Maple folks,
Well yes I am still here and trying to make syrup again for another year. Cheryl and I have been making syrup here for 23 years! The season has started earlier this year. Just the way the forecast looks this year! Tap count remains right around 625. We hope to make some syrup tomorrow evening. The pans are sweet with 350 gallons of 2% sap boiled in yesterday. We tapped last Tuesday and Wednesday. Gathered sap Thursday and boiled Friday. For the first time in my syrup making I saw a distinct difference in sap produced from trees down in the valley by the creeks vs trees that got just a little frost up at higher elevations. 200 low elevation taps produced about 50 gallons, 200 taps up on the colder hill produced the other 300 gal. I didn't even go check the other 200 because they are lower and were only tapped the day before.
All our syrup is gone from last season.
Looking forward to the 2024 season, Several other sugar-house's are gearing up to tap or have already made syrup in our area.
A good freeze tonight should produce some good runs this coming week.
Good luck in your maple season!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl