Tapping in Ontario

We just got back from collecting and we got 500 gallons from 400 taps. So now is the true test to see how well my evaporator performs.

Glad to hear things are strating to run for you James I hope your first true test gose well, We finaly got our first decent run this seaon sap finaly ran for 5 hours today and we colected 130 gallons, I hope tomorows run gets better, this time last year at this time we had made 15 gallons and sofar this year only 2 gallons...

I tried to get to bush again, there was six inches of snow on top of two feet
of water/slush. Need to cross a large low area to get there. I got so stuck
with four wheeler, it bottomed out and all wheels were spinning. Neighbour
pulled me out with a log skidder.It is getting late, and best thing I can do
is leave all my equipment in the shed until next year.I only do this for fun
anyway, and right now it's not fun. Meanwhile ,I will watch this site, as I
always did, picking up what I can, and putting in my two cents if needed.
Good luck to all.

Record collection yesterday:

We had 205 gallons collected yesterday by dinner time and the evap and RO were tripping along great.

At some time after 1:00 AM is checked the radar weather and the rains seemed 100% and the front was between London and Kitchener. All those buckets and some without lids. Most were still running strong at the last collection before dinner. With the warm weather forecast I figure we likely nearing the end.

Started a salvage run at 2:00 AM and finished at 4:00 AM with a total collection for the day at 330 gallons.

Cheesegenie: Bad news. I feel for you.

Well - I got back to 200 gals of sap, 4 tired boys, and one very soggy morning today. I boil outside, but with 200 gals ahead of me I started this morning anyway. I'm losing some to snow and rain, but still making progress. At 5-8 gals per hour on 15 min firings, I have a lot of hours ahead of me this weekend and not much sleep.

we have lots of snow and have the same problem with slush under the snow.
I am not getting that great of sap quantity but it is still at 3.5%. it is our forth collection of ~70 gallons for 107 taps. if the sugar content stays this high i will have a good year even if i don't get that much sap.

This year has not been a fun year to collect by hand, hard walking with two five gallon pails in two to three feet of snow.


Mark

We had a record day yesterday and made 10% of what would constitute a "normal" year's production in a single boil! Now if we could only get 7 or 8 more of those days in a row....

Good luck to all and pray for a deep freeze!

James; how did you make out with all that sap?

i am still boiling and have made 33 liters so far and we got about 300 gallons left to boil.

Can you put out a conversion chart for gallons to liters? I know it is more like 3.75l to a gallon but not sure. Thanks