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Thread: 2021 Tapping South East PA

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    118

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    I am tapping all the maples I have that are big enough. You are lucky to have that option. But.... if I had more I would be building a sugar shack and a big arch.
    Steve

    SE Pennsylvania

    2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
    2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
    2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6” deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
    2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6” deep pan - 16.5 pints

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Central Pennsylvania
    Posts
    228

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    I've got plenty of trees; the problem is just the blood, sweat and tears getting to them. I have this one stand of red maples (see pic), about 2-3 acres, at least 1/2 of them are tapping size but they're surrounded by briars, multiflora rose, poison ivy, brush, etc. I can barely get my ATV into this patch and close enough to the trees. It would be impossible with snow on the ground.
    Maple grove.jpg
    2020 - 1st year - 13 black walnut taps - 4 bottles syrup
    2021 - 50 taps, 22 black walnuts/28 red maples - 4 gallons syrup
    2022 - 54 taps, 11 black walnuts/41 red maples, 20 on solar shurflo vacuum - 8.5 gallons syrup
    2023 - 47 taps on 45 red maples, 43 on solar shurflo vacuum

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    118

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    Quote Originally Posted by Openwater View Post
    I've got plenty of trees; the problem is just the blood, sweat and tears getting to them. I have this one stand of red maples (see pic), about 2-3 acres, at least 1/2 of them are tapping size but they're surrounded by briars, multiflora rose, poison ivy, brush, etc. I can barely get my ATV into this patch and close enough to the trees. It would be impossible with snow on the ground.
    Attachment 22085
    I would have my tractor and brush hog there in the summer to clear that crap out
    Steve

    SE Pennsylvania

    2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
    2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
    2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6” deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
    2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6” deep pan - 16.5 pints

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

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    Make a pathway thru it. That has to be great bedding and protection for wildlife. I would love to have that on my place. I see spots for a couple of deer blinds.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Central Pennsylvania
    Posts
    228

    Default

    If I had a tractor and brush hog, it would already be cleared out. It's a travel route and bedding spot for deer. Always lots of tracks and rubbed-up trees. The lower field on the far side is usually planted w/corn and there's a creek on the far side of that. Definitely a good spot during archery season.
    Last edited by Openwater; 03-03-2021 at 08:43 AM.
    2020 - 1st year - 13 black walnut taps - 4 bottles syrup
    2021 - 50 taps, 22 black walnuts/28 red maples - 4 gallons syrup
    2022 - 54 taps, 11 black walnuts/41 red maples, 20 on solar shurflo vacuum - 8.5 gallons syrup
    2023 - 47 taps on 45 red maples, 43 on solar shurflo vacuum

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Openwater View Post
    If I had a tractor and brush hog, it would already be cleared out. It's a travel route and bedding spot for deer. Always lots of tracks and rubbed-up trees. The lower field on the far side is usually planted w/corn and there's a creek on the far side of that. Definitely a good spot during archery season.
    sounds like a great archery spot, may not want to mess with it too much.
    Steve

    SE Pennsylvania

    2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
    2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
    2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6” deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
    2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6” deep pan - 16.5 pints

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    118

    Default

    Had a good weekend for me, we collected about 18 gallons of sap last night. The down side was the sugar content was definitely lower than it was earlier. I dropped from 1.75 to 1.25.
    Steve

    SE Pennsylvania

    2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
    2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
    2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6” deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
    2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6” deep pan - 16.5 pints

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    118

    Default

    Taps were running dry and I got less than a quart yesterday so we pulled the taps. Ended the season with 1.5 gallons of syrup. We all seem to like this years syrup more than what we had from the last 2 years so that is good!
    Steve

    SE Pennsylvania

    2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
    2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21”x24” SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
    2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6” deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
    2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6” deep pan - 16.5 pints

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