Well I am already to tap just need the weather to start to look promising. We had another 6-8 inches last night and today due to squalls, it this winter ever end?
Well I am already to tap just need the weather to start to look promising. We had another 6-8 inches last night and today due to squalls, it this winter ever end?
Jerome
Another non-starter this week we are now under a wind chill warning and snow squall watch, I have to get out the tractor once again to blow out the driveway as it is drifted in. Foe some reason I kept track last year of how many times I had to blow out the drive (11) so far this year it is 42 not including today.
It is looking good according to Accuweather after the 7th I will believe it when I see it.
Jerome
Just looking at the long range forecast. Looks like we will finally be getting some sap flow after the 15th of March, the good thing is it looks like a good long run after that. I guess I will finish cleaning out the shack this weekend and tap next, finally.
Jerome
I was taught that the rule of thumb for our area was tap on St. Patty's Day.
The last couple years and climate change made that a joke, but this year it looks
like it on the mark
I tapped today, man that wind was cold this morning, sun is out now and has been for about 3 hours just at freezing so not really expecting much today.
Brent I saw on your website that you are not doing it this year, hope everything is OK.
Jerome
Ya I have been tapping doing a bit of an expansion. Did 300 last year going to at least 600 this year. I want the sap to flow but I wouldnt have made my numbers if it did. Been laid off for 4 weeks now and would love it to flow to get a bit of cash in my pocket. Its so late this year I have a feeling we are going to get it all at once. I would say put your taps in by next tuesday by the look of the weather forcast. Your taps are usually good for 4-6 weeks anyway. I am just about 30 minutes north of huntsville but the temps here are always about 5 degrees lower then huntsville. Some of my taps have been in for two weeks and some are going in today.
Ferrier's Maplebee farms
600 gravity 50 buckets
3x12 waterloo raised flue
with preheater
20 year old son willing to learn (for gas and beer money)
1997 f150 with trailer
picked up 10 gal here yesterday and nothing today :{(
The maples
Stood uniform in buckets, and the steam
Of sap and snow rolled off the sugarhouse.
Robert Frost
2013 12 taps - turkey deep fryer = 4 gal
2014 20 taps - new 16" x 36" mild steel pan on a Denali 3 burner stove!
2015 25 taps - 6 gal
2016 25 taps - 7 gal
2017 27 taps - 4 gal (short tap season Feb 17 to March 11)
2018 28 taps - 6 gal syrup
I'm just south of Huntsville, saw some sap flow on Friday afternoon for the first time.
It is -10 in the sun now.
As this is my first time I was excited to see sap.
Tapped last weekend. Although it ran on Friday (March 14), I only got about 200L of sap - not enough to start the evaporator.
1973: 80 taps, black Soap kettle on a tripod
1974 - 1986: 100 taps, 2 X 3 pan on blocks
1987 - 2004: Helped friend with 18" X 60" drop flue
2005 - 2011: 2' X 6' Phaneuf (dropflue) in 12 X 20 sugar shack
2012: 250 taps, all gravity lines
2014: 325 taps, gravity
http://www.runnningchallenged.blogspot.com