Very surprising. I don't believe it got below freezing last night at either of my two tap sites. Anyway ... generated my season high of 11 inches of mercury on my 5/16" natural vac run. Taped four Reds today with drops to buckets and they actually ran fairly well. That was a surprise too.
If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.
Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.
Fought ice today so I could boil for the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
I hate fighting ice.
1980 - 6 taps, stone fire pit, drain pan evaporator, 1 pint of syrup
2016 - 55 taps on 3/16 and gravity, new sugar shack, 2x3 Mason XL, 16 gallons of syrup
2017 - 170 taps on 3/16, 2x4 Mason XL, NextGen RO. 50 gallons of syrup
2018 - 250+ taps on gravity and buckets, 2x5 Smokey Lake arch and Beaverland pan.
2019 - 250+ taps on gravity. A few buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
2020 - 300+ taps on gravity. 50 gallons of syrup.
2021 - 280 taps on gravity and 40 buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
The next three days should be a sugar makers dream. I collected 35 gallons today after a late run. Let's hope the forecast comes to fruition!
41.457 x -72.907 148 elevation
2x4 wood fired evaporator with the "Hercules Blower"
hybrid pan and backflip preheater by Smoky Lake
103 taps. 44 on gravity
All sugar Maples
7" filter press
10 x 12 sugar shack
two very helpful kids
a wife that thinks I'm nuts
https://youtu.be/7MiY8qzBKk8
https://www.wunderground.com/persona...d?ID=KCTCHESH7
I can’t wait! Should be good.
I had 40 gallons today and plenty more over the next few.
March 10th is my Bday and I hope to spend it boiling!
2024 - 160 taps, Shurflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO.
2023 - 121 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 20 gallons.
2022 - 103 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 23 gallons.
2021 - 77 taps on Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 22 gallons.
2020 - 70ish taps on Shurflo 4008. Mason 2x4 XL. DIY R.O. ~24 gallons.
______________________________________________
Trout Brook Valley
Weston, CT
Lots of sap today.
My 5/16 run with 7 taps on it hit 16.5 inches of mercury today. Wonder if that will be the peak for the season.
If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.
Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.
Finally! Collected 120 gallons yesterday. My 3/16 tubing, with 30 taps, tank was empty to begin with. Checked for leaks first. Nada. Then started to replace t's. Third one was blocked. Replaced it and the tiny bubbles zoomed by. Ready for another good run today.
2024 55 3/16 gravity, 19 5/16 gravity, 40 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator, Mason AUF arch.
2023 35 3/16 gravity, 30 5/16 gravity 53 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator.
Mason AUF arch
2022 35 3/16 gravity, 28 5/16 gravity, 50 buckets and bags, New RO Bucket rb15 kit.
2021 11 on 5/16 gravity, 30 on 3/16 gravity, 69 on buckets and bags. All sugar maples. Mostly large old trees.
Sap was flowing nicely today here in Warren. Good steady stream out the end of the 3/4 mainline into the tank. Have about 166 taps now. Was at 129 before two more laterals and 37 more taps earlier this week and today.
Not sure if its the season or just me but production seems a bit low given the number of taps. 150ish gallons Wed Feb 24th to Mon March 1st (5 days). 160ish from Mon March 1st to Wed March 10th (9 days, first several were the several day freeze). Currently 75ish in the tank since Wednesday night. Hoping the warmer weather with low 30s at night and the added taps will improve the flow, but still seems below what it should be for the number of taps.
frozen up again today! "no sap for you!"
I am hoping for this week having a decent run then pulling the taps on sunday. Of course that is what the forecast looks like now. I am just leery of going too late, and am expecting the trees to start budding out soon.
2017 - 20ish taps on buckets, boiling outside in two baking pans
2018 - 70+ taps, 14-buckets, 50+ on tubing, homemade arch from oil tank in my barn, 17 gal syrup
2019 - same set up, 20 gal syrup
2020 - less taps, short season, but RO kit was fantastic! 6 gal syrup and a maple cat!
2021/22/23 - expanded into the neighbors yards! 50 taps on buckets and 40 taps on tubing
Same boat here...
I'm seeing a few more good days ahead in the short term, but next week looks like the end.
I'm hoping to get another 200 gallons for one final boil.
I'm still way short of last years total.
Oh well.
I need to get everything bottled as well, so I still have work to do!
2024 - 160 taps, Shurflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO.
2023 - 121 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 20 gallons.
2022 - 103 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 23 gallons.
2021 - 77 taps on Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 22 gallons.
2020 - 70ish taps on Shurflo 4008. Mason 2x4 XL. DIY R.O. ~24 gallons.
______________________________________________
Trout Brook Valley
Weston, CT
Being that I tapped on Feb 24 I am not yet 3 weeks old on my taps. So if I get one more good run which I suspect I will, it will put within 80% of my expected take of sap for the season. Although I still have hopes for near 100% of my expected take.
I have developed another good frost line in my woods the past several days so hopes remain high.
If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.
Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.
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