Spring Harvest 2013

[Russell Lampron]

The syrup has been surprisingly dark here as well. The flavor is getting more like the color but still mild. My syrup was statring to lighten up some last night too. Gonna try drawing the first draw off real early and finish it in the finisher after all of the draws are mixed together. The first one is always the darkest.

Your last sentence is why I stick with what I have for taps. If I tapped everything that I have on my property the task would be overwhelming and the fun would be gone.

[red maples]

the same here I know I only have 380 taps or so. but when its just me. its still alot of work. things get easier and easier every year. As we all do things to make our time in the sugarhouse easier and more enjoyable. I haven't spent enough time in the woods this year. as I have been tweeking stuff in the sugarhouse but I got out yesterday fixed a few leaks, found a few loose taps and got the vac up by a 1.5 inches need to work in the woods again this morning to get it up more. have to replace a leaking ball valve taped the hell out of it until I can pick one up!!!

[Amber Gold]

Russ, just need a bigger RO and the stress goes away. If you can start it at 5:00 with 1300+ gallons coming in and be boiling 11%, it's not bad. We had delivered all of our ~900 gallons of sap by 6 and was recirc'ing with that. The remaing ~450 gal came in at 7pm. If I was smart, I'd have sent come of the concentrated ap to the feed tank about 6:30 or so when the sap was sweet. Unfortunately I didn't and the conc. I had built up got diluted. Started boiling a little after 8:30 and shut down about 11:00-11:30. Filled a keg and left more in the canner.

~1350 gal processed last night into 25 gal of syrup. Still can't get it into a medium though. Flavor's very good.

[Russell Lampron]

A bigger RO is in the plans for the future. I am thinking that a 600 will do all that I want and I won't have to upgrade in a few years like I would have to If I got a 250. A 400 might be big enough but I would rather have too much RO then not enough.

I don't think the bigger RO is going to happen for next season though. My wife and I are coming up with the money to add on to the sugar house this year.

[Dill]

Actually Russ I think your the exact operation that needs to look into an energy grant.
You wouldn't have a line on a used single releaser would you?

Sap was really breaking loose about an hour ago, the sun just went away and its slowing down a bit.

[red maples]

I am gonna look into an energy grant see what I can get!!! Gonna start to get the ball rolling on that right after maple season. finally getting good sap here geez took long enough!!!

[Amber Gold]

Sap ran great yesterday, at noon time we were getting 120 gph through the releaser...hardest I've seen it run yet. The upper manifold was almost filling up during the dump cycle. I'd like to see it run at 0.2gpt/hr...200 gph through a single vertical must be impressive! Picked up 1000 gal and had 200 gal delivered.

Sap ran good overnight as well. Went to the woods and found another 600 gal in the tank w/ the sap still running, although much slower. It should be a good day. Hopefully be able to bring another truck load home or two this afternoon. Sap's at 1.7%...higher would be nicer, but I'll take it. It doesn't make a difference to the magic squeezer. Been boiling ~12% most any night and getting ~80gal syrup/cord...at this rate we could make almost 1000 gal.

Wood's has been holding steady at 26.5"....best I've consistently been able to keep it. This morning it was 27.25"...highest I've ever seen it when it was running. Everything in the woods is working smoothly...with the plan of getting electricity down at the tank this season, I'm wondering if I should rock the boat.

[Amber Gold]

1000 gal in total collected from our woods yesterday and another 475 gal delivered made for a good night. About 30 gal of medium produced.

Just entered all the data into my spreadsheet and the season total as of last night is 11gpt for our woods (~9k gallons) and another 1800 gallons of sap from Alden and Mark. Syrup total is about 170 gal, but based on my records, it should be ~230 gal (includes what's in the pans...~10 gal)...not sure where the sugar's going. I haven't tested the perm. yet, but I was told it came with a good membrane.

[red maples]

very jelous!!! we can't get a good run over here to save our lives!!! only about 4.5 gpt on vac here so far!!! Best run was 230 gallons which I just got on tuesday. what a difference a few miles can make on temps!!!

[Russell Lampron]

The report from home is that we got another 300 on vacuum today dispite the 34* high and cloudy skies. The buckets need to be collected too. The trees want to give sap and I want to take it.