Thinking about retiring, seriously!
Since my Dr put me on a blood thinner about 5 yrs ago, I get cold far easier than ever before. As a result, I'm thinking very seriously about making this my last season making maple syrup. Another reason, my brother-in-law says this is his last year too. I have two ideas, have not decided which I'll do yet. #1, sell my 3x8 evaporator, my spare 3x3 syrup pan, my auto draw and my RO, my sap tanks (a 415 gal Sunset, A 545 gal Sunset and a 300 +/- gal Mueller all with covers and valves, my 1000 gal SS permeate tank and 3 other tanks, all SS, but homemade covers. Then buy bulk syrup, pack it in retail containers and continue to sell syrup. Or #2, sell also my water jacketed bottler, my foot controlled valve dispenser on the bottler, my 2x6 propane finisher, my 5 bank 7" filter press and all associated equipment and get out of maple completely. Then turn my sugarhouse into a blacksmith shop. I'm tending to lean towards option #1, but not sure yet.
Dave
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.