Built the cupola on the sugar shack.
I think the sap should start flowing by the weekend.
sugarshack cupola.jpg
Built the cupola on the sugar shack.
I think the sap should start flowing by the weekend.
sugarshack cupola.jpg
2016- 32 taps, 3 1/2 gallons
2017- 150 taps, 13 gallons after building an evaporator
2018- goal is 240+ taps. 20+ gallons.
2018 Reality- 235 taps, 5 gallons of syrup. Average 50 birch taps and 3 gallons of syrup.
2019- 180 maple taps, 20 gallons of finished syrup.
~ 160 birch taps, 13 finished gallons of syrup.
Latitude 47.278150
www.facebook.com/livingoffmyland2015
I've boiled a couple of times and got some more work done on the sugar shack. I have a 2'x4' and a 2'x6' evaporator on one end of the building. I have just enough tin on it to keep the rain off me. I still have two walls to put siding on.
Sugarshack hal done.jpg
Two evaporators.jpg
2016- 32 taps, 3 1/2 gallons
2017- 150 taps, 13 gallons after building an evaporator
2018- goal is 240+ taps. 20+ gallons.
2018 Reality- 235 taps, 5 gallons of syrup. Average 50 birch taps and 3 gallons of syrup.
2019- 180 maple taps, 20 gallons of finished syrup.
~ 160 birch taps, 13 finished gallons of syrup.
Latitude 47.278150
www.facebook.com/livingoffmyland2015
I have since stained the whole sugar shack.
Sugarshack complete.jpg
Now it's time to work on the inside.
I have 110 gallons of fresh water tanks in the cellar below for cold sap storage until I boil. I use a RV pump to pump the sap up to the pans. The pump automatically turns on when I open the valve. No more lifting buckets for this guy.
I have two evaporators on the main level. The copula operates off a rope/pulley system.
I can't wait until the next season.
the market.jpg
We have been using the sugar shack all summer making other syrups to sell at the markets. We make maple, birch, maple/birch strawberry/rhubarb, caramelized spruce tip, blueberry, blueberry jalapeno, raspberry, raspberry/jalapeno, and different maple infused syrups.
2016- 32 taps, 3 1/2 gallons
2017- 150 taps, 13 gallons after building an evaporator
2018- goal is 240+ taps. 20+ gallons.
2018 Reality- 235 taps, 5 gallons of syrup. Average 50 birch taps and 3 gallons of syrup.
2019- 180 maple taps, 20 gallons of finished syrup.
~ 160 birch taps, 13 finished gallons of syrup.
Latitude 47.278150
www.facebook.com/livingoffmyland2015