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Thread: 2018 Maine season in review

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Mount Vernon Maine
    Posts
    217

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    Finished with 7 gallons off 15 taps, producing 285 gallons of sap for an average sugar of 2.5%. I tapped 2/13, started collecting 2/15, and pulled everything 3/31. I noted that the best sap days in terms of volume followed the snow storm in late February and two storms in March.
    Two 2x4 concrete block arches with three steam trays each
    Tapping in Mount Vernon since 2016, 30 to 70 taps, 5/16" tube to 1.5 to 3.5 gallon buckets, some trees on collective gravity tubing to 5 gallon buckets.

    Mostly sugar maples, a few reds on 200 year old homestead

  2. #12
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Parkman Maine
    Posts
    40

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    Who’s still at it? Filtered off 10 gallons of dark amber tonight, looks like 3 more freezing nights left then it’s all over for me. Sugar content was around 3% from yesterday’s run. Not sure the next sap will be good for anything beyond commercial but who knows.
    Smoky Lake 2x8 Raised Flue
    Mason Arch

    5 Buckets
    300 Gravity
    120 High Shurflo vac

    7" Wes Fab Filter Press
    Mason Finisher
    Mason Water-Jacketed Canner

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Sebago, Maine
    Posts
    217

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    We're still going. Got a couple more days from the looks.
    Greene Maple Farm Sebago, Maine
    7 Generations of Maple Syrup
    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/...01122259971904

    Phillip View Farm
    Sebago, Maine
    30 Highland Cattle
    2 Alpacas, numerous pigs
    Chickens, lots of chickens
    http://www.facebook.com/atgreenetrac...hillipViewFarm

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Oxford, Maine
    Posts
    193

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    About 1/2 of my taps are pulled but I am still collecting. Sap is still pretty clear but the brix is about 1.4 - 1.8

    2020: 317 taps, 2021: 360, 2022: 350 2023: 300, 2024: 230 (getting smarter)
    Drop lines and hanging buckets, all hand lugged
    2 X 6 raised flue evaporator
    7in. Filter press
    17 HP Kubota tractor
    12 X 16' sugar shack
    Sugar and red maples

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Canton, Maine
    Posts
    67

    Default

    Still running good, but at 1.4% now. Also, even with the RO I am making very dark grade. Looks like a couple more freezing nights and that'll be it.
    Road's End Farm - Starting small with no end in sight!

  6. #16
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Parkman Maine
    Posts
    40

    Default

    Finished up the final boil of 2018 tonight. Need to bottle up 10 or so gallons of dark before the cleaning saga begins.
    Smoky Lake 2x8 Raised Flue
    Mason Arch

    5 Buckets
    300 Gravity
    120 High Shurflo vac

    7" Wes Fab Filter Press
    Mason Finisher
    Mason Water-Jacketed Canner

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Oxford, Maine
    Posts
    193

    Default

    I’m done for the year. Spent 2 solid days doing clean up and I still have some buckets and lines to clean. We have lots of good syrup so it’s well worth it. I increased my yield about %50. Great season. Now it’s time for some fishing

    2020: 317 taps, 2021: 360, 2022: 350 2023: 300, 2024: 230 (getting smarter)
    Drop lines and hanging buckets, all hand lugged
    2 X 6 raised flue evaporator
    7in. Filter press
    17 HP Kubota tractor
    12 X 16' sugar shack
    Sugar and red maples

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Canton, Maine
    Posts
    67

    Default

    Wrapped up a few days ago, still some bottling to do but will be up over 85 gallons for sure. It was a decent year, still learning and always adjusting.
    Road's End Farm - Starting small with no end in sight!

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Oxford, Maine
    Posts
    193

    Default

    Way to go Roads End. Good season. We are always learning I hope

    2020: 317 taps, 2021: 360, 2022: 350 2023: 300, 2024: 230 (getting smarter)
    Drop lines and hanging buckets, all hand lugged
    2 X 6 raised flue evaporator
    7in. Filter press
    17 HP Kubota tractor
    12 X 16' sugar shack
    Sugar and red maples

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Skowhegan, Maine
    Posts
    1,299

    Default

    It was a sweet season! The sap flowed at the perfect times to allow us to boil on the weekends and it was a great time overall. We made about a third more than last year and had a fun time doing it! Overall I rate it an A!
    325 taps
    2x6 Phaneuf
    Illegitimati non carborundum

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISbkO-NKA9o

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