Did a final boil and pulled taps last weekend. Had some visitors join me, including a very enthusiastic three-and-a-half year old, who wanted to taste everything (repeatedly) and help pour sap into the evaporator. That was really fun.
A tiny harvest this year, only a bit over two gallons of syrup. But I did succeed in being very efficient. My evaporator ran much faster this year, so I was able to wind up with roughly the same amount of syrup as last year, with fewer taps, shorter boils, and a shorter season. Also, I replaced the rotting out stovepipe, so that's something that'll be good for many years to come.
GO
2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
2017: 15 taps; 4.5 gal
2018: 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
2019: 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
2020: New Mason 2x3 XL evaporator halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
2021: Same Mason 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals (too much sap!)
2024: 17 taps, 5.3 gall
2025: 17 taps, 4-5 gall
All on buckets