Ridgeland Farm 2015

Well this being my first year up and running as my own farm I figured Id get an early start on the 2015 updates. This weather has been odd. Almost went out and tapped a few trees earlier just to see. Never did though. Just Finished walking and cleaning up the woods. There was quite a mess out there. Now we are on to adding taps this week. My releaser tank is 1500ft from the road so the past 5 years I have been using a generator to pump the sap out. Finally this year we are running power!!! No more generator and I can have my vacuum right at the releaser now. Very excited about that. I am using clear cv's again this year for all my old drops and regular clear spouts for the new drops. For me I have been very happy with the cv's. My gal/tap has been very good I think. Especially for my vacuum being 1500ft from the releaser. I just cant see trying something new when I am very happy with what I have. It is funny though because a producer just a mile from me has a hard time with the cv's. More than half their spouts pop out in the beginning of the season and they have to go reseat them. The only thing different for them is they are 100ft higher in elevation. I am just waiting for the roof jacks to show up and the sugarhouse will be complete! We are getting very excited for the season. Glad to see cold temps coming!

~Stefan~

Well its been a while! Been very busy! Had our first boil a few days ago. had enough to sweeten the pans and draw off a few gallons. Its been fairly slow going so far. A few cold days ahead and hopefully we get into so more seasonable weather! Its been nice to have a slow start to iron out all the little issues that pop up! Hope to boil tomorrow. Well keep you posted.

Had an issue with the RO on the first run. Just got it back together. Hopefully all is good now. We will find out later today. Got 1100 gal + whatever runs today to boil tonight.

Just checked the sugar at the releaser. 2.6! That's the highest ive ever seen it. Ill take all I can get of that stuff!

Made 30 gallons last night. On the border of dark and very dark and hard to filter. Had to change my press after 20 gallons. Sitting inside today thinking of all the limbs and trees I will have to clean up tomorrow!

Sounds like it was windy everywhere last night. I thought I might get blown away while collecting yesterday afternoon, packed snow around my buckets so hopefully they didn't blow away. I finished 3 gallons last night & there was virtually no niter/sugar sand. Syrup went through the flat filters nicely. Ofcourse I'm not doing the volume you are.

glad to hear it filtered good for you! Im sure it will get better for us once we start to get a good run. I am not looking forward to walking the woods and assessing the damage from this wind. Hopefully the trees were kind to me. Looks like we will be cutting it close to get sap for maple weekend. Hopefully next week is the start of some good weather!

Checked out your Website. Very well done. I have a friend that raises/breeds pigs. He loves it, so do his girls, they have a Big 4H swine Club now. Its kinda Funny how things change. When I was in grade school 20-25 years ago it was not cool at all to be a Farmer. Now its Trendy. What will Happen next. Hope you have A great season.

Hey Stefan. I was trying to figure out who Ridgeland Farm was posting on Russ's thread and went to your website and realized it was you. Glad to see you're in action. Good luck this spring.

Josh

Hey thanks Josh! Excited to finally be on our own. Stop in any time your driving by. n8hutch, I never would have thought I would have become a farmer back in high school! Funny how things change. I love what I do!