Eastern Ontario 2024

[ProBoot]

I'm so not prepared, Evaporator isn't installed yet, sugar shack filled with junk, buckets all stacked and unwashed, missing some equipment, so not ready to tap.....:-(

This working full time 60 hrs a week is cutting my hobby time too much.

[Bricklayer]

You still have a couple weeks till you have to worry about tapping.
But now is the time to get all the other stuff ready while the weather is somewhat nice and snow levels arnt too bad.
Can almost walk right on top of the snow now it’s so hard.

[Maplelane1]

Yeah, bricklayer, I’m with you on that. Been going full speed since Saturday to get everything ready thinking I would tap but have thought otherwise. Little warm spell here but it’s forecast to turn cold again next week - not surprising it’s barely February. Neighbour down the way put his buckets out late last week but haven’t seen any sap in them.

Curious though - has anyone tapped yet and how’s it been ?

[Bricklayer]

Last thing you want is all your lines in the bush full of sap and a cold spell of -20’s for a week.
That’s pretty hard on fittings and valves. Never mind tanks and everything else that’s out in the woods. I’ve had taps freeze up so solid after a sap run that I had to go hammer them back in the tree. Every one was leaking due to ice pushing them out.
If you have sap you have to boil. So the evaporator is full , the permeate tanks are full.
I’ve learned my lesson that a little bit of early sap is not worth the damage done by frozen solid equipment. There will be freeze ups during the season. But usually not for extended periods of time like what we can get in early mid February.

[paulslund]

Just for fun I put out two taps in late December when we had a slight thaw. My expectations were NIL, and I got a maybe half a liter between the two buckets. They are still on trees and I might now have about 3, maybe 4 L between the two. Based on this week's temps I'm thinking I'll be boiling on the stove this weekend. My goal for the season is 1L as I'm only doing the two buckets for fun as I'm prepping the house to list for sale this spring.. so no time to set up the regular operation.

[Coatesy]

Glad to see ya back Galena. I'm super busy this year also but going to go at er again this year. Had a great year last year.

I know I say this each year, but this year I really doubt that I will tap. The temps are great but I am afraid of early budding and a hard cold snap which we always get in Feb.

Also already have enough projects lined up in addition to my usual juggling act of running a business and looking after my house and property.

Guess I'll be buying a few gallons from peeps at season's end!

Meantime if anyone wants any advice I'm always glad to share my opinon lol ;-)

Have fun all!

[Coatesy]

Prep time down here probably could tapped this week but cold snap next week again.
I'll probably get mine in end couple weeks. Need to replace my chimney this year as she's rotted out. Thinking of changing over to taps and lines instead of buckets this year. 🤔

[Galena]

Glad to see ya back Galena. I'm super busy this year also but going to go at er again this year. Had a great year last year.

Lol fill yer boots Coatesy! Good you had a great year last year, mine was also pretty good.

Of course things may change and I will be able to tap, but as it stands right now, I pretty much have to be able to leave on short notice. Life can get complicated very quickly.

Bye for now all, don't tap too early! Be nice to your bush.

[jungmaria]

Curious though - has anyone tapped yet and how’s it been ?[/QUOTE/

Tapped a couple lines Sat. Running so hard there was a steady stream of sap coming out by the time I got to the bottom of the line. Ran it out to flush lines. Collected about 30 gal from 38 taps on Sun, haven’t checked since but should’ve run yesterday and today too. Was hoping to get enough for a bit of a test boil before cold snap but doubt I will.

[Vandy]

Wheelers had to boil over the weekend, earliest ever... If I had been tapped, I'm sure I would have as well. I am not tapping for a few weeks...