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Thread: Tapped in Laporte County

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Westville, IN
    Posts
    23

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    $9.75 per case of 12 through Sugar Bush supplies. I sell them anywhere from $12 on the farm to $16 at some specialty stores.
    2011 forest inventory
    2012 feet wet with 30 taps
    2012 friends 2x4 pan
    2013 all in 250 taps on buckets
    2013 Patrick Phenauf 2x6 with steam hood
    2014 350 on vac and buckets
    2014 Indiana Vacuum 20cfm
    2014 Deer Valley RO250gph

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valme...18208831548247

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    North Shore Lake Lemon, Monroe County
    Posts
    135

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    Thanks...I think the very marginal extra cost vs what I have paid for plain bottles is worth it...they look great! I'm giving about 25% of mine away (150 total bottles this year) and selling the rest for $11 per, but if you count my time I'm probably losing $50 per bottle. But, it's all for fun - I do it because I enjoy being out in the woods on the first warm days...means spring is around the corner. That said, to cover new taps and drop lines I think I'll go to $15 per bottle next year.
    2014 - 8 taps, turkey fryer, 130 gallons sap, just under 2.5 gallons syrup.
    2015 - 50 taps and counting.
    2016 - 60 taps on 3/16 and a Bill Mason evaporator on order.
    2017 - 115 taps on 3/16, homemade r/o.
    2018 - 150 taps on 3/16, r/o a big help, but lots of leaks killing yield.
    2019 - sticking with 150 taps or maybe less, focusing on good vacuum and less waste to increase yield. Doubling up my r/o, and made a vacuum filter that looks promising.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Westville, IN
    Posts
    23

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    I think 90% of the producers on here do it for the enjoyment not for the profit. However, with that said 90% of the customers who buy our product would pay double just to support our efforts. Professionalism with our product is whats sets us apart. Not sure what type of bottles you are using, but a few pennies more might make the difference between a $11 and $15. I'm an IU grad and you have plenty of places to market your product if you wanted to get bigger. I would tell all the IU students that a teaspoon a day will help you get straight A's and sell them for $30 on Kirk wood street at midnight. You'll make enough money to expand your operation in one weekend.
    2011 forest inventory
    2012 feet wet with 30 taps
    2012 friends 2x4 pan
    2013 all in 250 taps on buckets
    2013 Patrick Phenauf 2x6 with steam hood
    2014 350 on vac and buckets
    2014 Indiana Vacuum 20cfm
    2014 Deer Valley RO250gph

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valme...18208831548247

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Crawford County Indiana
    Posts
    93

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    Thanks Valmere, I'll be trying those out next year. Perfect timing, I almost completely depleted my current bottle supply. Andrew, what size bottle are you using? I'm using 8 oz. I was planning on selling at farmers market (where my wife sells bread) for $8, but may up it to $10.
    2014 - 30 taps
    2015 - 50 taps
    2016 - 140 taps
    2017 - 115 taps - 85 taps on 3/16, 30 buckets
    2018 - 150 taps, all 3/16

    Smokey Lake 2x3
    Homemade 2x XLE-4040 RO Unit
    Kubota L3940 - big sap hauler
    Polaris Sportsman 570 SP - little sap hauler
    I'm 1:20 remote from sugarbush, so I let run awhile between boils, and time is at a premium, so I try to oversize things

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    North Shore Lake Lemon, Monroe County
    Posts
    135

    Default

    That's funny! I'm an IU grad as well, and my property is about 15 minutes from campus...maybe I'll go hang out by Kilroy's! dsaw, I use 8 oz bottles as well. I see temps in the 20's next week, but I'mm assuming the trees have started to bud, so I'll probably go pull my taps soon. One more run would have been nice, but I'm also ready for some free time on the weekends!
    2014 - 8 taps, turkey fryer, 130 gallons sap, just under 2.5 gallons syrup.
    2015 - 50 taps and counting.
    2016 - 60 taps on 3/16 and a Bill Mason evaporator on order.
    2017 - 115 taps on 3/16, homemade r/o.
    2018 - 150 taps on 3/16, r/o a big help, but lots of leaks killing yield.
    2019 - sticking with 150 taps or maybe less, focusing on good vacuum and less waste to increase yield. Doubling up my r/o, and made a vacuum filter that looks promising.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Crawford County Indiana
    Posts
    93

    Default

    I hadn’t looked at weather, I could get another run in this week. Not sure I’m still up for it. I’m down at my land this weekend, but was here to clean up and start flushing my lines. I pulled my RO membranes and put them in storage; but I could pull them out and re-flush them. Doubt I will, but will look at trees tomorrow to see if there are signs of budding. Flower bulbs are up, so it’s close to done. Plus, already in enough political heat for being gone from home too much; so pretty sure I’m done.
    2014 - 30 taps
    2015 - 50 taps
    2016 - 140 taps
    2017 - 115 taps - 85 taps on 3/16, 30 buckets
    2018 - 150 taps, all 3/16

    Smokey Lake 2x3
    Homemade 2x XLE-4040 RO Unit
    Kubota L3940 - big sap hauler
    Polaris Sportsman 570 SP - little sap hauler
    I'm 1:20 remote from sugarbush, so I let run awhile between boils, and time is at a premium, so I try to oversize things

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    North Shore Lake Lemon, Monroe County
    Posts
    135

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dsaw View Post
    I hadn’t looked at weather, I could get another run in this week. Not sure I’m still up for it. I’m down at my land this weekend, but was here to clean up and start flushing my lines. I pulled my RO membranes and put them in storage; but I could pull them out and re-flush them. Doubt I will, but will look at trees tomorrow to see if there are signs of budding. Flower bulbs are up, so it’s close to done. Plus, already in enough political heat for being gone from home too much; so pretty sure I’m done.
    Personally, I would put not being up for it and political heat tied at the top of the list - lol! Excited about two things...my first batch was off due to mold not being flushed out but I took it down to sugar. My wife is blending it with coconut and almond oil and some other things and has made a maple scrub that all her friends want to buy...a new reason to boil everything, even if not good for syrup. She is selling 3 ounces for $15 and has already used up all my "off" sugar. Second, just made a fantastic batch of maple bourbon. Can't give away all my secrets, but it's Jim Beam based with two other bourbons and then about 10 ounces of syrup to make a little over 2 liters of bourbon...pretty tasty!
    2014 - 8 taps, turkey fryer, 130 gallons sap, just under 2.5 gallons syrup.
    2015 - 50 taps and counting.
    2016 - 60 taps on 3/16 and a Bill Mason evaporator on order.
    2017 - 115 taps on 3/16, homemade r/o.
    2018 - 150 taps on 3/16, r/o a big help, but lots of leaks killing yield.
    2019 - sticking with 150 taps or maybe less, focusing on good vacuum and less waste to increase yield. Doubling up my r/o, and made a vacuum filter that looks promising.

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