SmellsLikeSyrupNH Season in Review
New Equipment- New 2x6 custom made evaporator with continuous flow plans
- Northwoods Stainless Float Box for Evaporator
- Northwoods Stainless Filter/Bottling unit
- NextGen Maple 100STD Reverse Osmosis
- Added on to the Sugar Shack increasing from 6x11 to 10x11....still too small.
Season Setup- Goal of 300 taps
- Actually got 250, all on blue sap sacks and PVC holders
- Purchased 275 gallon IBC Tote for the back of my truck for collection
- Tapped Feb 14th
- Pulled Taps April 2nd
Season Results- 1st collection on 2/19
- Biggest day 255 gallons March 20
- 2715 gallons of sap for the season
- 55.5 gallons of syrup bottled
Lessons Learned- RO is the best invention since the wheel
- Having an airtight arch is really important
- Having your sons 12yr old friends help collect is a huge bonus
- Change the prefilters more often than you think is necessary on the RO
- Do a wash on the RO every 500 gallons, rinse every day.
- I thought I had enough wood for the season, I didnt....will double my amount for next season.
- Having a filter press makes all the difference in the world with regards to time and efficiency
- Need to load wood faster
- Need to remember to reset the timer
- Maybe Oil Burner is the way to go???
Im really happy with how everything turned out this year. I did more than double the amount of syrup I have ever done, and beat my season goal by 5 gallons. I had lots of help along the way and I appreciated all the advice I got from everyone. Next year I hope to get a raised flue pan to help me boil faster, I averaged about 20-25gph this year. With the amount of sap I am getting now that's just not fast enough. I want to improve my efficiency. I still wish I could run tubing instead of having to hand dump my sap, but unless I could find a sugar bush somewhere then I am just stuck doing it this way. Will be getting a Maple Jet Filter Press form the Maple guys for next season, for anyone with 50 gallons or less of syrup, this really works great!!!
Until next season.....good luck to everyone!
2022 4x40" RO, Welch 1397 Vac Pump, 3 Guzzler Pumps, Lapierre Releaser, 1100 taps
2021 Twin Baby Boys, Close to 650 taps
2020 Upgraded RO to 2 post and 7GBS Pump. 265 taps
2019 Smoky Lake 2x6 raised flue, Autodraw system, Maple Jet Filter Press, a beautiful new bride to be my sugaring partner :-)
2017 Expanded Sugar Shack, new 2x6 with float box, NEXTgen Maple RO, 250+ taps, still on sap sacks
2016 Sugar Shack, 2x6 evaporator, 160 taps, all on Sap Sacks
2014 110 taps
2013 35 taps
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Russ