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I keep checking the SapTapApp flow map and the green dots are not close yet, but there are a lot more of them and they are slowly getting closer.
After Monday mornings -29° C (-20° F), that is the last -20’s that I see in the forecast. Although I still only see one day above freezing.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/024T...2FBPgvKWHLwOTg
I added the “phone booth” shed to the evaporator shelter today. The phone booth shed houses the three induction elements that I will be using to preheat the sap to a boil, in three pots. I should be able to bring to boil about 9 gallons an hour with the three elements.
Right now the support blocks on the low side look a little redneck, but as the snow melts, I will adjust them and make it look more professional. The added feature will offer some protection for the RO that will be tucked in the corner of the shed and shelter. During the night the RO will stay in the heated garage and will only come out when I am ready to start it.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/008k...Ld5ecignCimQGg
I just now have to add a half wall to the back of the shelter to help keep snow out and it will be done.
Today is one day closer to the sap running.
I think the latest I will wait to tap is March 1st. If the weather forecast changes in February, I will tap earlier, but if not I will tap on March 1st barring an extreme cold front moving in.
Partially I will do it because of this article: https://northernwoodlands.org/articl...ir-maple-trees
and partially, by mid April I have to start looking at collecting wood for winter 23/24 and get it collected before the black flies come out. I will play when I pull the taps, by ear. If it is still really flowing and no buds opening on the trees, I can wait a few days.
-30° C (-22° F) this morning, but this should be the last of the real cold mornings.
Yesterday on the 14 day forecast the high for Feb 27 was 0° C (32° F) and I was hoping that Feb 28 today would be above freezing, but both now show as -7° as a high. I am sure this will change 20 times between now and then.
When the time does get close to tapping, there is lots of work still to do.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/057B...cMEeeJ7bgKwnxg
Rain today, but back to the cold tomorrow. The long range is not looking very good at all. It has really tempered my expectation of starting and have resigned to the fact that it will be, when it will be.
I was hoping for a little more of a melt today than we are getting. I have the shelter all structurally finished now, I just have to build a platform outside and next to the shelter, to hold the three RO barrels. I was hoping to do it on somewhat snow free ground.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c1o...f4Vz3QTQkIT-fQ
https://share.icloud.com/photos/01c9...PvPa3nQxQU44PQ
Yes, looks like several weeks away for our start.
This rain and pending freeze may hopefully make the trails into the woods nice and compact.
Happy Tapping -
I was thinking this was a slow snow amount year, but the snow we have received in the last three weeks has changed things.
I plow my snow into a gulley that is 12’ to 15’ deep. Usually at the very end of February I just reach a yellow birch tree on the far side. Today I reached it and passed it. Now I am shooting to come even with the far bank. The ground starts to slope down in the immediate foreground of the picture.
All that snow is my reserve to put around my barrels and pails later in the spring.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e0X...ugiDNnVLfLfWHA
Still no break in the temperatures in the long range forecast.
Temperatures forecasted for the beginning of March are starting to moderate and if they moderate a little bit more, maybe sap will flow.
I have never done this before, but I think I will tap my buckets 4 or 5 days ahead of when I think the sap will flow and get that work out of the way and when I see the first drip go into a bucket, I will start tapping my lines, which should take the most part of a day.
In between tapping the buckets and lines, I will start outfitting the shelter with all of the tools I will need for boiling. I will also start to set up the evaporator and have it all set to go. I will also get the collection barrels into position and the ends of the tubes connected inside them.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ebz...Yd0pec4R9XXzTg
For what it's worth, I have about 400 taps to go. Most on 3/16 lines and I am not tapping for at least 10 days or so. Weather is just too cold and could 'Pop" the taps out creating vacuum leaks.
I will admit that I am getting itchy to be out in the bush. Can't wait to use the stainless vacuum filter that I built. I have done a couple of "dry" runs and filtered a batch of beer through it. Seems to be a big improvement to the one I mashed together last year. I seriously considered the CDL version last year but couldn't justify the 2500$ for the filter so I made the prototype. Got all the kinks worked out and have the final version.
Sap is just around the corner because my chickens have started laying eggs again. Always a good sign.
Never knew about taps popping, another lesson learned.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4Walls
Two years ago, two days from now, my buddy near me, started tapping.
Any pictures of the vacuum filter you made, or a link to something similar? I never will be able to afford the CDL one.