away from the tank caps before filling them. the most snow fleas I have ever had to deal with.
Wednesday, March 29th....It's "pull the taps" day here. Only a gallon per pail average over the last 24 hours. Some trees had already quit. Still clear to just a bit less than clear. Ice this morning with the dusting of snow overnight. The north wind is also blowing at 10 to 12. The outdoor boiling should end early this evening and then its inside finishing for a few days. Haven't got a total yet but it will definitely end up above average.
Friday, March 31st.....3 batches of outdoor sap were taken up the last three or four degrees to make 6 gallons of syrup on the gas stove today. Totaled out at an exact 18 gallons for the year and our third best year ever. Rain and storms overnight and more storms rolling through around supper time right now. It is a good time to be done. Just one huge clean up required now. Excellent season. Now on to wood cutting and splitting for next year.