looking for one more run before I pull the taps

[markct]

im all done for this year, my buds popped here. the last sap i boiled off was making syrup that was not smelling funny, and didnt realy have that off taste, but didnt have that maple sweetness that lingers after the taste either. not bad syrup, my dad described it as more like pancake syrup, but dont think i wanna put my name and reputation of great flavored syrup on it, so its going off as bulk hopefully b but maybe c. another local producer plans to make some c so i am giving him my sap for the rest of the season, was realy running good today just buddy!

[hodorskib]

Checked on the trees today for signs of budding out. They still look good so I carried 20 gallons of water in the woods with a scrub brush. Cleaned all 60 buckets and rehung. Also, scrubbed out the evaporator and the holding tanks. Temperatures should be good for at least another week. Bottled up 8.5 so far, last batch was dark but good flavor and after a lot of waiting came through the filters crystal clear. Hope the effort today will pay off, if not we already made double from last year. Good luck for everyone still going!

[DaveB]

I'm good here too. No buds, but I can see that they were thinking about yesterday. Nice cold nights coming up...I feel sorry for the folks that are budding. This week looks ideal!

Dave

[hodorskib]

Picked up 20 gallons today, very clear and boiled it down and covered up everything with nasty weather coming in. Going to hold out to Sunday and maybe later if the weather reports are right. Figures:
- tapped out a week earlier than I had ever in ten years!
- with the forecast may be finishing sometime in April!

Nothing with this season makes sense. Just going with the flow and trying to keep everything as clean as possible. Back to winter for at least a few more days.

[lafite]

Picked up 20 gallons today, very clear and boiled it down and covered up everything with nasty weather coming in. Going to hold out to Sunday and maybe later if the weather reports are right. Figures:
- tapped out a week earlier than I had ever in ten years!
- with the forecast may be finishing sometime in April!

Nothing with this season makes sense. Just going with the flow and trying to keep everything as clean as possible. Back to winter for at least a few more days.

I agree about not making sense. They flowed when they weren't supposed to and vice versa. Big flows on weird days and sometimes didn't stop for 3.

Great year for the small producers! Amazing syrup as well!

[Starting Small]

What a day so far (in East Windsor), came home from work today early to empty the buckets and a couple of the milk jugs I use were actually overflowing. Sap is still running strong as I gathered. Going to boil down tonight using a turkey fryer for the first time. We will see how it goes. Hope your trees are running like mine were today.