Congrats!
I have the same tale that is way older than me lol.
I started with about 5-6 taps year 1 in a chafing dish, and 4 years in I have 60+ taps, a divided pan, a grumpy wife, an RO, probably 70 buckets, 2 tanks 35 + 65 gallons, and I'm sure lots of other stuff I am forgetting lol
WELCOME... to the addiction lol
Wait until you start getting into candy and granulated sugar or maple cream, or another awesome confection that needs nothing but tree blood!
2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!
I followed the same wayward path as everyone else here. No one understands why ALL of my time is booked this time of year and they keep scheduling other things to do. :^)
2018 - 5 reds on buckets with cinder block arch
2019 - 25 reds on drops to buckets
2020 - 55 reds on drops to buckets
2021 - 80 reds on drops to buckets
2022 - 80 reds on drops to buckets
2023 - 80 reds, 15 on gravity, Smoky Lake StarCat Evaporator
Welcome Spikeman. I certainly hope you like the color of stainless steel, because I see it in your future many times over. Don't worry about the price, it's only money and you can make it back. At least that's what I said. Make sure no matter how much you grow or don't grow that you have lots of fun making syrup and include as many others as you can.
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
Sap was flowing a bit today, checked my buckets like a good soldier! Hahaha. (not that i have many at this point). We are due 8 to 14 inches of snow tonight and maybe another 5 during tomorrow. Gonna make life on the farm interesting for my wife and my commute to work (about 35 miles each way) not so fun, I'm sure.
Still, saw the drip....drip....drip this afternoon so that has me happy!
Spikeman
When the Neighbors call you crazy- you always have a group here at the asylum to talk too-
Hahaha! Good to know!
Another day of boiling!
11 of the tractor supply buckets full of sap. bring on my friends leader 1/2 pint evaporator. it is exciting, I got 4 of those i Oz jars full and 1/8 an 8 Oz Mason jar from my first batch a few weeks ago! this is fun!
steve
I meant 4 of the 8.8 Oz fancy jars and most of a 8 Oz Mason jar
welcome and best of luck for you this year on syrup making!
Y1 9T ground stove/35 barrel stove
Pics https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...266239/page-23
Y2 15T Basement stove 3 pans 35 barrel/add fisher stove/add 55barrel stove
Pics https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...266239/page-28
Y3 20T Y2 Stoves plus 55 barrel
Pics https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...266239/page-36
Y4 25T Y3 stoves in small shack
Pics https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...266239/page-44
Good job Steve. Glad you're having success.
16x24 Timber Frame Sugar House
Mason 2x4 Evaporator
90 trees on buckets
Spikeman-way to go! It is immensely satisfying to have bottles of liquid gold as a result of your hard work. Keep it up!
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 flat, divided pan on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket RB25
100 taps on buckets
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote