Bottled 7 gallons today putting the total at 12.5 gallons for the year so far. Would like to at least match last year's total of 15 but not so sure...
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Bottled 7 gallons today putting the total at 12.5 gallons for the year so far. Would like to at least match last year's total of 15 but not so sure...
You might just get the chance if you've got all sugar maples and after this weather hits us early this week...Quote:
Originally Posted by MRFNY
I boiled today. Sugar ratio was definitely down. Made 5.5 quarts from 75 gallons of sap. That's a lot of boiling for pretty low yield. I am definitely hoping the cold snap helps the sugar content next week. I think I have one more boil in me for the season.
I am currently sitting at 7 gallons for the season. Not great, but plenty to keep us in syrup for the next year and a good amount to give away to friends and family.
Pete
Nice, that's plenty of syrup for family and friend purposes - that's what we do, too. Where are you located in Saratoga area? I see you have an oil tank evaporator, nice work with that...could probably get some pointers from you as mine is not ideal in its current state.Quote:
Originally Posted by crzypete
I have a decent amount of sugars and they are all good size so we will see how it goes. Pretty close to being ready to call it quits though, time to move onto the spring chore list!Quote:
Originally Posted by ADK_XJ
ADK, I'm just up the street from MRFNY in East Galway- although our schedules keep bumping us apart that we can't seem to meet. Would love to host you to see the OTE, I am definitely a fan!
Pete
Pete - I am off all week, not sure when/if I will be boiling but if you want to stop by even when I'm not boiling give me a shout!Quote:
Originally Posted by crzypete
Oh cool, I'll send you a DM. I should be able to sneak off tomorrow if that works?
Pete
Cool, just replied!Quote:
Originally Posted by crzypete
I had a great visit with MRFNY yesterday. Really great set-up! Definitely like watching the next level of insanity descend upon me....... Thanks for the tour!
Pete
Great meeting you Pete and thank you for the kind words. Looking forward to seeing your set up as well!Quote:
Originally Posted by crzypete
Still chugging along. collected 52 gallons yesterday around 3:30 and trees were still dripping pretty good. Boiled it and got a nice draw off. Flavor is still excellent!
Just took a walk and checked some buckets, they must have run all night. Should get 1 gpt today
It's still going here. Collected almost 60 gallons from my 42 taps last night and am cooking today! Batch 7 for me
Pete
Made another 5+ quarts today. I'm happy. It feels like I may be done for the year. just under 8.5 gallons for the year from 48 taps, but I'm rounding up and calling it 8.5.
Pete
Nice job Pete! Will most likely be my last boil today, should end up with 16-18 gallons once we bottle the last batch. I'll take it since it was looking like a single digit year for a while!Quote:
Originally Posted by crzypete
Now the dreaded clean up process
Collected 45 gallons today and boiled a total 70 gallons (some left from yesterday). Two draw offs and season is done. Will bottle next weekend and should finish the year with 17-18 gallons. TIRED!
We have 100 gals. of FREE SAP today if anyone is interested, Western Fulton County, Town of Oppenheim. Ran out of wood, hate when that happens.
nutsy ,were you located,i am in ephratah on mud road,glad to take it off your hands even pay ya the going price if you can delivery
Last bottling of the season today. Bottled 5 gallons to finish the season with just shy of 18 gallons, so calling it 18 gallons! Not bad after how it was looking for a while there
That's a nice season MRFNY! I believe you are quite close to a quart per tree? I was off from that and we are so close, so odd all the micro climates. I have been slowly getting everything cleaned and put away. It's been a stop and go process where the buckets were finally dry today and I stacked them. I ran the evaporator with vinegar in my pan today too. I already miss sugar season. The trees look naked without their buckets.
Pete
Thank you! Yeah right about a quart per tree. I'm doing the same with the clean-up process. Buckets, lids and taps are done. Evaporator and collection/storage tanks will be taken care of this weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by crzypete
I drive by a wooded lot on my way to work every morning, buckets still hanging from the trees. Sure hope the owners pull the taps soon!
Hello, all - what are folks thinking about the season ahead? I put a new set of lines in and ran all the way to the base of our woods for collection this year so I am entertaining tapping a bit earlier than my usual President's Day weekend to see if i collect any early runs.
Hoping for a good year but worried about the weather...it's early yet.
Hey ADK! I'm a little worried about the season as well, but like you said it is still early. Extended forecast looks fairly warm, hopefully mother nature cooperates this year.
Made one improvement to the sugar house this summer. Replaced the old galvanized roof jack and pipe on the roof with all new stainless steel. Stack is 100% stainless inside and out now. I might add one more 3' section on the roof though.
Pre Season update.
We're gearing up for the season. Added 150ft to driveway and installed culvert to make a horseshoe driveway for maple weekend parking. Ditched the shurflow and 3/16 replaced with 5/16 and mainline, overall added 1000ft of main Adding another 100+ taps. In the process of upgrading the RO, plan on replacing the procon with a used 5hp Gould's multistage pressure pump and adding a membrane. Built a 12x24 addition( that needs finishing) for the evaporator to have its own area. We'll see how far we get tidying and finishing before the season kicks off.
Great to hear, growig ,growing, but never done it seems. That is the way I look at it.
Out of curiosity, why did you make the switch from 3/16 to 5/16?Quote:
Originally Posted by eseerup
Simply put From a business aspect it doesn't make sense for us. We successfully have retailed every drop and there is more demand. We watch profit margins And hours spent.Quote:
Originally Posted by ADK_XJ
More continuous vacuum at the tap every tap will get whatever I set the pump at. 3/16 was clogging, 5/16 laterals are easier maintenance. Less walking checking for leaks. Seems like twigs take down every line of 3/16 every year I'm redoing them. Branches lay on the 5/16 and you just pick the branch off. The mainline is also obviously more robust. It's cheaper and more productive to do mainline than make multiple long runs of 3/16. I can have a leak with the larger pump and it doesn't effect the whole system like a shurflow or even when on natural vac. You also dont lose all vac or sap if a 5 tap lateral goes down.. with 3/16 you loose what's on that line then lower vac on the rest of the shurflow. Consolidated only one pump to worry about. Streamline all fittings and drops. One tool one supply of "tubing" for repairs and drops one supply of fittings and taps.
With three kids time is more important... all under the age of 3.5 I can hop on a quad or sled drive down the mainline and check for leaks (vac gauges and ball valves)instead of checking thousands of feet of 3/16 on foot for a pihole or hollow tree etc
winter will come,but it will be short,we will tap as usual,presidents weekendQuote:
Originally Posted by adk_xj
Long range forecast looks right to keep my mid-to-late tapping plan in place. I may put up a string of check valve taps on the new 3/16 runs to see if they really do extend the season, otherwise it's my SS spouts from SmokyLake for everything else!
I am wishing I at least hung my lines up before the freezing temps this weekend, so all that was left is to drill holes when the weather starts to look right. I am sure I have missed out on some flows, but that is way to early in the season, not in the syrup mindset yet, especially with it being for "fun".
I think I might tap on Saturday. I'm on buckets....should I go for it or wait?
I'm in Galway. It looks favorable. Just hesitant to pull the trigger.Quote:
Originally Posted by MRFNY
Just keep in mind you basically start the clock on your season when you tap and you never know if you're pre-empting a short year or cutting off a long one!Quote:
Originally Posted by MRFNY
I know! I've tapped this early in previous years which is why I am thinking I'll give it a go, but looking at my notes from each year there always seems to be a long cold spell in-between.Quote:
Originally Posted by tobrien
Ugh I know. Decisions decisions!Quote:
Originally Posted by ADK_XJ
Western Albany County here. I am considering doing my taps on tubing this weekend as the forecast is looking good and hold off on my buckets until later in the season. I trimmed some branches the other day and there were sapcicles hanging off them yesterday and it was only 34 and not even sunny out. I dont typically tap until the end of February and usually get a stretch of cold weather splitting up the season some but havent had any issues. I am lucky in the fact that i only currently tap about 20% of my trees so if this ends up being a failure i can always tap different trees if the season goes long.
The weather this winter has got me worrying about a warm march, but who knows we might end up going well into April this year? A few years back i was still boiling sap on April 20th.
Running great today. Typically, anytime I tapped around Valentines Day my taps never dried up. My friend on tubing has started tapping this past Sunday. He will finish by next week sometime. He catches the late season without any issues.
Well i usually tap around Presidents weekend ,but with this some what open winter,i will start tapping this coming Monday
I’m on buckets as well. Going to roll the dice and tap on Sunday. I’m just south of Lake George.