I'm telling you this winter won't relent. When I see that groundhog, I'm taking him out!:) I've only collected 125 in the last two days. I've refilled the evaporator and boiling it in now.
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I'm telling you this winter won't relent. When I see that groundhog, I'm taking him out!:) I've only collected 125 in the last two days. I've refilled the evaporator and boiling it in now.
I've never tried it, but maybe groundhog tastes good... I'm willing to try it with you :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary R
made about 3 gallons of syrup today with another 150gallons of sap to go. I’ll probably work it for another hour then shut it down for the night.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...328035110e.jpg
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Not much going on here either,did find a nice shed antler today picking up sap!
Slammer and Gary,
I've got the opposite problem here. The sap is coming out so fast that I'm having trouble keeping up.
I don't have a high powered evaporator; I've got a continuous process system. My gravity collection pipes feed into my barrels, which feed into my ROs, which feed into my stove-top evaporator, which trickle out almost-syrup into a stainless steel bucket. During a warm night in the middle of a big run, I run my system all night.
The forecast is for above freezing tonight with a high of 55 tomorrow, so I'll have to run my system all night tonight to keep up. I'll get up a few times during the night to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Im with HowardR. Trees have been running good. So far I’m keeping up nicely.
Made another 3 gallons yesterday. Puts me at 6 gallons for the season. Collected another 100 gallons this morning. Running it through the RO now. We have high winds so I dont know if I’ll be boiling today or not.
Last years total was 10 gallons. Already over half way there. My sugar % is much better this season. Im between 2-2.5%. Last yr I was under 1%.
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Great to hear you guys are getting the sap. I'm about 50 miles north at 1500' and a slight north facing sugar bush. Didn't boil yesterday. I have about 300 gallons today that I've started on. Should be done about 8pm. Good news is sugar content is just above 1.5% which is great for me. I'll probably be about a gallon shy of my season goal tonight then a long freeze. Not sure what I'll do. Finish front pan? Good luck to all!
We are just now finishing up a very good 4 day run (Thursday through Sunday). According to the forecast there will be a cool down for two days (Monday and Tuesday) followed by another four day run (Wednesday through Saturday) followed by another cool down. A couple days ago, Paddymountain detected this spring's cool-down-and-then-good-run weather pattern. He wrote:
This could be great maple syrup year.Quote:
Right now [the weather] seems steady. Cool down for about 4 days, and a good run for 3 days or so.
So the season is off to a good start for us here. We are at 202 gallons after tonight's boil. I have been getting sap sugar content between 1.1 and 1.5 % sugar, but I have been getting BIG runs. Huge runs. Believe me they are the biggest runs. Anyways, from 1000 taps I got 3000 gallons in 24 hours last week.
Folks,
4 boils 41 gallons of nice Amber. Finished last night in the middle of the wind storm. Took all after noon to gather 600 gallons of 2.2%. High winds, had a dead branch graze me while gathering.
Regards,
Chris
Wow... you're a brave man.. at about 11am yesterday I lost a line of about 50 taps that was running strong.. I assume a tree took it out, but I am not brave enough to venture into the woods to research with those winds... I got about 710 gallons from 290 taps between thursday evening and last night...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugarmaker
iby,
Your taps are running and producing real well! I may be dumber than brave!:) Sap collecting passion I guess. Started gathering at 55 deg F and sunshine, ending in a rain suit, blizzard conditions! My rented roadside maples are not the safest to be around in good weather. I probably should check the lines before next run, for down lines due to limbs too. Was a good night to boil!
Good luck with your season! How is your sugar content?
Regards,
Chris
I'm with you, Iby. I'm not going to spend much time in the woods while this wind is blowing! The current forecast calls for windy weather all day, so I'll walk the lines tomorrow with my little chainsaw to repair the damage.
I have to be honest, my refractometer is a 0-80 scale... anything under 5% is very difficult to see since it's way down at the bottom.. it appeared to be just a tad under 2% . After recirculating 30 gallons in my RO for 20-30 minutes, I was at 5%...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugarmaker
iby,
5% !!! Nice.
Regards,
Chris
I must say... I am shocked at how strong 3/16" tubing is. First, when I was installing it, I was shocked that the T's would actually support as much force as I was putting on it... but yesterday when I went to check on lines after all the wind, I was shocked... an 18" dead ash tree had fallen on one of the lines and pinned it to the ground. But the line was completely fine and it wasn't a very long span... it just seemed to stretch it out a bit... none of the connections let go.. anyway...anything I should be concerned with there aside from the obvious checking for leaks that weren't visible while frozen?
on the line I mentioned early in this thread that died during the wind... that ended up being a limb that pulled a drop line off the tap
iby,
With your 300 ish taps and good fresh sloped 3/16 tubing. You should produce as much sap /syrup as I do on 5/16.
Regards,
Chris
Folks,
Cheryl and grand daughter Addi in the wood shed:
https://i.imgur.com/U0aOoPe.jpg
Marly and Addi getting warrmed up in front of the old King arch:
https://i.imgur.com/eAr8fs1.jpg
Fresh syrup for the french toast:
https://i.imgur.com/1Th2k8L.jpg
Thanks to Daughter Kelly and her girls for helping: Looks pretty yummy to me!
https://i.imgur.com/oSvvRlA.jpg
Regards,
Chris
I’m at 17 gallons syrup. I’m going to try get enough sap Friday and Saturday to make a couple more. Should then be done. Iby, when it’s running right on good days you can get 3 gallons sap per tap in 24 hours. Clogging can be an issue. Cleaning at end of season is key. As you found out, one big leak kills it.
Winter is returning. My trees barely woke up yesterday, despite a very cloudy high in the mid-40s. And now the highs for Thursday and Friday are being revised down into the 30s. This week's run is going to be a small one. And then the forecast for next week: lows on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of 1, 5 and 8 degrees. Looks like the next big run will start on March 10. Can anybody remember a low of 1 degree in March?
HowardR: I can remember below zero days in March! But then again, maybe I'm admitting that I am getting old!!!!!
Nice pictures Sugarmaker! My friends have taken more of an interest this year besides the “can i have a bottle”. Had a couple hang out last wkend and showing 2 more tomorrow the whole process. I did offer up a bottle to anyone that comes and hangs out. Free syrup always works. :)
I’m sitting on 10 gallons of almost syrup. Another 50 gallons of 6% post RO sap and 185 gallons of sap waiting to be collected. Its going to be a busy few days. Thankfully Im off on fridays and can knock a bunch out this wkend. Then it looks to freeze up for a few days.
Im dreading the filtering process...so much syrup and only 2 cone filters. Next years upgrade will be a better filtering process.
HelpTheOld....let me know if u need help. I forget when you said your leaving for a few days. I can boil if you dont get it done.
Maple producers in the Somerset County area will be having an open house as part of the Somerset Maple Producers Association Maple Weekend on March 9 and 10. For details go to:
http://somersetcountymaple.org/maple-weekend.html
By the way, Andy Kinter of 2440 Musser Rd, Indiana PA will also be participating with an open house from 1 to 4pm on both March 9 and 10.
My son and I will be visiting several maple producers on the afternoon of March 9 -- looking for ideas for the sugar shack we're planning to build this summer. Maybe we'll see some of you there!
Finally got around to finishing up a few batches. Ended w 7.5 gallons. Cleaned everything and prepped for the cold spell.
Attachment 19570
The open house sounds interesting.
Would be nice to maybe go learn something. Any suggestions which farm (s?) to maybe visit?
My only suggestion is that you make your choices after entering their addresses on Google Maps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Icefisher
Well global warming has got the best of me. Only had 25 gallons sap in the tank after two days of the pump on. I decided to dump the sap and finish my front pan. We filtered and bottled today another 10 gallons and a pint. That put us at 19 gallons and a pint for the season. Looks like I'm done. Giving my rear pan sweet to my coworker tomorrow. It was 18 gallons at 4.5%. Probably start looking for sheds and turkeys. Good luck to you guys!
GaryR,
We should have good weather this weekend. Hope you get up this way to stop in and visit.
Today was maple candy day. Cheryl and I made 1.75 gallons of Amber into some nice leaves and hearts!
Took it to 241 F
https://i.imgur.com/TzpnD42.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/t3fVrOG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3BPXwyI.jpg
Next will be crystal coating and then on to the secret process for visitors to our sugarhouse for the NW PA Maple Taste and Tour March 16th and 17th (www.pamaple.org)
Regards,
Chris
I'm 2/3 of the way to my record syrup year. Here's the proportion of the syrup that I've made so far from each of this year's 4 runs:
1. 11% - Feb. 3-8 (I was tapping during the run.)
2. 20% - Feb. 12-15
3. 57% - Feb. 21-24
4. 12% - Feb. 27-March 2
I'm hoping that the run that starts on Saturday will be as big as the Feb. 21-24 run. If so, I'll set a new record. If not, then, given the forecast, it's because my taps are healing.
I think the forecast looks just great for making syrup starting about Saturday or Sunday (March 8,9th). Then looks favorable for the rest of March. We will see how the taps hold up. Hoping by changing the drops and spouts and the cold temps it will still be a good year.
Regards,
Chris
I agree, and hope we have a nice run sat. Planning to visit a couple Somerset area producers then collect in the afternoon and boil Saturday evening/ Sunday.
We shall see..
I managed to get it all boiled or concentrated and in the freezer before we left. I’ll be ready to go when we get back!Quote:
Originally Posted by sbedilion
We get back from vacation on Saturday at 5:30 and you better believe that I’m going to get all my buckets put out that night! Even if I don’t get much in March, I’ve already got 4.5 gallons of almost syrup in the freezer which is more then I’ve ever gotten.Quote:
Originally Posted by HowardR
Here's my reading of the current forecast: This season is going out with a bang! The sap will run hard starting Saturday, running all night Saturday night. Wednesday will be the last day of the run and, perhaps, the last day of the season.
idk.....weather channel site is showing below freezing temps at night all the way out to March 20th. i'm just south of pittsburgh. it's looking like i'm going to be overwhelmed with sap. i'm probably pulling the plug in 2 weeks no matter what....time to get ready for the next hobby :)
Getting overwhelmed with sap is a real possibility. This season could end like 2014. The big run of that season was huge. I tried processing the oldest sap first, but I ended up dumping hundreds of gallons that were starting to ferment in the warm weather. I pulled my taps while the sap was still running and built my first RO that summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbedilion
I've started freezing gallon-sap-cubes in my deep freezer (using plastic ice cream containers). I drop them into my sap barrels on warm days to keep the collected-sap cool. I've got 14 sap cubes in my freezer that I plan to drop into Sunday's sap. That day I will refill them for dropping into Wednesday's sap.
Humm? Last days of the season?? Guess I better look at the forecast for our area! I was planning to make syrup till the first of April!:) We just finished packing 48 pints of maple peanut butter.
Checked AccuWeather (Albion PA 16401) and if you can believe them we will have a good sugaring season right up till April 1. (No joke there either!) You couldn't dream of a forecast that looked better! If it happens lots of folks will be much tired of making syrup by April fools day! What I dont see is very warm spell like 70 degrees! F! That is usually what kills it for us. Lake Erie is still mostly frozen and should provide a nice cool breeze for us too!
Regards,
Chris
Chris,Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugarmaker
My season could end without yours ending. I tapped the first week of February and the highs in the 50s from Wednesday through Friday, predicted by Accuweather, could cause my tap holes to heal.
Howard,
Highs in the 50's! Your going to be overloaded with quality sap. Especially if you have a freeze at night in there. Understand your farther south. Next week should be a prime time for you. Our forecast temps are starting to drop off a little. Better that, than going too high too quick! Happy boiling!
Regards,
Chris
Chris,
If the forecast is correct (a big if!), there won't be a freeze Wednesday, Thursday or Friday night, so the sap would keep coming in Thursday but would tail off sharply on Friday and Saturday. But the forecast keeps changing. A few days ago it wasn't going to freeze on Tuesday night, but now it is supposed to. Long range forecasts are inaccurate!