We ran the RO yesterday and it did lighten the syrup. I took about 150 gallons and concentrated it to about 12 gallons. I think if I had done that the first day I would have had even lighter syrup. I was able to boil it all the way to 58 on the evaporator and then cleaned out the evaporator and took it to 60 and canned it for future syrup. Once I have 5-10 gallons I will take all the batches to around the upper 60s and then filter press all of it and bottle. Our forcast now has us at 11 degrees tomorrow night so I think the birch sap will keep much better and probably stop for most of the week. I didn't collect today since my forcast is for 28 tonight and I would like to RO two days worth if I can. I just checked the buckets and the sap seemed fine so I'm taking a chance. We have about 100 taps and are getting around 100 gallons every 24 hours. I was hoping for a little more sap but I guess I get what I get. Some trees give around 4-5 gallons a day and others just barely a quart. I have about 25 of the taps on 5/16 tubing coming from the mountain which is getting very nice natural vacuum and the rest are buckets. Hopefully I will be boiling birch tomorrow night or Tuesday AM and then maple Wed - Sat. Even if the trees (maple) are just starting to bud we are going to boil and send the syrup to Mrs. Butterworst. If I get board I might add another 50 birch taps so that I have more efficiency with the RO and can run it each day.
Millbrook Maple
Catskill Mountains
Saphouse - Somewhere in witness protection area.
2.5 X 8 Smoky Lake pans on grimm oil fired arch
RO - Ecochem with 2 codeline vessels and 2 MES vessels.
2000-3000 Taps depends on the season.
Always looking for more sap!