I just looked at the extended forecast, ha ha. If it looks to hold true I may begin mid - next week. After that the temps are looking good with the exception of days here and there.
I just looked at the extended forecast, ha ha. If it looks to hold true I may begin mid - next week. After that the temps are looking good with the exception of days here and there.
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
Might be the new normal,2 days on, 2 days off
5th generation
2 1/2 Buckets
815 gravity
2 new flat pans. Back pan now has 16 V's
Rebuilt the block arch 3x12
Homemade pre-heater,steamhood
MES Dolly RO
Watching the long range forecast closely here in the Traverse City area. In my previous 9 years I usually have tapped on or around the 18th of February. What can I say, I like getting the 1st load of sap to start things off early before the real gushers begin.
I picked up my sap bags, the containers to package all of the finished syrup in after running it all through the new for my 2022 season a 9" CDL Vacuum Filter Press.
Good luck everyone, have a wonderful season.
Latitude:N 44° 50' 25.0463"
Longitude:W 85° 38' 57.8906"
New for 2022 (My 10th year) a 9" CDL Vacuum Filter Press
2016/2017 12' X 16' Sugar Shack 6/12 pitch roof W/ 3' X 4' Cupola.
John Deere HPX 4X4 Gator (Pop's left it to me when he died)
New for 2020 HB10 RO In A Bucket, a game changer.
2015 Purchased 50 used Bag holders.
2016 Purchased a home made evaporator and "everything" that went with it.
20 acre Sugar Bush
Seems like the weather is teasing us. Tuesday and Wednesday of this next week look good but then back to sub-freezing highs for the remainder of the week. Almost there but not quite. I usually just look at weather.gov for the forecast. That's a good thing for us as we still have buckets and barrels to sanitize. And maybe try to tackle an ice damming problem? But at this point it might be more like putting a small bandage on a large chainsaw wound.
Last edited by ebliese; 02-13-2022 at 05:33 AM.
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 raised flue on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket 80gph Single Post
100 taps on buckets
I ended up tapping 3 of my trees. Ill tap the last 4 this Saturday. One was dripping slowly and the other two were barely wet.
Checked the weather a few days ago and it looked great. Looked today and it seems in the metro Grand Rapids area it's back to a hold on and wait. Don't want the taps to dry out.
Upped the season #2 equipment from a homemade barrel evaporator 3-4 GPH rate, 20 taps, and 4 gallons of syrup to a Sunrise Metal Shop 2x4 Hobby Evaporator, GPH tbd yet, 50-60 taps and hoping for 10-12 gallons. Increasing the odds generation 7 will get interested enough to keep it going!
Same here, that streak of warm days that was developing after Sunday/Monday has evaporated-2 days isn’t worth tapping yet when things go back into the sustained 20’s afterwards.Originally Posted by Mimaplegen6
It’ll come when it comes.
All Sugar Maples
2017 7 taps on propane & 5 gal pot
2018 12 taps on propane & 5 gal pot
2019 17 taps on propane & 5 gal pot, Gen 1 barrel evaporator
2020 26 taps 2-22-20 - Gen 2 barrel evaporator, DIY 100GPD RO
2021 cut back some-12 taps Gen 2 barrel evap-too many other projects.
I am thinking that i'll tap the last weekend of February. I agree the two days are really tempting especially after today, but I have some commitments this weekend so next weekend it is.
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
I just noticed this in my area as well. Those last 4 won't be done this weekend now. Long range forecast is showing maybe not good again until end of February.
Just checked the 30 forecast and doesn't even show good tapping weather now until the 5th or 6th of March. Most years I have already been tapped by now and working on my 1st batch here in North West MI.
Latitude:N 44° 50' 25.0463"
Longitude:W 85° 38' 57.8906"
New for 2022 (My 10th year) a 9" CDL Vacuum Filter Press
2016/2017 12' X 16' Sugar Shack 6/12 pitch roof W/ 3' X 4' Cupola.
John Deere HPX 4X4 Gator (Pop's left it to me when he died)
New for 2020 HB10 RO In A Bucket, a game changer.
2015 Purchased 50 used Bag holders.
2016 Purchased a home made evaporator and "everything" that went with it.
20 acre Sugar Bush
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