Hopes for this weekend?

[Helicopter Seeds]

Looking at end of this month or First of March, have a lot of snow on ground and the cold weather has been a real mean weather pattern to us

Other than being all classic picturesque, (should I get snowshoes and a yoke!!) and a pain to walk through, what is the impact of snow cover on the roots? Does it help it by insulating, or keeping water on-hand?

[DaveB]

Other than being all classic picturesque, (should I get snowshoes and a yoke!!) and a pain to walk through, what is the impact of snow cover on the roots? Does it help it by insulating, or keeping water on-hand?

I have observed that years that we have a good snow pack that we have better seasons. I'm not sure if it's because the conditions that bring about the snow pack are conducive to a good season or having a constant supply of water helps.

I've often wondered if there is value in setting up a snow making system in the woods for years when we don't have much snow...lol.

[markct]

Snowshoes are needed for sure i been tapping today got about 200 taps in so far. Then took some time to shovel out over 3ft of snow to clear my mainline going to the upper woods. Hope to get another 100 taps in by dark.

[ctjim]

looking out on the extended weather we might get some good days next week. my partner was going to start tapping this afternoon and finish over the weekend the 155 or so on vaccuum.
i'm planning on tapping all 150 or so buckets early next week. i figure if the buckets start to dry off early because i tapped a bit too soon and we still have favorable weather i can always move them to new trees.
on a side note was up at bascoms the other day picking up some evaporator parts and they had a sign up that they had 65,000 taps in but no syrup yet. hoping everyone has a good productive season

[tanta]

We are tapping today getting ready for the thaw. We have 40 buckets, the traditional spiles, an assortment of Grimm lids and the new hooded ones. We are going to do a few trees we have not done for a bit in a more remote area with tubing into 5 gallon water bottles. The excitement is building in New Haven County about this interesting and sweet "hobby" they see us all doing in our "free" time. If you invite the general public in to your sugar shack be prepared for questions like, "Do you sell Maple Water?", "Are the plastics in your jugs the harmful kind?" and "What's the glycemic index of your syrup?" I tell them they aren't helping the environment by buying sap in plastic and syrup is better, the plastic jugs from Sugarhill are safe and I give them a hand-out about the health facts about syrup we put together from various sources. Everyone have fun with that "free" time you all have!

[valleyman]

Nice post Tanta : )

We are tapping today getting ready for the thaw. We have 40 buckets, the traditional spiles, an assortment of Grimm lids and the new hooded ones. We are going to do a few trees we have not done for a bit in a more remote area with tubing into 5 gallon water bottles. The excitement is building in New Haven County about this interesting and sweet "hobby" they see us all doing in our "free" time. If you invite the general public in to your sugar shack be prepared for questions like, "Do you sell Maple Water?", "Are the plastics in your jugs the harmful kind?" and "What's the glycemic index of your syrup?" I tell them they aren't helping the environment by buying sap in plastic and syrup is better, the plastic jugs from Sugarhill are safe and I give them a hand-out about the health facts about syrup we put together from various sources. Everyone have fun with that "free" time you all have!

[valleyman]

Intellicast said it was 29 in Norwalk at lunchtime I went out and tapped 5 trees and 2 immediately started flowing. Things are finally looking up!

[Noah's Ark]

just put in 55 taps today, a few of them had a few drips of sap running but not much. Looks like we might get some sap next week, I cannot wait to fire up the arch and start making syrup.

[Pauly V]

I put in 50 today..30 were flowing a drip a second......my LARGE trees were dry......

[markct]

Im up to about 550 taps so far hope to get another 400 in Sunday. A few trees were a little wet but still too cold but want to be ready for the week coming