Van, how many taps you looking to get this year? Your numbers in the past were inspirational.
Van, how many taps you looking to get this year? Your numbers in the past were inspirational.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
Still somewhere around 4,000 taps. This year I added more trees, but removed some taps on larger trees to tap more conservatively. I need to buy some more tanks for in the woods so I don't have any overflows. Walking up to full tanks is great, but also a little disconcerting. If I was held up at the house or another bush I'd have sap on the ground and not in my wallet.
Back to tapping yesterday till the snow and wind picked up . Pretty close to whiteout at 2,500 ft with Little snow at 1,500.
Finished tapping my upper bush today. One more to go then I'm all in. Weather is looking good for sap starting this weekend. Time to fill barrels so I can go fishing this summer.
Finished tapping today and sap is flowing! Time to fill some barrels.
Pulled in 5,000 gals of sap the past two days. Boiled today and filled two barrels and 12 gallon jugs. Best start to the season in 24 years. Weather forecast looks fantastic for some more big days. 3/16 bush did not disappoint with fuel tanks a day after I finished tapping it.
Went well over 200 gals of syrup for the year today. Brought in 3,200 gals of sap for 62 gals of syrup. Surpassed last year to date. So far I'm keeping up with the sap, vacuum leaks, vacuum pump repair, bottling syrup, etc. already collected 1,200 gals this evening so tanks have room for tonight's sap. Having a great time this year being a solo maple mountain man.sometimes more help is less help than no help.
Pumps ran for three days straight pulling in over 10,000 gals of sap for me to turn into 200 gals of syrup. Today I deliver some syrup and stock up on supplies for next weeks big run. Seems we're back to the three day gush then a day or two break. I'm jealous though reading others have sugar at over 3% while mine is 1.6%. Once again eternal vigilance payed off with checking the pumps before bed, one releaser the ball got sucked up and blocked vacuum. Had I not caught it I would have had 9,000 gals sap.
Congratulations. Sounds like youre doing great. You must be feeling good. Just be careful on the steep hills. Ron is putting up a few buckets on the trees in the yard. We tried so hard to find a place with some trees. No luck. Im sure the neighbors will be mystified. Take care
6,000 gals in today and sap is still pouring in. 100 gals of syrup so far and back to boiling after a midnight collection.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote