Originally Posted by
DrTimPerkins
Maple producers are an unusual bunch in lots of ways.
When it's too cold, they spend all their time thinking "when is the sap going to run?"
When it warms up, they ponder, "when is the sap going to stop?"
At the beginning of the season they wonder, "when will the season start?"
About mid-way through they're thinking, "when is it going to be over?"
It's an unusual profession/hobby/addiction for sure.
I've found outlook is directly proportional to boil times. if you're spending every waking minute boiling away you're going to burn out in a short time. if you have a good balance of taps and boil time you'll find joy in it.
last night was the first time i called it quits early because i was tired/frustrated. i was having a hell of a time maintaining a good rolling boil since my wood supply got wet on me. my usual boil rate was just over half of what it normally is and i kept thinking 'how can i possibly have another 100 gallons to boil still?...' lots of idle time in the shack last night and that gets old fast. i'd rather be bouncing around from the floatbox, to the thermometer, to the filters, to the head tank and keeping an eye on things when it's cruising along.
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