Eastern Ontario 2015

[Lespetras]

Lesley, what a drag that your last few batches were disposables. It's such a shame since it takes a lot of hard work to turn that sap into syrup. You had a record breaking season regardless of whether you are a newbie or not! 'Unbelievable' would be an understatement! When you said that you were depressed about the season being over I kind of chuckled. You're now one of us. The moment a spile is pulled, the countdown to next year begins. You'll never take a vacation in the spring ever again. You'll only ever make last minute plans to get together with friends - because it depends on how much sap you collected that day. And, your family will write you off for a month. The list goes on.

Congratulations again on such a stellar first year. I know you'll be back next year.

Thanks Karen, yes we'll definitely be doing this again next year.. Probably an arch involved! Who knows maybe even a sugar shack..
Marty, thanks for maple sugar advice! Should let it sit for a bit longer next time.. Still good thought.. I think we are gonna eat the whole stash!
Lesley

[ennismaple]

Ennis, Have you hit a liter per tap yet? Seems like most producers in Ontario aim for a litre per tap on vacuum systems, whereas those in Vermont aim for 1/2 GPT (1.89 L). Have you heard of anyone in Ontario hitting the 1/2 GPT mark this year or in past seasons?

We ended up just over 1 L/tap. I know a number of producers near us who were more like 0.75L/tap and some who are over 1. We're not running high vacuum (yet) so just over 1L is a decent number for 20" Hg. Running 27" Hg we'd get 35% more sap - which could push us close to that 1/2 USG/tap mark. It's in the plans I just need to convince the CFO!

How are things up the Ottawa Valley?

[can'twaitforabigrun]

We gathered close to 1/2gpt yesterday. They finished boiling that up this morning and I'm heading up tomorrow to help clean everything up. Not sure how much we made yet, ill post on here Sunday or Monday.

[Galena]

We ended up just over 1 L/tap. I know a number of producers near us who were more like 0.75L/tap and some who are over 1. We're not running high vacuum (yet) so just over 1L is a decent number for 20" Hg. Running 27" Hg we'd get 35% more sap - which could push us close to that 1/2 USG/tap mark. It's in the plans I just need to convince the CFO!

How are things up the Ottawa Valley?

Hey Marty, I got 18.25l approx from my 18-tap homebush - so far, still have to syrup batch #7 - and got 8.25l syup from 6-tap virgin bush, so very happy with results. Pulled taps this morning, sad to see sap tears from the holes but it was time...*sigh*...the west and south spiles esp still wanted to go.

[Ontario Ian]

That was a busy end of the season, ended up making just over 200 gallons. few more days of cleaning up and that will be it for this year! we averaged .8 liters per tap, had some pump issues so I know we missed some sap. All in all a great year!

[ennismaple]

The sap was definitely still running on the weekend as we pulled the taps but there was no way you could possibly make syrup out of it! The sap in the tanks was so milky there was a layer of white sludge an inch thick across the bottom. The sap in the RO feed lines had gone ropey and stunk like sour milk. As we washed the lines the snot that was coming into the tanks was gumming up the releaser to the point that sap got sucked back into the moisture trap until the ball got sucked into the vacuum line - causing the regulator to kick in and the moisture trap to drain. I can't imagine how bad it would have smelled and tasted had we boiled it!

[Galena]

hey all only three more months before the fun begins! Thinking this year will be kinda slow compared to the last two though. Might just tap my 3 best trees and the butternuts across the road, just for fun.

[Bruce L]

Was in the bush yesterday taking down old mainline wires,ironwood trees were pouring out sap when I released the wire from them where it had grown in.Used to say in the spring sugarmaking was done when the ironwoods run!!!!!!!

[Asthepotthickens]

Okay boys and girls, time to get the drill out on Otty Lake

[Galena]

uhmmm just wondering why this thread is live? There is an Eastern Ontario 2023 thread.