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Thread: what a weird winter - or lack of?

  1. #91
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Weston, CT
    Posts
    473

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    Its been a great season for me so far. Up to my expected 12 gallons of syrup already and the end still seems a ways off. Great Syrup as well. Tired of working steam pans and my 4 150 RO membranes still function as they did out of the bag new 2 season ago, but processing 200 gallons of sap in one run on steam pans and the home-built RO is a lot of work. Sap has been cold and goes through RO slowly but have established a technique for getting cold sap up to and over 40 degrees a little more easily and quickly on its way into the RO.
    If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.

    Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
    Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
    Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
    Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
    40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
    1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.

  2. #92
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Cheshire, CT
    Posts
    385

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    I called it quits today as well. 95% solo work on 98 taps. I finished 10 gallons of syrup. Today's buckets were full but my "helper" is a freshman in college and out of state. I'm happy with the upgrades I did this year to maximize my production. Preheater and auto-draw worked as advertised. Good luck to the warriors of our trade to finish the season strongly!
    Last edited by lafite; 03-12-2023 at 07:56 PM.

    41.457 x -72.907 148 elevation
    2x4 wood fired evaporator with the "Hercules Blower"
    hybrid pan and backflip preheater by Smoky Lake
    103 taps. 44 on gravity
    All sugar Maples
    7" filter press
    10 x 12 sugar shack
    two very helpful kids
    a wife that thinks I'm nuts

    https://youtu.be/7MiY8qzBKk8
    https://www.wunderground.com/persona...d?ID=KCTCHESH7

  3. #93
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    159

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    I have thrown in the towel. I’m closer to the shore. A disappointing season. I have to remind myself it’s a hobby, and hope for better next year.
    2017 - 20ish taps on buckets, boiling outside in two baking pans
    2018 - 70+ taps, 14-buckets, 50+ on tubing, homemade arch from oil tank in my barn, 17 gal syrup
    2019 - same set up, 20 gal syrup
    2020 - less taps, short season, but RO kit was fantastic! 6 gal syrup and a maple cat!
    2021/22/23 - expanded into the neighbors yards! 50 taps on buckets and 40 taps on tubing

  4. #94
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    369

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    What a run today, picked up 150 gal/sap - Some from trees i thought done a week ago. I won't miss the wind when it stops blowing.

  5. #95
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    247

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    I'm jealous... I've picked 125 gallons over the past 4 days. I was hoping for 4X that amount. Seems my trees are done, and I will be too after this weekend unless to flood gates open up.
    2024 - 160 taps, Shurflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO.
    2023 - 121 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 20 gallons.
    2022 - 103 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 23 gallons.
    2021 - 77 taps on Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 22 gallons.
    2020 - 70ish taps on Shurflo 4008. Mason 2x4 XL. DIY R.O. ~24 gallons.
    ______________________________________________
    Trout Brook Valley
    Weston, CT

  6. #96
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    369

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    Kind of on a downward spiral here, last 3 days 80 - 75 - 40 today. Today's will run on into tonight, no freeze expected. About 2 dozen i'm going to take down in the AM, not doing much, and i don't want to have to plow the road in for a couple gallons of sap. Two weeks ago it looked pretty dismal, but now at just over 1800 gal/sap it's my 4th best [close to 3rd best]

  7. #97
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    northwest CT
    Posts
    74

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    i,m going to collect in the morning before the storm starts so i have something to do while its snowing, i,m hoping to get the rest of the week out of it before i pull the plug

  8. #98
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    369

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    Boiled off a hundred gallons this morning, glad i picked up yesterday. Took about half my buckets down too.

  9. #99
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    369

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    So here's where i'm at this season - Of the 100+ taps I put in Feb 6th or so, only 5 are left running. The 30+ I did 3 weeks ago this Sunday are running nice clear sap, 40 gallons today. What I thought to be a crappy year is 30 gallons/sap away from my second best [2002 gal/sap. ] The weather can make it or break it. So glad we only got 3" of snow the other day, and it's gone. I see the end for me next week.
    Last edited by Mike Van; 03-18-2023 at 11:20 AM.

  10. #100
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    northwest CT
    Posts
    74

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    think i,m going to be pulling most of mine this week, i have 20 i put in a couple weeks ago i'll leave because theyre running well still, but this 14 inches of snow we had sure makes it tough in the woods dumping buckets

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