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Thread: Anyone tapping for buckets this weekend 1/25/20 in western MA?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Western Mass
    Posts
    68

    Default Anyone tapping for buckets this weekend 1/25/20 in western MA?

    Looks like a good run next week but I am leery of tapping this early in the season. Earliest I've ever tapped is around 2/15. I keep waiting for cold weather to settle in this winter but it seems like it won't be.

    Mark
    Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

    Backyard sugarmaker since around 1986
    Generally setting out 70 taps in a small village in western Mass
    Boiling on Leader Half-Pint arch with Smoky Lake Full Pint drop flue pan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Pepperell, MA
    Posts
    37

    Default

    I put out 5 "scout" buckets on my reds Wednesday after seeing the forecast. So far they are still dry so I won't be tapping for real for a couple weeks anyway.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    588

    Default

    I am waiting. Despite the warm daytime temps, the sun is still low and nighttime temps look cold.
    60ish taps on buckets
    D&G Sportsman 18x63
    Turbo RB15 RO Bucket

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Ashby, Massachusetts
    Posts
    21

    Default Tapping January 26th 2020 in Ashby MA - Nice Flow Today

    Tapping sugar maples near the house today, aprox. 30 taps in place, on tubing, maybe more this afternoon, it is flowing nicely and the week ahead looks good for the Ashby area. (near Fitchburg)

    Let it Flow, David

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

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    It's always hard to hold off right now, but I'm holding off. I'm all on buckets, and if I tapped now I would lose out on the great runs I always get in mid march. Not sure if I'd really be trading those for much. Every year is different, but historically, there are very very few years for me where a January tap date would be optimal.

    I'll check the long-term forecast in a week, and if it looks really promising, I'll tap then. Otherwise I'll wait until Valentines day. I'm in the foothill of the Berkshires, at 800 feet elevation. If you're at sea level, that's a whole other thing.

    GO
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Pepperell, MA
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidSB View Post
    Tapping sugar maples near the house today, aprox. 30 taps in place, on tubing, maybe more this afternoon, it is flowing nicely and the week ahead looks good for the Ashby area. (near Fitchburg)

    Let it Flow, David
    Hey David, I'm just east of you in Pepperell. How many taps will you be running? All sugars? All vacuum?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Savoy, MA
    Posts
    490

    Default

    I'm at 2,000' in the Berkshires and I am still easily a month away from tapping. Tempting to chase short term trends, but in the long run my average first tapping date is the first week of March.
    16x24 Timber Frame Sugar House
    Mason 2x4 Evaporator
    90 trees on buckets

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

    Default

    By the way, it's not that I'm not champing at the bit (pardon the pun). I just finished getting everything ready. I had a bunch of work I had to do to start the season: wood is all split, floor of the sugarshack is shored up, new stovepipe holder is installed. And I also have all my buckets taps, and drops all ready. And this weekend going into the beginning of next week looks perfect. So it's pretty hard to sit on my hands, but that's what I'm doing. I just don't like it!

    GO
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Stockbridge,Ma
    Posts
    285

    Default

    We are still hanging tubing. Replacing 5000 feet of mainline and 4000 feet of 5/16. Hope to be all drilled by Feb. 15. Still need to finish installing diaphragm pumps on my filter press and new draw off tank. Install air compressor and air lines and finish installing plumbing on my new max flue pan and revolution syrup pan. Oh, and finish computer system and monitor for remote tank locations.

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