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Thread: CT 2018 Maple Season Discussion

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

    Default CT 2018 Maple Season Discussion

    How are you looking for the 2018 season?

    I told myself all summer i would build myself a sugar shack... and here we are on the last day of 2017 and i'm wondering if it's a feat i can pull off before our season begins. I really don't want to boil outdoors any more and i need a place to finish product other than my kitchen or my wife might kill me this year.

    I'm all set to put out a mile of 3/16 tubing again this year on my borrowed trees on my customers properties. just need to get a few hands together to make it a little more manageable. I'm talking with another client about putting another line together on her and her neighbors property, maybe bring my tap count from 122 to 160-175.
    Last edited by BSD; 12-31-2017 at 03:00 PM.
    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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    West Redding CT
    Posts
    51

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    Quote Originally Posted by BSD View Post
    How are you looking for the 2018 season?
    As of right now not to good. Still have to finish up the new oil tank evaporator, order bottles, labels, and a new pump. After not getting the boils rates I should be getting decided to make a new one. Bigger firebox and larger smoke stack with better airflow should help. Don't worry I also said that I will have it made before Thanksgiving, here we are now and not finished. Nothing like a time crunch for motivation.

    Going into this season with the mindset of having fun with friends and family while making syrup on the old family farm. Last year had a great start but had a major setback after the second good boil. Had to dump my sweet pan and start again. After that it felt like the season was playing catch up and got burnt out trying to make as much syrup as possible. Going to see what this season brings and have fun doing what only a few lucky people get to this time of year....boil sap!!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Plymouth, CT
    Posts
    46

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    While we have near record cold in the forecast for this weekend, I see the 40s in the forecast for next week. I'm sure things will change by then, but the forecast in Plymouth for the 13th has a high of 43 and a low of -6! Last year I tapped on the 16th, so I'll be watching the weather.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
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    i'm secretly hoping the tree's stay frozen for another 3 weeks. it will take some time for them with the temps we've had as well as the snow cover locking in the frost on the roots. i am no where near ready to go and hate to miss the beginning of the season like i did last year.
    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

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    West Redding CT
    Posts
    51

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    Quote Originally Posted by BSD View Post
    i'm secretly hoping the tree's stay frozen for another 3 weeks..... i am no where near ready to go.
    Feeling the same way.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
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    I must admit I'm tempted to put some tubing up and run some lines with the forecast, the problem is i'm no where near ready to process. The good news is my sugar shack is supposed to be ready by 2/1. It's going to be a painstaking wait. I'll have to get as much prep work done as possible so i can hit the ground running once i have a roof over my head.
    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

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Southern CT
    Posts
    161

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    Lost 4 trees, in-laws moved to Jersey. Sugar shack is repaired with stockade fence sides, the tarp got destroyed in sunlight. I am mixed. I have product left from last season, not so good at selling I guess. But I am looking forward to making more anyway. I may just make a lot of nuts and enjoy a snack every day.
    I agree with the prep- I have some cleanup first. Not looking forward to that in the cold. My first boil may just be hot water for cleaning.
    2014 Year 1, 1 large front yard shade tree with 3 taps - 3 quarts of the best syrup I ever had.
    2015 - Convince In-laws and Neighbors, bought F-150 and bricks. 20 taps, 4 gallons in pretty bottles.
    2016 -- More friends and neighbors, should add another 20 +, built temporary shelter as sugar shack. F150 traded for Ram 2500. Big Blue new barrels for 116 gal storage. 8 gallons Syrup.
    2017 - Mortared Brick Arch with serving pans, no make that an 18 x 48 CDL divided flat pan, 48 taps.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

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    I got out with a buddy today and flagged some trees at a new property. I'm hoping to pickup another 50-60 taps here. I think we flagged over 80 though, not all easily put onto 3/16 though.
    The tree's were running. saw a few wood pecker holes in a tree and it was gushing! the clock is running

    20180110_123029.jpg
    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

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Plymouth, CT
    Posts
    46

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    Gathered my first sap of the season, got about .57 gallons per tap (30 gallons in total). Brix of the batch was 1.2, which is low for me. A few of the 5 gallon buckets were completely empty, some where filled almost to the top. Running it through the RO now. I was amazed how dark some of the sap was. I probably would have had a few more gallons, but a few of the buckets were less than cooperative during wind and snow melt that left them on uneven ground. Looking at the forecast it seems the next run will be Tuesday and then Friday.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Cornwall, CT
    Posts
    356

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    Started stringing lines today. Will finish tomorrow. Plan to hang buckets Saturday morning. With luck we'll be boiling next Sunday? Time will tell....
    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.

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