As my bones feel the season creeping closer I gazed at the extended forecast in the Twin Cities. I was hoping for an extra early start this year, but doesn't appear to be so, 1st week in March perhaps.
As my bones feel the season creeping closer I gazed at the extended forecast in the Twin Cities. I was hoping for an extra early start this year, but doesn't appear to be so, 1st week in March perhaps.
2020 1st season- 8 gallons of syrup
2021 2nd season- 11 gallons of syrup
2022 3rd season 6 gallons of syrup
2023 4th season- 7 gallons of syrup
I am guessing it will most likely be when we are all at our busiest! I just looked an I had my first boil about a month from now last year... March 15th. That was enough for me to order filters, get equipment ready, buried the barrels, and catch up on here!
Gonna tap a few test holes this weekend in SE MN.
We will be running our 3/16 tubing during this upcoming warm spell, but I don't see tapping until a more sustained warm forecast.
John
2x8 Smokylake drop flue with AOF/ AUF
180 taps on sacks
75 on 3/16 tubing with shurflo
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Debating on tapping my trees for the upcoming warm up, even though it is going to be short lived. Is it worth it/should I wait?
I'm debating the same thing looks like a 3 or so day warm up and then out a week for the next.
2020 1st season- 8 gallons of syrup
2021 2nd season- 11 gallons of syrup
2022 3rd season 6 gallons of syrup
2023 4th season- 7 gallons of syrup
I mean, it won't hurt anything. Plus they will be in when the main flow starts. Think I'll go ahead and put them in. I don't do that many, maybe a dozen trees.
For those using 3/16 laterals you don't need to be concerned about a few days flow followed by a long freeze. As long as you had a flow before the freeze you had sap in the tubing, thus vacuum on the tap. That will keep the tap hole viable. The big operations, with several thousand taps, often start tapping in mid December and once the sap flows the vacuum pumps go online and run 24/7 until the season ends, they end up getting over 4 months, sometimes even 5 months and the tap holes do not dry up. The secret is full time vacuum, which 3/16 gives you as long as you have the required fall in elevation.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
I think I'll pop mine in as well. I'll be nice to have them in place.
2020 1st season- 8 gallons of syrup
2021 2nd season- 11 gallons of syrup
2022 3rd season 6 gallons of syrup
2023 4th season- 7 gallons of syrup
I am going to wait up here...