2011 Spring Harvest

[Dill]

I didn't get much of a run friday or yesterday. Hopefully something starts to flow today. Did it freeze last night?

[Russell Lampron]

It didn't run much here yesterday either even though it was down to 27 overnight. I started making light syrup Thursday and other than going back to dark Friday night I am back up to light. Friday's might have been light too but I saved some concentrate from Thursday and over flooded the flue pan when I shut early down because of exhaustion.

[Amber Gold]

Still been getting plenty of sap...~0.75gpt. Vac. line was froze most of Monday so didn't get much then, but still managed to get enough to boil 950 gal on Tuesday and 500+ gal yesterday. Syrup's picked up an off flavor. Could just barely taste it over the weekend, but has become stronger since. Not sure if it's buddiness (never made it before that I'm aware of) or burnt niter...unfortunately now I have about 25 gal of commercial. Syrup pan is pretty clean, but I haven't cleaned the flue pan at all this season and I wonder if it's from that. It's a PITA, but I may try pulling the hood and preheater tonight and inspecting flue pan. I have noticed the sap in the flue pan has gotten pretty dark.

We've produced in the neighborhood of 350 gal...far cry from the 83 gal I produced last season.

I'm still wondering when the season's going to end...it was low 20's this morning and the same predicted for tonight.

Russ, I agree, this season although it's great is wearing on me.

[Amber Gold]

Boiled off another 525 gal yesterday. Sugar's down to 1.4%, still not bad for being 7.5 weeks in. Woods tank this morning had ~300 gal in it so I'd imagine we'll have about 800 gal to process today. Looks like sap will be running tomorrow, maybe Sunday, then probably call it quits.

[Amber Gold]

Threw in the towel yesterday to spend time with family. Left 600 gal of 1% in the woods. Been making mersh all week anyways...syrup had a chocolaty type of off-flavor. Boiling off the pans tonight and pulling taps this weekend.

Great, record breaking year. More to follow.

[Amber Gold]

Should be going on a helicopter ride this weekend to find another woods to tap. I figure you can only see so much from the road and a copter will cover more area much faster. Mark out possible areas on a map, then find out the property owners. Hopefully I find a hidden jewel. Also noticing the others trees are starting to come online so hopefully the sugars still stand out a lot...should've thought of this last week.

[Amber Gold]

Had a good time on the ride but didn't a nice, big, beautiful sugar maple stand like I was hoping for. I did find some smaller pockets, which combined with some reds, might be OK. Time to track down the property owners and see what's really there. From the air, the sugars stand out like a sore thumb...impressive how much. In an hour we were able to get over the northern half of Barrington and parts of Strafford. I'm debating if I go back out and try to cover the southern half of Barrington. Need to make my decision soon though before the leaves get too dark. The reds could be picked out, but only up close because they look similar to oaks which have a orange color to their leaves. Overall it was a worthwhile trip because it allowed to confirm what's there/isn't there in a short period of time.

[red maples]

very interesting...I was waiting to see what came of your copter ride!!!

but your right its a challenge from the road driving around beacuse whats along the road is not ness. whats in the woods. there are lots of huge road side maples everywhere but you might have a grown in pine/oak forest 100 feet back which is not worth anything. Its hard to find good maple orchards around because southern NH was basically clear cut for pasture back in the 40's and 50's when timber was at a premium!!! Excellent idea though!!!

[Amber Gold]

It is a good idea, but I can't take credit for it. A friend is a logger/farmer/sugarmaker and it was his idea.

Brad, like you said, you'll never see what's there from the street. My 600 tap woods, you'd never know it was there from the street. The 2500 tap woods I was looking at last year started 0.5 miles in the woods.