We're relatively new to the hobby as this will be our fifth season, but we do keep a lot of data on our trees. The average start date for us is right around Valentine's day. We are on gravity and stay tapped in for about 7-8 weeks on average. We have a microclimate at Elevation 750 feet that keeps us cooler than most areas, so we can tolerate the warm spells better than most. We normally have snow on the ground until about May 1.
2015- Didn't know my new property enough to tap anything. 4-feet of snow on the ground.
2016- 41 Taps with home made barrel evaporator. Made 1.5 gallons syrup.
2017- 79 Taps with home made block arch evaporator. Made 2.47 gallons syrup
2018- 91 Taps again with home made block arch. Homemade RO worked great. Made 6.96 gallons syrup.
2019- 84 Taps. Building another arch. RO in place. New Smoky Lake 2x4 Divided Pan. Everything switched to 3/16" tubing.
Think I am going to wait on tapping until next Saturday. I had thought I would tap tomorrow but looking at the forecast I only see a couple of days of the sap flowing then another freeze. Being all buckets I want to be sure to be in for what will hopefully be the whole month of March. Hopefully the 14 day forecast holds. I do think there will be a good run tomorrow and Monday. Had 0 this am in Hudson. The wife is not happy as she knows I will be pacing around the house tomorrow second guessing my decision. For those that are already tapped enjoy the boil!
19x48 mini pro oil fired, Nano R/O, CDL Vacuum Press,Mountain Maple Vacuum setup
6x12 sugar house off back of shed
2024-103 Taps Mostly Sugars, Dozen Reds
"The days are long, but the years are short"
I'm going to tap tomorrow and Monday. The forecast still looks a little cold but it's go time!
Russ
"Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!
1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
Four chainsaws and no chickens!
Looking at February 14ish … no earlier …
Any sap you get between now and then is more of a nuisance sap … can't get enough to RO it and don't like boiling raw sap …
So we will just wait …
Got stuff to do to gat ready anyway …. get tanks out … get the RO ready … clean the sugarhouse …
We usually keep the taps in until mid April … so plenty of time …
2x5 SS home design on a home design arch w/ forced draft
SS Evaporation Enhancement Unit
Home design filter / canner
Daryl Sheets filter press
300 taps (280 on line, 20 buckets)
120 gph Home Design RO
2017 Chevy Silverado w/ 275 gallon tank
8x16 sugarhouse w/ attached woodshed
A wife, family and friends that love to help!!
I’m in southern nh and it looks like I’m going to get the drill out tomorrow. I was going to wait but forecast looks great. I may just tap one of my bushes and wait on the other.
Started in 2013 with 15 taps on buckets and a turkey frier.
Now 2020, 250 taps, 3/16's with vac. 10x14 sugarhouse. 2x6 Leader raised flue. Homemade 50 gal per hour RO.
Munson's Maple’s
Looking at the long-range forecast, next weekend looks like the start of perfect temps! I plan to tap and set out buckets next Saturday, February 22nd.
2024 - 16 taps - buckets on our best producing trees, still boiling on a block arch with slight modifications/refinements over the years.
2021 - 25 taps - all buckets
2013-2020 - 30/41 taps: discovering which trees were the best producers
2012 - First year - 21 taps in our backyard - block arch evaporator with 3 steam table pans!
It's 30 here at 9am. Pumps are going on, time to check for leaks. It's go time!
Jake
smoky lake 2x6 drop flue SSR on homemade arch
235 taps on 2 gast 1550s and lappiere releasers
24x12 sugar house
2019 Kubota L2501 work horse
We put the tubing runs up today. The few remaining trees with buckets will go in later this week.
2016 - 30 buckets and a barrel evaporator (outside)
2017 - 45 buckets and a barrel evaporator (outside)
2018 - 3/6 tubing, Mason 2x3, and a small shack
I put about 500 taps in today. I've got a little over 200 to do tomorrow and then it's go time. I did all of the hard ones today so tomorrow will be much easier.
"Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!
1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
Four chainsaws and no chickens!
Still waiting here in Hudson , boy it's tempting though. 50 taps all on buckets so I would like to hold off until presidents weekend if I can. Last year I tapped on the 22nd. Still watching the forecast closely. Hoping for one more freeze then go time, we will see. Good luck to all, with weather like this all I can say is thank God this is only a hobby!
19x48 mini pro oil fired, Nano R/O, CDL Vacuum Press,Mountain Maple Vacuum setup
6x12 sugar house off back of shed
2024-103 Taps Mostly Sugars, Dozen Reds
"The days are long, but the years are short"
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