Willow Creek Sugarhouse 2012

[Russell Lampron]

Good luck with your open house. It sounds like you have things in control. I only have a few little things to do to be ready myself.

Looks like nobody will be serving sugar on snow this year!

[red maples]

Yeah unless you saved snow in your freezer from 3 weeks ago...Got 230 hits on my website since wednesday morning!!! same thing happened last year too!!! I might be bottlong more syrup on saturday night!!! we'll see.

This never happened this early...fighting with Phebes keep trying to make a @#$@#$ nest on the sugarhouse I really wouldn't mind but its right over top of the door!!!

[red maples]

Alrighty had a great turnout seemed a little slower than last year sat but had $600 more is sales than saturday last year!!! overall it was a really good day!!! its now just after 12:30 am just finished cleaning up after bottling and making some more of the stuff I ran out of!!! Just have to package up the maple nuts in the AM. I am beat...I tried not to talk too much tonight so my thoat will be ready to go tomorrow. I hope the weather doesn't get too bad and keep people from visiting.

Everyone was pretty understanding about the boiling water part. especially when I told them it was russ's first year ever boiling water on maple weekend!!! And I got alot of interesting question after tapping the birch tree I explained the difference in root pressure vs stem pressure and difference in the sap and sugars and they did still get to see the sap run and taste and stuff it was just the birch!!!

Alrighty have to get some sleep for round 2!!!

Good sap weather coming/....too bad all my trees are now budded. they are even starting drop already hope this frost coming up does screw things up they should be OK I hope!!!

[BC Birch Tapper]

Birch sap has been consumed for centuries primarily in Russia, Scandaniva & Europe as a health drink or tonic & is still sold there today. We've got a photo of a First Nations Lady tapping birch 1908 in the Northwest Territories. When you think about it though, after a long winter something with a bit of sugar & nutrients would be a good thing. Sounds like your event was a success.

[red maples]

Thanks Ted for the info!!!

All finished....We far exceded my sales from last year...sold 26 gallons of syrup, 8# maple candy, 6# maple cream, 4# maple nuts, 35 # honey 7 doz eggs, If I had more honey and eggs I could have sold alot more hopefully next year!!! even my wife sold over $700 worth of artwork and I have to match the $130 in bracelets that my daughter made to donate to the NHSPCA...me and my big mouth!!!

I am beat..... we had a great 2 days though despite the weather but it wouldn't be the same it was still 80* so I am glad it cooled off a little and the rain held off just enough for a great day!!! So lost of money for more containers and hopefully enough to cover the cost of my renovations to the sugarhouse for this summer...

on the brighter side of things after this crappy year I didn't use as much wood so I don't have to split as much for next year

Tomorrow I am taking off from doing anything...I am gonna sleep in, no gym, lay around and play video games have some appts on tuesday to take care of then Wed. start pulling taps and get everything buttoned up final scrubs and pressure washing thru the remainder of the week. then onto to Chickens!!!!! and coupes etc.!!!!

[svharper]

I am getting ready to build a sugar house and will have approx. 3000 taps with potential of 6000 later on. How should I design my house? 3 rooms? I will have a vac. system and r/o. Thanks!

[Russell Lampron]

I am getting ready to build a sugar house and will have approx. 3000 taps with potential of 6000 later on. How should I design my house? 3 rooms? I will have a vac. system and r/o. Thanks!

Start a new thread here, http://mapletrader.com/community/for...d-Construction and you will get more reply's. We will need to know what size evaporator and if it will be wood fired or not and any other info needed to recommend a building size.

[red maples]

Thanks Russ!!!

[Russell Lampron]

Thanks Russ!!!

Had some time to kill so I figured I would help the newbie out. Looks like he hasn't made any other posts yet though.