Chris, room for more AC tractors!
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Chris, room for more AC tractors!
Jason,
Folks,
Maybe room for the ones I already have!:)
Should be a nice addition to the property.
Regards,
Chris
Wow, I love it!
Chris, That is going to be one beautiful and functional building when you get it completed.
Thanks guys, One of those things you probably will only do once.
Regards,
Chris
Nice build Chris.
On another front, I have a question. You have bees and do honey. How do you keep the bees away when you pack syrup? My brother just got into bee keeping, he now has 2 hives (had one which got big, so with the help of a large bee keeper near here, he split it and now has 2).
My brother's 2 hives are about1/2 mile away from my sugarhouse. I bottled up more maple syrup 4 days in the past week. I never had bees in the sugarhouse before but on all 4 days I had bees flying around in the sugarhouse and landing on surfaces very close to the syrup. Also, I mix syrup in a 6-7 gal tank (DE) with up to 6 gal of syrup in a batch. When the tank got pumped down there were dead bees (7-8) in the bottom of the tank.
How do you keep bees out of the syrup?
Dave,
Thanks.
I never really had any problems with bees around when canning syrup. At this time I dont have bees on my property. Our daughter is now doing the beekeeping about 5 miles from me. She has 5 colonies. 4 were new swarms this year. I do need to can some syrup in the next few days too.
Regards,
Chris
Folks,
Adam helped me work on door trim today. The azak material now surrounds the inside of the doors. Then the same material as brick molding on the doors exterior.
https://i.imgur.com/D12gXPv.jpg
Regards,
Chris
Folks,
Just to fill in the blanks a little on the shed:
https://i.imgur.com/8FohnQK.jpg
Me wondering what I got myself into:
https://i.imgur.com/4tIuyq4.jpg
Setting the jib crane post"
https://i.imgur.com/siAtB1g.jpg
Trusses being set with crane:
https://i.imgur.com/bQVREbQ.jpg
Regards,
Chris
Folks,
This October we did a Fall in Love with Maple event along with 4 other sugarhouses in NW PA. It was great!
Tractor rides:
https://i.imgur.com/gjZX0Lb.jpg
We had tractor show, pumpkins, all the maple products, fresh pressed cider,
https://i.imgur.com/UgZEdRk.jpg
Beekeepers:
https://i.imgur.com/iSYobFd.jpg
Antique equipment displayed:
https://i.imgur.com/Vu0u8NI.jpg
cont:
https://i.imgur.com/r5t1pFS.jpg
Four generations of our family. I am the old fart if you didnt know!
https://i.imgur.com/ZtTihFX.jpg
Maple season is almost here! I know I am not on here much, well not as much as 10 years ago. Anyway things keep moving along.
I had a reason to hang up some tubing today. So my friend Gerry came out and we visited, solved all the worlds problems, and hung up short run gravity tubing for 400 taps. About 2/3 of my sugarbush. The main reason was to get the tubing out of storage to provide some room for the electrician (Grandson) to complete rough wiring in the shop.
We are really only a month away from our typical sugaring season anyway, so its just getting a little jump on things. And being a year older I dont move as fast as I used to either! I also pulled out my sap tank for the truck and have it in clean mode.
The shop has pretty much consumed mass quantities of time and funds this year. With the help of my two sons Eric and Adam we were able to get it dried in this fall.
Some shots to bring you up to date:
https://i.imgur.com/lABrmHR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ekC6CxA.jpg
cont:
Its the shed in the center:
https://i.imgur.com/jZDAvPV.jpg?1
Sugarhouse is to the left:
https://i.imgur.com/j6z3SP6.jpg?1
Adding some color:
https://i.imgur.com/Mzcst7a.jpg
New underground service to the campus:
https://i.imgur.com/35vGmxj.jpg
cont:
Jib crane boom gets installed:
https://i.imgur.com/ibhapN8.jpg
Foam (2 inch) under concrete:
https://i.imgur.com/x5gSfn9.jpg
Jim(father&son) assisting in laying down the half mile of PEX tubing for radiant heat system:
https://i.imgur.com/SlwPW71.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/F7ag5nV.jpg
cont:
43 yards of concrete. 5 inches thick with mesh on top of the tubing:
https://i.imgur.com/HTz1LxV.jpg?1
Signature:
https://i.imgur.com/s9HFyvn.jpg
Gutters:
https://i.imgur.com/7AOUNRO.jpg
Hemlock siding:
https://i.imgur.com/AWJNThJ.jpg
cont:
A prototype area for siding. Goal was to come close to sugarhouse color:
https://i.imgur.com/7YMbnmg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fDsRANT.jpg
Overhead doors!
https://i.imgur.com/TE1zHlk.jpg
Drainage for all downspouts:
https://i.imgur.com/WWFkrhR.jpg
cont:
Our first snow this winter:
https://i.imgur.com/K4MPFKI.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/g546bLl.jpg?1
Building interior walls and stairs to loft:
https://i.imgur.com/08Ghkt8.jpg
cont:
https://i.imgur.com/63RY3mx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BdnebXD.jpg
Jib crane hoist:
https://i.imgur.com/whEPxyu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pW6P4F4.jpg
Thanks for checking in on me! As normal a lot picture heavy!
Regards,
Chris
Chris the building looks awesome. You should have used Persian Orange siding, though. :lol:
Looks awesome. Someday I need to do a road trip to visit
Thanks Guys on the shop! Will be working on it for a while.
Back to Maple:
I have all my tubing strung for the 2021 season. I also trimmed the roadside sugarbush to get some of the brush trimmed down around the big maples.
We had 25 degrees last night and the water in the sugarhouse was frozen this morning. Had to use a little heater to thaw the pipes out.
I am trying to get the kitchen insulated too. Using R-Tech, 2 inch foam insulation board, on the ceiling.
Thinking of going with some 4 foot LED lights to replace the 8 foot florescent which are 20 years old. Suggestions? Whats in your sugarhouse?
Regards,
Chris
Chris,
New building looks really good. Since I don't have a hood I used sealed lights with just the new energy saver lightbulb. I also have a 140' sting of LED lights that is contacted with the blower on the evaporator. Reminds me to turn the blower off before adding wood.
Great build! When I built mine 5 years ago I used ones similar to these. They weren’t this expensive, but they are great because they come on bright no matter the temperature, including below zero, and take little electricity, and put out a lot of light. Also, didn’t take many of them to light up my sugarhouse.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Metalux-...8040/305053569
I don’t have a sugar shack but I just put some of those led lights that have 3 paddles on them in my pole barn. They work much better than any 4’ work light I have used.
Thanks guys! Working on a antique forklift for the shop.
Thinking of using portions of the shop for the Taste and Tour event also. Not sure yet. May not have the heat in the floor by mid March?
I have pallets and containers to place at 30 roadside locations.
Regards,
Chris
Folks,
Considering closing off a portion of my back room kitchen area and having it so I could make my value added products in there in more comfort, (warmer). Last couple of years I have had to bring supplies into the house because it was too cold in the sugarhouse kitchen. Jim (Father and Son) was over and checked out the plan and thought it was a good plan.
Well I need to get some 2x4's and start the process of building a wall and putting in some type of door.
Always some type of improvement that can be made in the sugaring operation!
Temp is 22F good to have some good freezes. Not sure we are going to get much hard frost in the ground before it warms? Will have to start watching the forecast a little more too.
About 3 weeks away from normal tapping time.
Regards,
Chris
10 day forecast looks like the last weekend in January is going to be it for the cold days. I spent the last little warmup we had getting things organized and ready. 15 out of 18 of my trees are new to me this year, so I'm anxious to see how the season pans out... literally.
New trees. If you start on buckets or single containers then you can see how each trees is doing. I set up 5 new trees 2 years ago on short run tubing and was extremely disappointed. Not sure which ones were the bad ones? The line got moved to some trees on my route that are better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryne
Good luck with your season! Thanks for the update on the forecast too. I really have not been looking at it at all. Head down working on non maple things in the shop. Like a 50 year old forklift!:)
I do need to get some things ready in the sugarhouse and in the sugarbush. But today is 20F may be a challange to get much done.
My evaporator needs to be put together. Things like steam stack attachment. float boxes to be set in place. Draw off equipment to be set up. Sap containers to be moved. Get the wood shed ready. Flues need cleaned. Then a goo rinsing of the pans too. General clean up too. Sure is nice not to have misc lawn equipment stored in there this year!
Anyone out there have a Marcland old style plunger draw off on both sides of there pans? I had an idea of buying another one and then I could change sides just a little easier?? May not be worth the effort??
Regards,
Chris
Chris,
Give Bob Crooks a call. He might have a plunger valve.
1-518-532-7922
Jim
I'm thinking about pulling the trigger this weekend and tap for buckets. SO FAR it looks like a warm-up next week. What's everyone else doing?
Humm? I knew it would happen someday! Need to look at the forecast. Was near zero last night. Its going to take sevaral days for trees to thaw.
Thanks for the warning.
I did pick up some insulation material for adding to the walls in the sugarhouse kitchen. Too many irons in the fire right now. Don't feel like I have time to make syrup but will need some to satisfy customers if that come this year??
Here is the insulation. Thanks to Matt the maple guy. And the unit unloading it is the first winter project in the shop.
https://i.imgur.com/5wZPF5H.jpg
Getting some Maple Mustard ready for the Maple event less than a month away.
https://i.imgur.com/PHdniHB.jpg
Just looked at the forecast. Well if you can believe it, there looks like warming weather starting a week from today in our area. Your mileage may vary. Might have to tap soon.
Regards,
Chris
If you'll recall, the last time I thought it was a "go" week, we got this arctic blast we're just climbing out of so.... lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Sugarmaker
Ryne, Folks,
Well it may be warming but not much next week? Just getting up into the low 30's during the day. Perfect time to get things ready in the woods and sugarhouse. Time to tap? Well to each his own but since I should be able to tap in portions of two days plus naps I try not to get to excited. I dont have vacuum so the trees need to be ready.
Good luck with the season to all the maple traders!
Maple Mustard production is about done and Maple BBQ needs to begin!
Regards,
Chris
Was 6 degrees here at sunrise. Heading for the mid 30's, and that will feel like its time to get moving on maple syrup production.
Working in Cheryl's kitchen to make Spicy Maple BBQ this morning. Need to start getting some small pallets and the sap containers near the door and ready to go out into the bush. Tapping Well maybe Tuesday or Wednesday?? With this good freeze its going to take several days for things to thaw.
Sun is out and its a nice winter day!
Regards,
Chris
Folks we are in that still getting ready mode till we tap. That may happen this week if it gets near 40.
Got my bases ready and loaded in the trailer. They are small skids support and hold and give weight to my sap containers. May spread these out tomorrow if the weather is nice. Also made two batches of Spicy Maple BBQ sauce 18 jars each batch. Thanks to Cheryl for letting me use her kitchen as mine never got done as intended. Too cold and I was/ am easily distracted working on the shop project. Today I installed two of the four man doors.
Also sold my wood stove that I have had hooked into the evaporator in past years. That made room for me to get to the wood in the wood shed easier too.
If any body is boiling, stay at it!
Regards,
Chris
I tapped yesterday, part schedule necessity part wanting to see if anything runs this week. A few of the trees that were in the sun all day were weeping after I drilled.
Folks,
So the sap containers are in place (30) and we are planning to tap tomorrow if the weather is not to bad.
https://i.imgur.com/ADGLnvC.jpg
Talked to several others that have taps in place and no run today, even on high vacuum. But one local producer has spent a tremendous amount of time replacing squirrel chewed lines!
Regards,
Chris
Regards,
Chris
Good luck! The roads have been pretty slushy with this harassing snow.
Maple Folks,
2021 season is under way! We tapped the sugarbush today. sap was starting to run as I finished tapping at 4:30 and stopped at 4:45!:) Ground is still going to take a few days to thaw. We may have some sap by the weekend?
https://i.imgur.com/gv5hnTn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B4OtW3z.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mtBrdUI.jpg
Regards,
Chris
I bought a pair of new Dewalt 5AH batteries . Did about 500 taps on on battery. I thought that was pretty good!
https://i.imgur.com/rvxgomf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Pl2nQSs.jpg
The first sap of 2021!
https://i.imgur.com/sSuYUIj.jpg
duplicate post
Regards,
Chris