anyone else calling it quits yet?

[hodorskib]

Well, the season came to an end for us yesterday. We pulled all 75 taps and even managed to wash all the buckets and finish off the last bit in the pan. We tapped out February 18th and 22 days later it was all over. Short season compared to last year where we made syrup into April. This completes my 13th year of making syrup and each has been unique in its own way. Some interesting observations from 2012:
• Sugar Content was very low averaging 1.3%
• Collected 957 gallons of sap with a ratio of 66:1
• All medium & dark amber with good flavor
• First 7 gallons burned 1 ½ cords of wood
• Second 7 ½ gallons burned less than ½ cord because of the homemade RO
• Sugar sand “niter” was considerably less which made crystal clear syrup and very quick and easy through the felt
Looking to change a couple of things for next year:
• Going to try about 10 taps with sap sacks instead of buckets. There is a pretty cool idea of using PVC pipe for the holder in the Homemade Section
• Going to add another 100 GPD membrane to the RO which should bring the sugar up to 8% concentrate – truly making this a hobby again instead of another full time job
• Replace the old galvanized steam hood I built 10 years ago with a new one of aluminum or stainless steel
Good luck to everyone that is going to stick it out hopefully you can get a couple more days.

[rayi]

It's not a bad season when the sap runs out at the same time as the wood and your energy does

[batsofbedlam]

Today, I boiled the last of my sap, heard the Wood Frogs in the pond behind the sugar house and saw my first Red-winged Blackbirds of the season. What timing!