Is it Over?

[afretired]

Well, we have had some fairly warm weather for the last couple of weeks (60s). Tuesday Night it got down to 26 and Wednesday it was up to 50, and the sap started flowing again. I got 260 gallons and started cooking. It only made a few gallons and was dark and had an off flavor. Was it metabolism? Now what to do with it? Also, it has been warm ever since with no hope for freezing weather. So I guess for mid KY it is over . Time to start thinking about sorghum.

David

[skillet]

over all ready? we have not tapped yet. When do you guys first tap down in kentucky? Do you have a short season? Does it even snow that far south? The area we tap gets over 200"s of snow per year. Once it starts to snow around thanksgiving we rarely see the grass till mid march.

[afretired]

Yes, I really believe it is. The sap was running mid Jan up through the middle of this month. Now we don't get the kind of snow you get but we do get snow. One thing about Ky, if you don't like the weather just wait around a day or so, because it will change.

David

[adk1]

yikes, hasent even started a drop here yet!

[boondocker]

wow over all already huh? my main line is suspended about 5FT off the ground and i have no idea where it is lol..... my branch lines have sap in them and my barrel has some sap in it, but we need to lose some snow here bad before anything starts running to hard around my place. pretty crazy you guys start so early. hope you had a good year.

[220 maple]

afretired,
Don't throw that off favor syrup away, the Amish that make syrup I believe in Hopkinsville, Ky. had made over 200 gallons very early and was planning on bringing it to H. Brenneman in Someset County Pa. I would try to track them down and send it along, some money is better than no money. It will be grade C and bring the lowest price per pound maybe somewhere in the $1.75 range. maybe more maybe less? 11 pounds to the gallon, you due the math. 5 gallon times 11 = 55 pounds times 2 dollars for example 110 dollars, two rolls of tubing?

Mark 220 Maple

[spud]

Yes, I really believe it is. The sap was running mid Jan up through the middle of this month. Now we don't get the kind of snow you get but we do get snow. One thing about Ky, if you don't like the weather just wait around a day or so, because it will change.

David

David,

Just looked at all your photos. What a nice set-up you and your family have. It's all about the family my friend. Enjoy everyday and have a great season.

Mike

[nace]

hello david: we went to the grove on saturday afternoon. saturday morning was the second day of a maple workshop with the butler co. ag extention, so we had two days of travel. i was going to boil sunday after church but had to run to louisville because my mom was sick( better now) so i iced down 30 gal. of sap in 5 gal buckets in an old chest freezer which i am glad i hadn't hauled off yet. still didn't boil till last night and so far it's good. 10 gal to near syrup in 8 hr's on my turkey fryer & roasting pan (after modifications) pouring off after each 5 gal. look's to be med amber but may get a little darker when i finish. i'm thinking it's lighter than your last batch because i did't tap till feb 21. i did have to dump the first 2 1/2 gal i had collected but the rest seems alright so far but i know i have to boil it quick which is hard to do at 1:15 min a gallon boil rate. have a great day...nace

[afretired]

Nace
I hope your mom is doing good. I've got most of my taps pulled and the lines removed. I thought about leaving them up but between the deer, cows, and falling limbs/trees I don't think there would be anything worth salvaging come next year. I hope your syrup turns out. My son has been cooking on a turkey fryer for the past two weeks in Morganfield. I think he is about fed up with the slow rate of boiling. He is cooking in the evenings after work and he gets three evenings on a 20lb bottle of propane. I believe we are going to have to build him a small wood fired evaporator for next year.

David