Tanks are clean, releaser's are clean, looks like I could get a few freezes this week and possibly some snow. This is the last Of it for sure. Going to try and make it to Saturday.
Tanks are clean, releaser's are clean, looks like I could get a few freezes this week and possibly some snow. This is the last Of it for sure. Going to try and make it to Saturday.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
Well I am all done collecting sap, it is still trickling in but it has been so warm the last few days that it is more or less spoiled when it gets to the releaser. I will boil out my rig tonight, should end up with 195 gallons. It was A quick season here 4 weeks I think.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
I'm glad that you had a good season. How was the grade? Mine was mostly dark with some borderline very dark. It's the first time that I haven't made any golden or amber since 2013.
Russ
"Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!
1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
Four chainsaws and no chickens!
I made mostly Dark syrup, I think that I made 25 gallons of Amber rich at the beginning of the season. I was running my front pan shallower at the beginning of the season and I think that helped me make lighter syrup. But I had a draw with my new new auto draw that at one point I could literally see some stainless on the bottom of the pan and I decided that I needed to run it a little deeper. As soon as I did that I went to Dark grade. It could be a coincidence, but last year I was only able to make 10 gallons of Amber Rich so I suppose I did improve.
Made near 50 gallons of Very Dark. But that's ok , I think the Dark stuff sells better anyway. To me the Golden Syrup is more useful as syrup to make a value added product. Very few people ask for it anymore. I guess being Fancy ain't as Cool as it used to be.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
I'm your dark syrup guy!
Sounds like you had a good season for how short it was. How does your total compare to previous years?
Sugaring for 45+ years
New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around
That's the most syrup I have made , but it was also the most taps I have had out, as far as syrup per tap it wasn't great. I had a year a few years back that I made 120 gallons on 300 taps w/o Vacuum. I had 725 this year. Maybe next year I'll get to 1000.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
Well here we are 2021, the world is Upside down but here in Chatham Nothing has changed, I still strive "lol" to be the last one tapped and this year will be no different.
The Arch is in the middle of a rebuild, I haven't tapped a tree, can't keep up with syrup orders, and last week I went Snowmobili g in the County. I think I can be ready to boil by Tuesday. Good luck to ya'all with your seasons.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
It's good to hear from you again Nate. If things up there are like they are down here you haven't missed anything yet.
Good luck with 2021!
Russ
"Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!
1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
Four chainsaws and no chickens!
Always good to have a little fun before the season kicks off, eventually it will be here. I just started tapping yesterday so you aren't too far behind me. Glad the weather is colder for the weekend, it bought me some time to get stuff ready. Hope it's a good season up in Chatham. I will likely be heading up to check on my property, perhaps I'll stop by and say hello.
6th season solo sugar maker in a young sugar bush of mostly red maples
320 taps
2x6 self built arch, Flat pans w/ dividers
New 12x16 sugar house
CDL hobby 250 RO