'bout a mile north. Next driveway past the "Frog Rock".Originally Posted by Mike Van
'bout a mile north. Next driveway past the "Frog Rock".
Last edited by Woodsrover; 01-13-2017 at 12:50 PM.
1980 - 6 taps, stone fire pit, drain pan evaporator, 1 pint of syrup
2016 - 55 taps on 3/16 and gravity, new sugar shack, 2x3 Mason XL, 16 gallons of syrup
2017 - 170 taps on 3/16, 2x4 Mason XL, NextGen RO. 50 gallons of syrup
2018 - 250+ taps on gravity and buckets, 2x5 Smokey Lake arch and Beaverland pan.
2019 - 250+ taps on gravity. A few buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
2020 - 300+ taps on gravity. 50 gallons of syrup.
2021 - 280 taps on gravity and 40 buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
I don't believe a big cold spell will hurt, everything just goes dormant. The data in that UV bulletin was from 16+ years ago, things are changing in the world, some will still deny it though. A long warm spell killed my season last year, and it was in early March. Was still my best ever, despite tapping Jan 25 or so. Freeze - thaw, freeze thaw, makes it all work. Anyway, picked up another 85 gal today, boiled some off but will do the rest tomorrow. It's in a barrel in the barn so it doesn't freeze up solid tonight. The weekend looks cold [here] but by Mon it's back to 40's.
Ran the rest of my lines and tapped everything. 170 or so taps all on 3/16. Will hang about 40 buckets but I'll wait a couple weeks to do that. Looks like good sap weather coming this week.....
1980 - 6 taps, stone fire pit, drain pan evaporator, 1 pint of syrup
2016 - 55 taps on 3/16 and gravity, new sugar shack, 2x3 Mason XL, 16 gallons of syrup
2017 - 170 taps on 3/16, 2x4 Mason XL, NextGen RO. 50 gallons of syrup
2018 - 250+ taps on gravity and buckets, 2x5 Smokey Lake arch and Beaverland pan.
2019 - 250+ taps on gravity. A few buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
2020 - 300+ taps on gravity. 50 gallons of syrup.
2021 - 280 taps on gravity and 40 buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
Ok, after the run in Kent, and looking more closely at the 15 day, i put out my first 22 taps today using bags for the first time. I may do another 25 tomorrow, not sure if i want to get overwhelmed all at once next Wednesday, or gradually ease into it. Who am I kidding? Been waiting almost 365 for this! I'm all in. By the way, how great is that property bordering a lighted parking lot? so lucky!
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Drive-in sap collection!
Mason 2x4 w/raised flue pan, 240 gal. sap tank, 80 Reds on 5/16 tubing and Lunchbox releaser/pump, 20 sugars on buckets
Hey Scott - the sap from the one near that padmount transformer might have a few extra ions in it - - Just for flavor you know - I'm all cleaned up right now, waiting the next warm spell. Not far off from what I see. Last year I had every bucket, tap, piece of tubing, etc. out in the woods. I almost paid the ridiculous price Tractor Supply was asking for some new pails, but soon came to my senses. This past summer at Bascombs I stocked up on some used aluminum pails, covers, and even bought some 'health' spouts. What a small hole 5/16 is, I can see them healing faster this summer. I've been out of syrup since Christmas, so theres 4 gal. now I can finish & bottle in the next few days. One of these days, I see a filter press in my equipment inventory.
I set another 23 taps today bringing season total to 45. I have about another 30 to do, but ran out of the PVC caps. Saw my first drops of 2017 sap, so that was very cool. I like the PVC collection idea/theory, curious to see how the bags hold up. I have buckets and tubes at the ready. Great to be outside again, bring on the 1st boil!
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Last year I had 10 taps (and probably got started too late). Today I put in 30. That's probably as big as I'll get (until next year, I'm sure!). If anyone is looking to purchase 5 gallon food grade buckets, both Lowe's and Home Depot have them for $5. Lowe's in Derby has them for $2.39, and 2 Home Depot's and a Lowe's were willing to match that price. (The Costco by me was picked dry!) Here's hoping I'm not too early this year, a few of the taps are dry so far, but a couple others have put out a cup or so of sap already. I'll check them in the morning.
Last edited by markgm; 01-16-2017 at 05:10 PM.
You probably won't get any overnight Mark, just too cold. There is a good thaw coming in the next few days though. Despite being 12 F this morning, I had several running by 1 PM. No frost in the ground, no snow pack, days above freezing are going to make sap run.
My in-laws live at Oxford Greens. Are you the guy on the way there? Would love to stop in some time.
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