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Got a nice freeze here last night, down to 18 Fahrenheit, not a great run today though, still a lot of snow tight to the trunks of the trees, maybe another 700-800 gallons. With the pans sweetened up yesterday though syrup was rolling off quick today, averaging between 6 and 7 gallons per hour
Well I am at least in the game now. 10 litres bottled up. Yummy medium syrup. Filtering disaster on the first batch as I over boiled. Playing with the new digital refractometer was a little unreliable. Even with temp compensation, It continued to give a slightly different reading every minute as hot syrup cooled on it. Went back to the hydrometer.
Sap tested at 3%.
Had my own filtering disaster......started filtering my first syrup of the year and realized it tasted like laundry soap! Apparently my filters got washed with laundry soap by accident at the end of last season. I'm blaming the wife and she's blaming me! None the less, had to dump about a gallon of syrup down the drain......brought tears to my eye!Quote:
Originally Posted by Yellzee
Clinkis, that's brutal. We haven't had enough syrup production around here yet to spare a gallon for the drain.
That is brutal Clinkis!
picke up 70 gallons off 130 taps. Was really hoping for more yesterday. Thursday and Friday should be better. I have to collect walking with buckets, the atv keeps getting stuck with all that snow in the bush... make a guy tired at night.
Me neither! On pace to make about half what I normally do. Next January when I'm putting Aunt Jamima on my pancakes I'll be thinking about that gallon going down the drain :cry:Quote:
Originally Posted by Run Forest Run!
Oh no, how terrible is that...and I don't know which is worse, having to dump a gallon of syrup or having to settle for Aunt Jemima or other lame 'table syrups'...*shudder* :-/
At this end was pleasantly surprised yesterday with 5.5 USG from my trees. Also finally finished first batch of syrup, though as I let it go up to 225 or so (before remembering it only had to be 219) it may crystallize a little. Ah well, it's golden and sweet and marshmallowy so I know it's mine "-)
Finally tapped in on Sunday, late morning. Put up all 65 buckets we have. Every tree was running hard. Called my old man last night to see where we were at. Close to 140 gallons in 3 days. I'll do a collection tonight and check sugar content. Looks like we will have a couple long days boiling ahead of us on the weekend. If we can collect another 70-100 gallons in the next 3 days we'll be laughing. 5-6 gallons of syrup does our family and friends with leftovers.
Can't believe the amount of snow in the bush. Still knee to thigh high in places. Had to use snowshoes and a toboggan to tap.
Boiled 100 gals yesterday and my tanks are now empty ready for the "big flood" that we all know is coming :) Had a good chat with Yellzee who stopped in on his way home. Light Syrup only so far this season. Will get yesterday's bottled up tonight. Once bottled, should get me to about 35 litres or the same as 2012. Didn't collect yesterday. My scout came back saying there wasn't enough in the buckets to bother. Will see tonight but without frost last night it's doubtful there will be much. Minus 5 forecasted for tonight so tomorrow might be a good day.
Drew. My family alone uses 24+ litres a year. Won't be any leftovers for friends if we don't get another couple of runs! I guess my 4 teenage or twenties boys like their pancakes more than most.