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Thread: 2018 Maine season in review

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Sumner, ME
    Posts
    499

    Default 2018 Maine season in review

    Well, I'm convinced this is it. The buds are definitely swelling on some of my red maples and I'm 90% confident some of the sugars are showing signs as well. I will collect sap today and tomorrow and boil it if no funny odors or flavors are detected, then call it a season. I know some of you have already pulled the plug, so give us your totals: number of taps, production, and how does this season rank for you?
    Steven Abbott
    Over 900 taps on vacuum
    30" x 10' D&G Woodsaver evaporator with Steamaway
    Half acre market garden
    2 farmers in training

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Minot,Maine
    Posts
    197

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    Good Idea Steve

    Tapped Buckets on 2/17, Tapped 3/16" Lines on 2/24
    87 on 3/16" Gravity and 75 Buckets = 162 Taps
    Finished and Bottled 39.75 Gallons
    Best year to date on half the taps! If you have good slope 3/16" is the way to go! More Lines for next year!
    2013 135 Taps 35 on Gravity, 100 on Buckets 11 Gallons Made
    2014 310 Taps 75 on Sureflo 4048, 235 on Buckets, 16'x16' Sugarshack, 5" Filter Press, 2x6 Smoky Lake Hybrid Pan (SOLD) 23 Gallons made
    2015 315 Taps, 17 on Sureflo 4008, 62 on Sureflo 4048, 236 on Buckets 31.25 Gallons Made
    2016 New Northwoods Stainless Finisher and Steamhood
    2017 325 Taps 34 Gallons Made
    2018 150 Taps New Northwoods Stainless 2x6 Raised Flue w/ Air Tight Arch 40+ Gallons Made

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Denmark, ME
    Posts
    2

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    At Gray Farm Maple in Denmark we pulled our taps 3/29. We tapped a littl late at 3/1. 240 taps: 25 buckets, 55 5/16 gravity, and the rest on a sap puller. Added memprotech RO 200 this year. Went from 32 gallons to 50 and had 25 % firewood left over and a lot less time boiling on our Leader Patriot 2x6. First half of season was all amber. Very last boil between dark and very dark.

    240 taps: 25 buckets, 55 gravity, 160 on Sap Puller
    Timber frame sugar shack.
    2 x 6 Leader Patriot
    Memprotech 200 RO
    Wes Fab short stack filter press.
    Snowmobile and Utility Vehicle

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Sebago, Maine
    Posts
    217

    Default

    Still going here, not seeing any buds yet. We are into record territory, so it's all bonus from here on out.
    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

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Sumner, ME
    Posts
    499

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    Called it quits today. Pretty sure the first hint of buddy flavor was creeping in. And boiling 1.6% sap with green wood was getting old fast.

    Totals: Approx 485 gallons of syrup on 840 taps. That's over 140% of "average" and more than 60 gallons over last season (which was a great season!) Used about 21 cords of wood. I haven't checked the numbers but I think the sap:syrup ratio ended at 41 or 42:1
    Steven Abbott
    Over 900 taps on vacuum
    30" x 10' D&G Woodsaver evaporator with Steamaway
    Half acre market garden
    2 farmers in training

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

    Default

    Sap is still flowing here. It’s been a great season in all, currently sitting at 95 gallons. Spent the weekend cutting standing dead fir and spruce, should have more than enough wood for the next few runs. Still making Amber so I can’t say it isn’t worth it.
    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. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Carroll, Maine, United States
    Posts
    203

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by abbott View Post
    Called it quits today. Pretty sure the first hint of buddy flavor was creeping in. And boiling 1.6% sap with green wood was getting old fast.

    Totals: Approx 485 gallons of syrup on 840 taps. That's over 140% of "average" and more than 60 gallons over last season (which was a great season!) Used about 21 cords of wood. I haven't checked the numbers but I think the sap:syrup ratio ended at 41 or 42:1

    Wow thats over a half gallon a tap. Nice Haul
    2008---35 buckets--3 gal syrup
    2015---150 on 3/16 gravity&50 Buckets
    2016---350+/- on 3/16
    2017---700+ on 3/16
    2018---700+ on 3/16 added 500gal milk tank

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Carrabassett Valley, Me
    Posts
    112

    Default

    Nice Season Abbott!!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
    Posts
    1,044

    Default

    Great season Abbott. We should have a good season, plenty of sap but new job meant not much time to boil. We dumped a fair amount of sap but it won’t happen again! We’ll be around 15 gallons but should have been close to double that.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Raymond, ME
    Posts
    36

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    Record season for us this year in North Raymond. Made a little under 12 gallons on 30 gravity taps.
    24x24 post and beam Sugarhouse (built by Lyle Merrifield and crew)
    2x6 raised flue cdl traditional evaporator
    600 gallon milk tank
    300 taps on combination of 3/16 and buckets

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