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Thread: How long do we have?

  1. #41
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Ashford, CT
    Posts
    921

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    I tapped later than I should have as well and I too am just going to wait until things stop completely. I'm still getting decent sap when it warms up but it doesn't help that that we go back into the deep freeze into next week. That might help things because long term (at least the next couple of weeks) it does not look like it's going to warm up like we had a couple of weeks ago.
    About 300 taps
    2'x6' air tight arch
    Semi complete 12'x24' sugarhouse in Somers, CT
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
    My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard

  2. #42
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    376

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    Quote Originally Posted by sr73087 View Post
    Anyone pull their taps yet? I haven't gotten anything even after last weekend. I think I am done. Forecast going forward looks go though, but is it too little too late?
    Pretty much all the trees I tapped Jan 11 or so have stopped, the 2 dozen or more I did last week are going to finish off the season for me. I'd like another 225 gals of sap to match last year. This really has been the year of extremes, nights in January [lots of them] where it wouldn't freeze, then when it did it was down bitter cold. Same in Feb. I don't think I had back to back runs, always a big gap in between. I finished a batch & bottled it 2 nights ago, I thought it would be like bunker oil after those 70 deg. days, but it was just like a real strong medium, not yet dark. I did get about 60 gals of sap the last 2 days from those new trees, it was 2%. More stinkin' snow coming too - so I hear.

  3. #43
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    West Redding CT
    Posts
    51

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    I pulled taps we set in the last week on January. They stopped running after the 60-70 degree temps. Tapped some new sugar maples last weekend and they have been putting out real nice and clear sap. My buddy, thank you Scott Devine, tested the sap collected on Wednesday and it was at 2.9 -3%. I am very lucky to have enough trees to be able to move taps.
    IMG_7437.jpg
    20170307_170501_Richtone(HDR).jpg20170309_170047.jpg

  4. #44
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Old Lyme, CT
    Posts
    272

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    tapped my 80 or so Reds on January 30th.

    Only got about 10 gallons of sap in the last week or so.

    Next 5 days looks to be below freezing. I hope we get more sap when it warms up....


    Mark
    Mason 2x4 w/raised flue pan, 240 gal. sap tank, 80 Reds on 5/16 tubing and Lunchbox releaser/pump, 20 sugars on buckets

  5. #45
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

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    forecast looks the same on the west side of the state too, too cold for the next few days. I'm tempted to try to tap some more trees that I think i've acquired for next season. I probably have just enough left over 3/16 and taps... so very tempting.
    2016 - 36 Taps - File Cabinet Arch + Food Pans
    2017 - 2.5'x10' drop flues - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 122 Taps
    2018 - 16x20 Sugar Shack - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 235 Taps

  6. #46
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Cornwall, CT
    Posts
    357

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    Managed to get 300 gallons up, ROed and into the tank room before things froze up tonight. Should make a few gallons tomorrow but that's about it. Gotta wait for things to thaw out. Crazy year.
    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.

  7. #47
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    East Canaan Ct.
    Posts
    81

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    60 gallons of sap last few days, before the big freeze (from 15 taps). Started late this season (March 5).Syrup still lite amber.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by MichtonTree; 03-11-2017 at 09:17 AM. Reason: pic added
    2016: Second Year;
    ..........15 Taps- 177 gals 0f 2.40 % Sap / 4.25 gals of Syrup
    ......... Cinder block arch evaporato with 2'x2' Stainless Steel Pan
    ......... Finishing in stock pot on propane burner
    2015: First Year;
    ......... 12 Taps - 135 gals of 3.37% Sap / 4.56 gals of Syrup
    ......... Cinder block arch evaporator with 2'x2' Stainless Steel Pan
    ......... Finishing in stock pot on propane burner

  8. #48
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Ashford, CT
    Posts
    921

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    Today was a really hard core boiling day with temps in the teens and the wind. I'm working on finishing up the 400 gallons I collected this week. My forecast doesn't have above freezing temperatures until next Friday so I'm pretty sure my season is not over for another couple of weeks but we'll see.
    About 300 taps
    2'x6' air tight arch
    Semi complete 12'x24' sugarhouse in Somers, CT
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
    My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard

  9. #49
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Hamden
    Posts
    16

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    Had to pull my taps due to a messed up knee and to give my Maple Syrup loving daughter a break. She was trudging through the snow to help collect and she's due with baby #3 in 3 weeks. I graduated to a propane fryer this year and have to decide how far to go next year. Volunteering at the park I used to be sugarmaker at but just can't stop! Sugaring is addicting and I still love teaching about it. Open House was this past Saturday and thought cold we had a steady stream of visitors. So many good questions and wonderful people so interested in learning. After this freeze I'm guessing there will be one more good run so don't give up yet if you don't need to. Enjoy nature at its sweetest!
    Tanta Kirsten - Sugarmaker
    Walker Sugarworks - Hamden
    www.kirstenwalker.com

  10. #50
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    106

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    What is weird is my trees are running again, but the buds are pretty big. What are the odds of buddy sap with these?

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