Getting ready in MA
Likely about one month from now my drill bit will touch wood.
I have a two hour drive to my sugarbush, so every year I have to make d@mned sure I have what I need all ready to go - there's no running back to the house if I forgot something (which has happened)! I think, aside from last-minute things like charging drill batteries, I have everything together to go tap.
No major changes for me this year, except for the fact that we got electricity to our cabin this year. I'm not really planning to do anything with it. Only thing that might change is depending on how boiling goes, now I could buy a blower and add AUF this season. I do plan to tap a few more trees than I have in the past, and I have plenty of well seasoned wood stocked up this year, so that should help. Unlike last year when I was frantically splitting partially-seasoned wood during boils, trying to keep up.
How about the rest of you - you getting ready? Anyone in southern/eastern MA starting to feel an itchy trigger finger yet?
Gabe O
2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
2024: 17 taps, 5.3 gals
All on buckets