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Going to build a 16x26 sugarhouse with additions for wood and sap storage. Going to increase taps on vacuum system to get to 7-800 on vac, up from 365 this year. Also will be thinning the sugarbush to "Free the Maples". I will also downsize the beef herd. Have already gone from 60 down to 35 with more to go.
4900 taps the first year...now that is jumping in with both feet.
This thread is gonna force me to hop on the atv and take a tour on the other 30 acres of property that I own (50 total) that I havent figured on tapping..Hmmm..my 100 taps might jump abit, with a hell of alot of work though!
We are putting a new cement floor in the production sugarhouse this year. If you've visited us in the past few years you'll understand why. The funds were very tight the year they put the original floor in, so there was inadequate site prep done on the sub-base, no curtain drain, no rebar put in, and hot Steamaway water was drained through a plastic pipe in the floor (which quickly melted and seperated the pipe...putting loads of hot water under the concrete)....and of which was a excellent recipe for failure...which did happen. We've ripped up the old floor and dug out 3 ft of of mucky-crud. Should be totally new in about a month.
Also installing new vacuum pumps (two new Busch 1142 pumps on order from Bascom). Air-cooled, so no more dealing with oil or water for us. Hoping to get 26-27" Hg vacuum next year (we got 21-23" Hg with our former Aireblo Flood pump). That'll give us a whole new crop of leaks to fix I'm sure. :)
Lots of different experiments going on, but that is a totally different thread.
We are putting up another 2000 taps on a wet dry system.Need to set up a different vac. station as this section of bush drains away from the sugarhouse.
Another year of changes. Going to focus on developing retail sales.
Bought another 400 buckets, 4 SS 400 gallon bulk tanks, Water jacketed bottler.
Added sinks to sugar house, need to finish plumbing them in.
Need to do about 150 more taps in vac woods, with ladders.
Also adding a piggyback to my 3x12, and refining my blower system for over air in firebox.
This should get me to about 170gph on the evaporator, so I can recir with the RO to 10% sap, and then really make some syrup.
Should be getting about 1000 more taps worth of sap from others next year, so that is why I am gearing up.
The never ending story....
Well we are going to do the following(we hope) if the back holds out, as well as our money.I'm afriad the back is going to give out first:
1.re-tin the arch( with the help of GARY R and his stainless steel)
2.Add 250 more taps
3.Increase storage in the woods at our main bush.
4.All above items are subject to change or cancellation!!
Jim
Well, havign your money hold out is a great thing, I dont have any to start with that is the problem!:mad:
Oh yes the money...I am waiting patiently to sell some more syrup so I can get what I need!!!:rolleyes: other wise I will have to dip into the savings again, And I really don't wanna do that!!!
adk1: I have little money but a back that has been operated on three times and have just had an epidurial shot yesterday so I can walk.As of today I'm REALLY sore but able to go back to work.Leaving Sunday morning with the camper to go to Lancaster Pa for a week of R/R. Take in a show and hot air ballon ride with my wife and two Grandaughters( both age 15). I'll let you know how I make out when I get back after 6 hours behind the wheel.
Regards
Jim