Warm weather storage
It’s supposed to hit 65 degrees here tomorrow. I have about 60 gallons (a lot for this small scale producer)in a 275 gallon tote that I packed snow around and surrounded with plywood to act as some insulation. It’s supposed to cool back down tomorrow night. Hoping I don’t lose the first decent run. Anyone have any suggestions?
Sounds like you are on top of it. Its always best to boil as soon as possible. But lots of us still have day jobs and such. The 2 best things to keep sap good for longer is keep it cool and keep the sun off of it. The warm weather just passed us and since I tapped early I had a good bit of ice still frozen in my storage tank. It kept my sap good.
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
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Last edited by Scm; 04-11-2018 at 08:33 AM.
I cut my lid out, cut the top of a 5 gallon bucket off and siliconed it to the tote. Makes it easier to clean and access inside. Like you, I packed snow around it, but today the snow melted with the warmth. Now I will tie off a couple 1 gallon frozen milk jugs and hang them inside. I do the same with my 55 gallon tank out by my evaporator. During warm spells I will rotate new frozen jugs in. I try to burn on Wednesday’s down to a concentrate what’s in the tank, bottle in 1 gallon glass jugs, store in the fridge and then finish on the weekend. I’m out here boiling down 110 gallons nowGotta love it though!
Last edited by SSS2017; 02-21-2018 at 08:36 PM.
Mick
2017- 45 taps on buckets. Made just over 3 gallons.
2018- 41 taps on two 3/8” lines on vacuum. Ten lines on 5/16” and gravity with 49 taps. 4 taps on buckets
Homemade 2x4 Oil Tank Evaporator
Mountain Maple Smart Sap Sucker
Maple Jet Filter Press
Smoky Lake Maple Steam Bottler
One thing that worked really well for me last year when I had 20+ gallons (like you said, a lot for a small backyard'er) was to fill a bunch of Solo cups with sap and freeze them in my chest freezer overnight, then drop them into the liquid sap in the morning.
Keep it shaded, but it sounds like you have that covered as well.
2016 - 5 taps - soda bottles and water jugs - boiled over a firepit - 3 quarts
2017 - 15 taps - 5g buckets - barrel evaporator - "Bessie" - 2.85 gallons
I have a 55 gallon barrel in the ground that I dump into then pump up to my head tank. When I get done boiling at night I drain the remaining sap back down into the under ground tank for storage. Next year I plan on putting a IBC tote under ground for storage.
2013 25 taps 2.5 gallons
2014 60 taps 9.5 gallons
2015 12 x 16 sugar shack 200 taps 1500' 5/16 lines gravity. Home made arch, 2 x 3 pan and 18" x 24" steam pan.
2016 2 x 5 Smokey Lake hybrid pan. Custom steam hood and float box. Number of taps yet to be determined.
2017 Made 27 gallons. Added 60 taps on 3/16 lines.
2018 Adding more 3/16 lines. Made 55 gallons
2019 Added 4 totes for sap storage. Big shack upgrades.
Refrd.jpg
North side of the shack.
After yesterday I need a little more refrigerant to fall from the sky.
I cover it with a tarp when it rains and if it's warm out. Reflective side of the tarp up.
Last edited by red dorakeen; 02-22-2018 at 09:22 AM.
2019-2023 40 to 50 taps to get 8 to 10 gallons of syrup
2018 Built the sugar shack, produced 10.5 gallons (converted some to sugar,& cream). taps varied 45 to 50
2017 Built 2x4 arch for a divided pan, 8.5 gallons from 30 taps increased to 42 taps during season.
2016 Produced 3 gallons & 1 quart Syrup, Block arch & 3 buffet pans, 12 taps
2015 Thought about tapping
I know the warm spell is over for now but depending on how big of an evap you're running you can always get all sap to a boil and sweeten your pans up, then let the colder weather keep it cool to get enough to run again. But the sap ice works too if you don't have the time to bring everything to a boil to kill bacteria off.
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