just startin out

[lakeview maple]

Hey flatlander hows the sap running acroos the border?I got about 55 to 60 in in the last 3 days along with hauling main line wire and main line were only a herd of goats should live ,lol,I hope things are well and if your ever up in my neck of the woods please stop in ,take care and God bless ,Al

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

I haven't tapped yet, but at a farm in Hubberton yesterday one of the guys was hanging buckets and it was running for him. I'll probably wait one more week unless I see some really decent weather coming.

[lakeview maple]

Well had a great first season.learned alot thanks Maple trader ,and a couple of really patient friends namely Mike and Mike. We finished with 14 gallons when we figured on 3 maybe,never did burn a pan but me and Old Goat "father inlaw" both ended with a couple burns ,nothing serious tho.Nearly ran outa wood ,make note for next year,need couple more bulk tanks,but other wise had a lot of fun I especially want to thank my wife Marci for all her patients ,and for holding down the fort while I boiled away,thanks my best friend.Well I hope all have a great summer and will try to stay in touch over the Blueberry season,God Bless ,Al

[adk1]

Al, interesting design with the steam hood. How did it work overall? I am still contemplating buildign a coupola or trying t ofigure out a hood system.

[lakeview maple]

The steam hood worked great ,I built the whole thing for around 60 bucks including all the metal and the stack and stack cover,only on the most humid days did the steam get bad other wise it worked great ,I am installing a attic fan in this summer just for the bad days but it worked great ,and I didnt want to be on the roof in Feb trying to build a cupola,lol Good luck and God Bless

[lakeview maple]

Attachment 4941Attachment 4942Attachment 4943Well we are getting close to the 2012 season.It seems you never get every thing done,I did get the addition done on the sugar house pics coming soon and we did add almost 200 taps on pipe line this year.I took out all the brick in the arch and and Im installing ceramic blanket, we added some free cupboards and a small base cabinet to use for canning ,thanks Mike L for the donation. Im just thankful for everything and am looking forward to another year of doing something I love to do.I want to say thanks to my awesome wife for all those days when Im in the woods all day.and for her not complaining with all my sugaring stuff all over the place.Good luck and God Bless to all,and have a Mery Christmas ,Al @ Lake View Maple

[adk1]

I am with you there Al. I do not know if my wife realizes how much $$ I have spent this past year on maple stuff. I just keep telling her the first year will be expensive since I didnt have anything to start with! But I have always told her that this is something that have wanted to do since I was first introduced to "sugarin" at the age of 5 or 6. I have never forgotten those days. I just hope that I can get enough sap out of my smaller woods trees! That is the only thing that I am nervous about

[red maples]

The first year is the worst for $$$ lots of stuff to buy and set up. It is lots of fun though but it does get easier from there. after you get through the first year jitters and panics and uh ohs then you learn and start to make time saving changes for the second and 3rd years. before you know it your a pro. (I am no pro yet) still learning everyday!!!!