I would say my Mon-Wed total came to roughly 2 GPT on my current 200ish taps. I didn't get to test sugar content again after my 1.8 on Tuesday night, but it doesn't matter because all the sap got used for the tank rinse. Now the tank is looking good and we have a reprieve for a week or more for me to fight with the smokestack, clean the pans, and do more line repairs. More tapping after that.
March 2020- got a Half Pint when the world ended.
12 taps and 3 gallons of syrup later, caught the bug.
July 2020- got a used Leader 3x12 raised flue- go big or go home!
2021- 350 taps on 3/16 gravity. Not much of a year, made maybe 35 gallons.
2022- 450 taps on 3/16, made about 70 gallons.
2023- Life got busy again, only 250ish taps so far.
pulled almost 1gpt testing 2% exactly from last weeks mid-week run, over 30% crop so far feeling good closing out feb
So far still zip nada nothing empty buckets. Might get a little something next week but it's gonna rain with the warm temps. blech. growing seriously frustrated and impatient. *growl*
randolphvt, I believe the old saying went tap after town meeting. Tuesday was town meeting day. Should be all tapped in and getting the sugarhouse ready for the real runs to start this weekend. We're on vacuum and I feel like we missed a couple short runs which would have allowed us to color the pans and then we'd still be pacing like you. I'm taking advantage to add taps here and there as trees have grown. Also we have a new mainline to finish installing for when the CDL heated lifter shack arrives.
Mike
Tapping since 1985 (four generations back to early to mid 1900s). 200-250 taps on buckets and then tubing in the mid 90s. 2013- 275 taps w/sap puller 25 gal. 2014-295 taps w/sap puller 55 ga. (re-tapped to vacuum theory) 2015-330 taps full vac. 65 gal, 2016-400 taps 105 gal, 2017-400 taps 95 gal. 2018-additional 800' mainline and maybe 400 new taps for a total near 800 taps. 2x6 Leader WSE (last year on it) supported by a 250 gph RO.
I too have been taking advantage of the weather. Adding a sap ladder over the road to connect a small section of taps to my existing pump house. We've been trying to get to this for years!
Remember to keep on ticking while the sap is dripping.
2016- 50 buckets. Made 4 gallons.
2022- 3750 taps + Smartrek! Made 1300 gallons.
2023- 3750 taps after removing a pump house and connected two woods. Made 800 gallons.
Here on the Bradford/west newbury line i will finish hanging my buckets up today. Got over half up yesterday. Total around 230 pails! Wooohoo! Bring on the sap! The trees were dribbling as we tapped yesterday. So seems the system is primed ready to flow. Good luck to all big and small!
Georgia, VT -- hung 34 buckets yesterday. The SE facing slope was "drippy" as we tapped. Felt VERY good touching the trees yesterday... good things to come this year. Hope you all have a fantastic season!
Well after a week long vacation the sap finally started running again! Took long enough things really locked up. This week looks prime. Hate to see the snow go but the frost needs to break before heavy runs start. Probably have almost a gpt from yesterday thru this am. Sugar went down a little seems to be around 1.7
18x30 sugarshack
5100 taps high vac
3x10 inferno with steampan
7'' wes fab filter press
10'' cdl air filter press
D&G 3 post reverse osmosis w/recirculation
took forever for the sap to start yesterday. probably got 1/2 gpt from yesterday a.m till now. probably would have gotten a good bit more, but the wind knocked down some trees and we were without power from 4:30 till 8 last night. glad i wasn't boiling!
Awfully thankful for an understanding wife!
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
- Vincent “Vince” Lombardi
Good luck to all!
finally... This is the first day the sap is somewhat running in Randolph.
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