getting a little worried about this season!!!

[GeneralStark]

I think we have had several early seasons in recent years so people are getting a bit antsy because things haven't started. No big deal I say. Use the time to get ready so when it comes, you can take advantage. I do think that concerns over a real quick warmup like in 2012 are unfounded. With the snowpack like it is in N. America and frozen great lakes, it is not going to warm up quick.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

In a way I'm happy we have this bit of a lull...Im a small timer and I have about 25-30 gallons of frozen solid sap in buckets right now LOL So I have a bit of time before it even defrosts and I can get it out of the buckets. This weekend I'm picking up my evaporator and it will give me time to set it up, test boil some water and clean it all up and get ready to start my 1st real boil. I went out in my woods today and tapped some more trees and I am up to 80 taps now...last season I only had 35. So Im certainly stepping up my game and will need the time to get it all right.

[Drew Pond Maple]

In a way I'm happy we have this bit of a lull...Im a small timer and I have about 25-30 gallons of frozen solid sap in buckets right now LOL So I have a bit of time before it even defrosts and I can get it out of the buckets. This weekend I'm picking up my evaporator and it will give me time to set it up, test boil some water and clean it all up and get ready to start my 1st real boil. I went out in my woods today and tapped some more trees and I am up to 80 taps now...last season I only had 35. So Im certainly stepping up my game and will need the time to get it all right.

What evaporator did you get?
I'm also alittle glad that it is cold cuz I haven't finished my tubing yet or tapped.
I should be cutting fire wood for my boiler on the weekends because im going to run out of wood and won't part with my syruping wood. I guess the kids will have to wear snowsuits to bed.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Its a custom built one, used hand me down, but its stainless and he got over 10gph boil rate last year with it not being pushed very hard.

I will post pictures of it once I get it going.

[jeffeich]

I can relate to cold...In NE Iowa just checked the next 10 days and the warmest day looks like 16 degrees, with lows in the single digits. That will take us through the first week of March. Still have 25 inches of snow on the ground to deal with as well.

450 Taps and buckets (still in my Storage shed)
2x8 evaporator
2 John Deere Gators

[Hop Kiln Road]

It will be an above average season.

[325abn]

It will be what it will be! Whatever Mother give us I will take.

[Russell Lampron]

In 2005 we didn't start the season until mid March. It warmed up quick and the season ended around the first of April like it usually does. I had almost doubled my tap count that year and made about 10 gallons less than a normal season before that. It was the first year that I had vacuum and RO. I hope that this season doesn't turn out like that one did because I spent a lot of money in the off season too.

Just remember that you generally make most of your syrup in a 2 week period and all you need is those 2 good weeks to get your syrup.

[maplwrks]

An old timer once told me that no real amount of syrup will be made until after the full moon in March. I keep that in mind every year and find that there are some exceptions, but most of the time March is cold until after the full moon. This year the full moon lands on the 16th. In this area our big weeks for syrup production are the last 2 weeks in March so I'm not getting too excited. We are looking at below freezing temps for the next 10 days. HOLD TIGHT!!! IT WILL COME!!

[eustis22]

MY concern is we'll have a very short season and there won't be time to boil all I want to make.

Then again...it's Nature....I guess I need to be philosophical about it.