neighbor issues-Shutdown?

[Baka]

Sad...but not entirely surprising. A person recently asked me why I don't hang some buckets on the centuries old maples that sit along the road, and this explains why I don't. Not that I expect problems, but you never know. I have plenty of trees and property, and if a neighbor asked me if they can hang some buckets on my trees, my response would be help yourself, do you need any help hanging them? Is that an option for you? In VT you shouldn't have to go far to find someone that will accommodate.

[tapdrinker]

Well, unfortunately I was right. The syrup tastes like cleaning chemicals. I spit it out immediately. I have to assume all my buckets have been compromised-sap containers-everything. It doesn't even smell like syrup. I think I'll be selling everything after a good wash.

[buckeye gold]

That is really sad. I would think there is both legal and civil issues if you could get evidence against her (pictures).

[DaveB]

That is really sad. I would think there is both legal and civil issues if you could get evidence against her (pictures).

Yeah, if there's cleaning chemicals, you really need to report that because that could really harm someone. She stepped over a line there. The police might actually want you to leave the buckets up while they investigate and potentially put their own surveillance camera on it. Catching her in the act would be key. You can't let someone get away with that.

That really boils my sap! - sorry couldn't resist but this does make me angry upon hearing it.

[TheNamelessPoet]

Yeah, if there's cleaning chemicals, you really need to report that because that could really harm someone. She stepped over a line there. The police might actually want you to leave the buckets up while they investigate and potentially put their own surveillance camera on it. Catching her in the act would be key. You can't let someone get away with that.

That really boils my sap! - sorry couldn't resist but this does make me angry upon hearing it.

I am 100% in agreement. Generally, I don't go the police route, BUT in THIS case... she could have poisoned someone! Somebody could have DIED or gotten seriously injured.

Cleaning chemicals can shut down organs depending on what is in them. She is literally poisoning a food source, what is to stop her from doing something like that to your well (if you live in an area with 1).

MAN people both make me sad, and furious at the same time!

[TheNamelessPoet]

IF you go the police route, I would suggest not blaming her unless she has confessed to it, but instead tell them you think you know who it is but you don't want to cause trouble, just make sure that no one gets sick or dies from her tampering with food.

[3GoatHill]

You should report it. I don't think at this point the police could do much about it. But if this neighbor would do something like that, who knows what else she is capable of. Let them know about it so they at least know what kind of "people" lurk about in your neighborhood.

[Andy VT]

I'm a neighborhood tapper as well and haven't had any trouble yet but it has always been on my mind. If it was happening to me I think I'd take all the energy I've been putting into maple and re-direct it into catching the person until having success, then direct it back to maple. We just can't have things like this. Just as the maple hobby isn't really about having syrup (you can just buy syrup), this situation isn't either. No judgement though on whatever you decide to do.

This is one of the reasons (among some others) that I chose to use plastic food grade buckets on the ground with tubing drops down to them instead of traditional hanging buckets. I am very particular about how I set them up and unless someone was really really careful, I can tell if someone messed with it. It is actually harder to collect them each day than traditional sap buckets on trees, but I like the "tamper evidence" of it.

[tapdrinker]

Everyone-For me, with only 12 buckets and a heavy heart to make syrup to give it away for free...I have too much to protect. It makes more sense for me to just shutdown. As for water supply-I'm on town water and so is the suspect. I have reported my suspicion to the police in the next town over but they said there's nothing they can do if it's not my property... and it isn't. I'd have to get the property owner to investigate as well and I don't want to give the old people who own that land the worry about their own neighbor-but they do know this story. It just ticks me off that I've spent 8yrs doing this with no issues and one rotten apple kills the tree. Thank you all for your words and assistance/thoughts. Luckily no one got hurt here or consumed anything. I'll be trashing my buckets, ro system, containers (how the heck do I do that? 65 gal and 30 gal), spiles, lids, etc. Will stainless steel come completely clean? I will still be selling the evaporator-starcat with divided pan if anyone is interested. The wood will go to my neighbor who watches my dog when I'm gone as a thank you. It was a good run but at 53 and this BS... I'm done. I want to sleep at night with no worries. Bless all of you for your help through my adventures of sugaring throughout the years. I'll keep on looking at this site. BTW-when I was taking my buckets down this morning-I stacked them up by the road so I could bring my car around to pick them up and when I was walking away to get my car a lady in a toyota pickup stopped to take my buckets. Luckily I turned around and saw her doing this (different woman). I then ran at her doing the chicken dance-thinking what everyone here is thinking... she could get poisoned. I told her what had happened then she had the nerve to say "what's wrong with people?" (in my mind, I was thinking what's wrong with you!-you just tried to steal my buckets) Another neighbor saw this and just shook her head. It's like everyone is on meth or something here. No wonder the police station left this town. I'm starting to think I'll need to move in the next 3-5 yrs. I love you guys here. Keep the sugar coming. I'll be sure to get my maple syrup and support you all for your hard work.


So, if anyone is interested in an evaporator-small one- let me know. I have a lot of stuff. I would like to see it used and not thrown out. Location: randolph VT

[tapdrinker]

She just bought the house in 22. -so she's fairly new. It was a rental before that for 11 yrs. That owner didn't have any issue.