Hey all Northern maple enthusiasts. Anyone else getting the itch with the expected temperatures forecast for the week over Christmas?
Northern Ontario 2024
Hey all Northern maple enthusiasts. Anyone else getting the itch with the expected temperatures forecast for the week over Christmas?
I have already tapped my trees and have had two boils. I may have another boil tomorrow, we will see how it runs. I expect more runs from the 23rd to 26th!
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
It would be tempting to tap some trees to try the evaporator I built with something other than water. I don't have enough trees to risk having some dry up during the spring run.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays. 4.7L syrup.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
Since this is all sort of a bonus season for me, anything I get is good and if they dry up so be it, but I am real curious if they are still running in April like last year. That experiment on it’s own is worth the gamble.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Hey Aamyotte, I could pop in 30 or 40 taps easily here and run the sap over to your place. Not enough flow for me to run the big rig and set up the RO but I would be happy to supply the sap for you to test out your new rig.
Thank you for the offer that's very generous. The issue I have is that I don't have the time to make syrup either with work and the holidays. Work always gets in the way of fun.Originally Posted by 4Walls
I noticed yesterday that the sap was flowing. I have a few small 1" diameter trees along the driveway that I cut branches back a month ago and saw sap dripping from the cuts while out for a walk yesterday.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays. 4.7L syrup.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
We are going to have six days in a row of above zero daytime temperatures, but almost no sap flow here, because the night time temps will also be above zero. I might get a little sap flow tomorrow. Today will be +1, with an overnight low of 0°, then only +3 the next day, then staying above freezing for the rest of the warm spell. A few days ago it was looking like much better flows.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Morning all…what’s the intel on tapping early if on 3/16 natural vac??…we are close to Sault Ste. Marie. Our normal season is march to mid/late April. Forecast shows a nice 2 week window coming up. If we tap now to catch it will that screw up our season later on??…thoughts??
I might be in the minority, but last year I tapped in December, February and March all on lines, and all of the lines were running in April. I cannot explain why they did not stop after 6 weeks, but I think if it turns cold again after the mid winter thaw, it kind of puts the 6 week clock on suspense.
There is no doubt that the sap runs better in March and April than February. Mostly because there is more daylight and a greater time for the sap to run.
For some people they can only dedicate 6 weeks to sugaring and if that is the case, the 6 weeks around here in March and April is when you want to do it.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
I'm thinking your taps didn't dry up is because the lines prevented air getting to the tap holes and bacteria drying up the hole. I use drop tube to a bucket so the tube length is short and more susceptible to bacteria and drying out.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays. 4.7L syrup.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
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