Ohhh the weather forecast for this weekend and upcoming week sure is making me think of digging out the pails. Seems way to early? ????
Ohhh the weather forecast for this weekend and upcoming week sure is making me think of digging out the pails. Seems way to early? ????
2014 100 taps 65 l of syurp
2015 50 taps 20 l of syurp
2016 150 taps, 160 l of syurp made
2017 plan is 150 taps , and will see what happens
2018 200 tap , 25 on my first 3/16 gravity system, 250 of syrup
2019 250 taps , all on 3/16 with 12 volt diagram pump ( 300 l of syrup)
2020 same 250 taps , time to make a small ro unit
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup
It may seem early but we are also going to start tapping this weekend. The first run is usually low sugar and we need some time to clean the isopropyl out of the lines. Sounds like snowshoes and sleds are the preferred tools to get the job done!
800 Taps on CVs & vacuum
3.5' x 14' Lapierre Force 5
www.farrellsfinestmaple.com
Leave only your footprints
I would normally wait until at least the first of march but this weather looks too good to pass up. Going to wait til Saturday and if forecast stays the same I'm going to tap too. I have all new health spiles and a lot of new tubing so I should be fine if it's a prolonged season.
Maple Rock Farm
www.Maplerockfarm.ca
400 taps on Vacuum
18”x60” Lapierre propane evaporator with Smokey Lake auto draw off
Homemade 3 post RO with MES membranes
Ford TS110 tractor sap hauler
This is our 3rd year of tapping. Both years we tapped in February.
Correct me if I'm wrong, the sugar content is very low yes, but the syrup produced with this early sap for me was the premium stuff!! Very light, with a vanilla flavour. By far my favourite syrup of the season both times.
Therefore, I'm definitely tapping earlier than later, to ensure we get that stuff!
2 acres of sugar maples. Woodburning arch with small evaporator and propane burners with steamer pans Year 5.
2015 - 35 taps on 30 trees. 1556 L sap and 44L syrup!
2016 - 42 taps on 40 trees. 2274 L sap and 64L syrup!
2017 - 37 taps on 36 trees. 1573 L sap and 47L syrup!
2018 - 33 taps on 32 trees. 2314 L sap and 53L syrup!
2019 - 30 taps on 29 trees. 1640L sap and 51 L syrup!
2020 - 31 taps on 30 trees. 760 L + stopped counting sap and 25 L syrup!
Nice to see you back, have a great season! Sooner than later those little ones will be able to lift buckets and empty sap for you.
~ Karen ~
2012 - 10 taps, 1 turkey fryer - 169.5L sap 4.2 L syrup
2013 - 23 taps, 2 turkey fryers - 748.5 L sap 17.56 L syrup
2014 - 22 taps, 509 L sap 12.5 L syrup
2015 - 28 taps, 1093.75 L sap 25.1 L syrup
2016 - 25 taps, 1223.5 L sap 28.25 L syrup
2017 - 21 taps, 518.5 L sap 12.7 L syrup
2018 - 28 taps, 2 turkey fryers & Denali 3 burner propane stove - 798L sap 16.9 L syrup
2019 - 28 taps, 1409.5L sap 40.12L syrup
Sugar, Norway, Manitoba, Silver and Freeman Maples
2 acres of sugar maples. Woodburning arch with small evaporator and propane burners with steamer pans Year 5.
2015 - 35 taps on 30 trees. 1556 L sap and 44L syrup!
2016 - 42 taps on 40 trees. 2274 L sap and 64L syrup!
2017 - 37 taps on 36 trees. 1573 L sap and 47L syrup!
2018 - 33 taps on 32 trees. 2314 L sap and 53L syrup!
2019 - 30 taps on 29 trees. 1640L sap and 51 L syrup!
2020 - 31 taps on 30 trees. 760 L + stopped counting sap and 25 L syrup!
*ahem* everyone before you get too excited...this is from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers website...Remember not to drill tap holes or install spiles while tree trunks are frozen below -5 ⁰C. Wait until thawing conditions allow safe tapping. (bold and italics mine). And...brb...Many producers discard the first significant sap run because of potential off-flavours in syrup that frequently occurs in the first sap. The discarded sap will also serve to effectively rinse vacuum tubing before larger volumes of sap begins to flow.
This same notice also strongly suggests tapping conservatively this year as the summer was quite dry.
I'm still waiting at least another week before tapping.
Last edited by Galena; 02-16-2017 at 05:38 PM.
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup
2 acres of sugar maples. Woodburning arch with small evaporator and propane burners with steamer pans Year 5.
2015 - 35 taps on 30 trees. 1556 L sap and 44L syrup!
2016 - 42 taps on 40 trees. 2274 L sap and 64L syrup!
2017 - 37 taps on 36 trees. 1573 L sap and 47L syrup!
2018 - 33 taps on 32 trees. 2314 L sap and 53L syrup!
2019 - 30 taps on 29 trees. 1640L sap and 51 L syrup!
2020 - 31 taps on 30 trees. 760 L + stopped counting sap and 25 L syrup!
Add me to the list of people tapping this weekend. Yes, it seems early but it's been a tame winter and the next week looks good. And, if we have a crazy March like 2012 (20C for several days in the middle of the month) then it might be a quick end to the season. But who knows for sure? I sure don't but I do know that my drill is about to be humming! I hope everyone has a great and enjoyable season!
50 trees, 1 spile per tree
homemade outdoor fire box crudely made from concrete slabs
5 steamer trays as pans