First Boil For Davis Family Farms 2014

[afretired]

Well we did it today, we had our first boil. Only had about 150 gallons of sap but we got everything fired up and now were ready for the rest of the season. Tonight it is supposed to get down to -4 so there wont be any sap for a few days but we'll be ready. I ordered a Marcland auto draw off and it should be here tomorrow. So while it is so cold I'll get it hooked up and be ready for the next flow.


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[nace]

Sounds like you will have that pan sweetened and ready for more!

[spud]

Well we did it today, we had our first boil. Only had about 150 gallons of sap but we got everything fired up and now were ready for the rest of the season. Tonight it is supposed to get down to -4 so there wont be any sap for a few days but we'll be ready. I ordered a Marcland auto draw off and it should be here tomorrow. So while it is so cold I'll get it hooked up and be ready for the next flow.


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That is great. Please keep us posted on your season. I hope you make a bunch of syrup this year.

Spud

[Starting Small]

Very nice, great sugar shack also. What are the dimensions of the shack?
-Dave

[unc23win]

Awesome! Very nice sugarhouse looks very welcoming.

[adk1]

and it starts.....gotta love it. These early boilers really get me going and all amped up for the start of our season here!

[Bruce L]

Really like the front door of the shack,is that eastern red or aromatic cedar? Our weather is far from sap weather yet,few days ago it was -45 with the wind chill, last night we had rain so everything is a glare sheet of ice can't even get out of the yard, have a warning of a flash freeze now with temps expected to go -30 or so!!!

[afretired]

Thanks for the nice comments. I modeled it after several of yours since I haven't ever seen a real one before. My wife and I would like to come up and visit some during the maple season if we could ever get away. The size is 24' X 30' with a loft around three sides for storage. As far as the front doors I guess it's eastern red cedar, it grows locally. We really are fortunate with our sugar shack, it is worth all the work and trouble. Beside it I have built a cooker and shed for cooking sweet sorghum. The process is much like maple syrup except a lot more labor intensive.

David
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[lpakiz]

Beautiful! Nice job!

[Bruce L]

David,what do you do with sweet sorghum,and what does it entail. I would hate to think of something more labor intensive than sugar making ,most people don't realize just how labor intensive it is