Backyard Syrup Enthusiasts 2019

[Mvhomesteader]

South western Pennsylvania season is quickly coming to an end for 2019. Had a great season, had 35 taps, making 6.25 gallons so far on a custom built natural gas batch style evaporator. Also used a home-made RO. Made mostly golden light syrup, with some medium over the past few days.

It sounds like your weather conditions are quite a bit different than ours. I've got 32 taps and with the cold winter\spring will be lucky to get 3 gallons. Will take a look at your RO build. Always looking to improve the operation. Congratulations on your good season.

[highlandcattle]

Ron has tapped our 4 trees. Our friends red maple didn't do anything,so pulled it. Buckets are full right now. So far boiled 15 gallons. Very light like last year. At least it's giving him something to do.

[Peeper]

As I type this, I'm enjoying fresh light amber straight off the evaporator on my waffles for lunch! Just drew off 2 more gallons of light amber at a temperatureof 220 and 65 brix, and still boiling more. That was worth the morning's effort!

[Run Forest Run!]

As I type this, I'm enjoying fresh light amber straight off the evaporator on my waffles for lunch! Just drew off 2 more gallons of light amber at a temperatureof 220 and 65 brix, and still boiling more. That was worth the morning's effort!

That's livin' the life Peeper. I bet they were the best waffles you've ever eaten. Warm, fresh syrup makes everything taste fantastic!

[Mitchman]

Hi Karen!!!! Glad to hear from ya!! I am not even tapping this year, way to much work for what's flowing, which is next to none!!!! Huge snow pack, bad temps, so i will just get everything set for next year, nice sugar shack, a good pan etc. but still like to hear what others are doing. I'll chime in often!!!

[Run Forest Run!]

Hi Karen!!!! Glad to hear from ya!! I am not even tapping this year, way to much work for what's flowing, which is next to none!!!! Huge snow pack, bad temps, so i will just get everything set for next year, nice sugar shack, a good pan etc. but still like to hear what others are doing. I'll chime in often!!!

Hi Mitchman. You sure have restraint! I can't believe that you didn't poke a few holes in some trees. That took guts!

[Peeper]

We got lucky today and collected another 35 gallons to overfill the tank for starting the boil tomorrow evening, weather permitting.

[Mvhomesteader]

We got lucky today and collected another 35 gallons to overfill the tank for starting the boil tomorrow evening, weather permitting.

I agree with the "luck". We bucketed 46 gallons, our best day yet, bringing the storage total to 169 gallons. At 3% that should yield 5 gallons of syrup, so I've got work to do. I expect a good run Friday and slacking off over the weekend. That would be fine as I need to catch up. I'm out of storage. Boiling tomorrow will free up some buckets😃

[Jal-Bear]

Best run of this season today, collected 80 gallons. Sugar content has been at 2%, which for me is great. Years past usually anywhere from 1-1.5%. Boiled half of it this evening, will get the rest tomorrow. Looks like not much going to happen this weekend.

[Peeper]

Sugar is starting to decrease on most trees, with an average of 2.5%. A few were 3.5%, and a few were 1.5%. But we did manage to squeeze 25 gallons into the tank today. It's a crap shoot.