2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays. 4.7L syrup.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
Yet
Once you put all this time and effort you'll be putting maple syrup in everything. You'll be like Elf
Maple syrup in spaghetti(no), coffee, cooking and baking, you will want to try and make maple butter/cream, and it seems like you're enjoying it.
Is your setup close enough that you can walk to it when the snow melts, that's normally some of the best sap runs.
I tap trees at my nephews house in west nippissing, I have to head there tomorrow to do some tree cutting and land clearing (in the rain of course haha) I may tap while I'm there, the full sun trees will be running but the big bush trees probably not, I tap the big trees later.
2019 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 44 taps 13 Liters syrup
2020 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 51 taps 21 Liters syrup
2021- New homemade 2x3 evaporator and flat pan 80 drop lines to buckets
2022- (•,•)1350L naturally ROd sap 44L syrup
2023- "\_(°•°)_/" 1100L sap 30L syrup not accurate due to natural RO
2024 { ';' }1862L sap 52L syrup 52 drop lines to buckets
Well we lost a bunch of snow in my area last week, warm weather and crazy windy. There"s still almost 2 feet of snow in the bush though, I ended up tapping 72 trees.
And here is a pic of my shelter. Its not much, but should keep me out of the weather. It was not the easiest thing to build during the winter. I had to shovel a couple feet of snow just to get to the ground. shack.jpg
Not sure how to turn the pic?
That's about in line with how much I go through in a month. And if you personally don't eat that much syrup, then just hotpack it and store it. Decant into smaller jars like 500mls, great gifts for housewarming, appreciation etc. I'm getting some pargeing done and buddy takes barter, so giving him a couple litres to defray the cost of the work.
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup
Simple, but very nice build. keeps the weather off you while you boil which is the whole purpose. I like it.
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
Nice job Brien,
The snow sure did go fast, my yard is bare ground and my creek is flowing after that rain and warm week we just had, but the bush still has about a foot of hard pack snow. By the looks of the forecast this week the trees may start to thaw. I will be tapping in west nipissing on Thursday, hoping for another 45 taps 5/16 into 20 litre buckets.
Good luck
2019 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 44 taps 13 Liters syrup
2020 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 51 taps 21 Liters syrup
2021- New homemade 2x3 evaporator and flat pan 80 drop lines to buckets
2022- (•,•)1350L naturally ROd sap 44L syrup
2023- "\_(°•°)_/" 1100L sap 30L syrup not accurate due to natural RO
2024 { ';' }1862L sap 52L syrup 52 drop lines to buckets
Keep track of the journey. I highly recommend a YouTube channel to chronicle your adventures.
Last edited by OneLegJohn; 12-13-2021 at 08:25 PM.
Make sure you check out our YouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/bissellmaplefarm
www.bissellmaplefarm.com