Tapping in the Golden Horseshoe

[argohauler]

Sap flow really picked up today! I collected 130 gal off 135 taps around 5pm. Sap is still dripping a drop a second or so, from a dozen or so taps as I type this.(thought I'd go check) I collected 70 gal yesterday. Have to work tomorrow so looks like I will be boiling all day on Wed, just to catch up. Wood supply is really starting to shrink now!!

Oh ya, my front syrup pan is really starting to foam up. Look like I will have to give my pans another cleaning. Starting to see a little more Sugar sand showing up.

When it foams up, just give it a little tiny shot of cooking oil and it'll bring it down.

Bet it didn't freeze hard enough last night. Weather gets a little warmer and some cloud at night and they've got a few nights now of 0 or +1. >

[Ren]

I use organic sunflower oil in my flue pan to control foam but I don't like to add it into the syrup pan. It usually isn't a problem till I get a build up of sand in the front syrup pan. I was up at 5:30am and it was -1. The ground was crunchy, so hopefully that will be enough. On another note. I checked a couple of my 3gal pails behind the house this morning and some were 1/4 to 1/2 full! I am hoping the seasons will last in to a least the first week of April.

[Run Forest Run!]

Me too Ren! Some of the buckets had a good night's sleep, but others seemed to have dripped through the night. What a pleasant surprise.

[Run Forest Run!]

Thought I'd check the buckets that I have on a property 5 miles down the road. Good thing I did. There were 26.5 litres on 7 buckets that ran overnight! The sugar content was 3.25 and 3.5. Once the breeze dies down on my property I expect to see the buckets here start to pick up speed.

I'm one happy gal right now. White steam is filling the air once again.

[argohauler]

It was warm enough for the friggin' garter snakes to come out!

Hope it freezes tonight, but not too hopeful.

[Ren]

Went out this morning to collect yesterday's sap and got 225 gal off 135 taps! I don't know how much I lost because a lot of buckets were overflowing. We must of had a couple hrs of freezing temps last night because i had some new ice forming in some buckets. (just a very thin layer) On my second trip out of the bush the trees were starting to flow BIG TIME!!!! I am boiling now to make room for today's sap. I am going to pull my taps in my silver maples, as the buds are really swollen and don't want to take the chance of boiling buddy sap!

Argohauler, you guys in Dunnville must just be a degree or two warmer at night. Have you had any really big runs yet?

[argohauler]

Went out this morning to collect yesterday's sap and got 225 gal off 135 taps! I don't know how much I lost because a lot of buckets were overflowing. We must of had a couple hrs of freezing temps last night because i had some new ice forming in some buckets. (just a very thin layer) On my second trip out of the bush the trees were starting to flow BIG TIME!!!! I am boiling now to make room for today's sap. I am going to pull my taps in my silver maples, as the buds are really swollen and don't want to take the chance of boiling buddy sap!

Argohauler, you guys in Dunnville must just be a degree or two warmer at night. Have you had any really big runs yet?

Well it must be colder in Caledonia. It froze a bit, but not hard enough to have a good run. I haven't really had any big sap yet.

My fears are coming true, clouds, rain, not going to freeze. A lot of nights 0 or -1. I need a good hard freeze. I would love to have big sap. I'm only at a third of what I want to make.

Which weather man do you believe? Environment Canada, The Weather Network, or Accuweather?

Could go up to 10 on Sunday and more rain.

[Run Forest Run!]

Which weather man do you believe? Environment Canada, The Weather Network, or Accuweather?

You know argohauler I don't think that any of them have been all that helpful this year. They've called my bluff over and over this season.

[Ren]

It is funny how the three weather sites all have different forecasts. I was surprised this morning to find a little bit of ice forming in some buckets. You wouldn't think there would be that much of a difference in temps from my place to yours but I quess a degree or two makes all the difference. Well I quess all you can do is make the best out of the sap you are getting and hope for a hard freeze one of these nights. Sugar maples buds are still pretty tight, so we are not done yet!

[longbeard]

I am well out of the Golden Horseshoe area but we are having a great year up in the Georgian Bay area. but I saw your notes on the weather forecasts!! Man, I have been keeping track and none of them are real great. Env. Can. seems to be as close as anyone but still ..... I am looking for one more big freeze and thaw to make it a record year and looking ahead I see Env. Can has -8 and -9 for next Tues and Wed lows, but Weather Network has -5 and -3, while Accuweather has -4 and -1!!! I think I will choose Env Can for this round - good luck to you southeners.