Underway in New York City

[Tomahawk]

I installed a couple of taps today, they started running immediately. I'll probably do the "rest" this week sometime.

My goal is the same as it is every year -- 1 gallon of maple syrup. Wish me luck, heh!

My 10-day forecast looks great with above/below freezing numbers the entire way.

Hi again to all my friends at mapletrader -- just thought I'd check-in like I usually do this time of year.

Good luck to everyone this season!

[eye8astonie]

Tomahawk,

Just curious how you boil down there in the city? I just moved back into the city of Binghamton, and fire dept. says I can't run my wood-fired barrel stove in town. I've only got one tree to tap in my back yard, but I know I could find more trees to tap if I had a way to boil more efficiently. I'll probably do most on the side burner of my gas grill, and/or fire up the turkey fryer for the larger runs. Not efficient, but enough to quell the sugar bug a little.

Duane

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Tomahawk,

Great to see ya back again. Keep us posted on how the season goes and how much you produce!

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Clan Delaney]

Tomahawk,

Just curious how you boil down there in the city? I just moved back into the city of Binghamton, and fire dept. says I can't run my wood-fired barrel stove in town. I've only got one tree to tap in my back yard, but I know I could find more trees to tap if I had a way to boil more efficiently. I'll probably do most on the side burner of my gas grill, and/or fire up the turkey fryer for the larger runs. Not efficient, but enough to quell the sugar bug a little.

Duane

That just sounds crazy! I know that where I am, for example, barrel burning of garbage is illegal, and they've cracked down hard on outdoor wood boilers, but we do campfires in the lower yard all summer long, and I always have a package of hotdogs nearby so I can say that I'm cooking, and not just burning yard waste. (I am burning yard waste - deadfall from the trees - but that's just because I'm not going to buy wood when I've got plenty enough giving my lawnmower a hard time!) Anyway... do you know what the reasoning is for the ixnay on your barrel arch?

And tomohawk, I'm also curious as to how you boil in the city. And where do you find the trees?

[Tomahawk]

Tomahawk,

Great to see ya back again. Keep us posted on how the season goes and how much you produce!

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Brandon!!

Sap is flowing nice today. I]ve harvested about 10 gallons already from only 2 buckets so far. Gotta get the rest in soon.

You make syrup any yet?

[Tomahawk]

Tomahawk,

Just curious how you boil down there in the city? I just moved back into the city of Binghamton, and fire dept. says I can't run my wood-fired barrel stove in town. I've only got one tree to tap in my back yard, but I know I could find more trees to tap if I had a way to boil more efficiently. I'll probably do most on the side burner of my gas grill, and/or fire up the turkey fryer for the larger runs. Not efficient, but enough to quell the sugar bug a little.

Duane

I use a few different methods, changing it up all the time because none of them are really any good.

I use the turkey fryer until whatever friends discarded propane I have collected over the year is gone.

I have a natural gas connection to my gas grill so sometimes i hook the turkey fryer up to that with a makeshift adapter. But, since the turkey fryer is jetted for propane, it makes alot of soot which is a real pain to clean up.

I'll then take the grill inserts and flavor bars out of my Weber gas grill and try to put some large pans down near the flames. I really need to have a specific size pan fabricated out of stainless steel that'll fit tightly into the grill but I priced it out and it's too expensive.

So, I usually end up with pots and pans on the 4 burner stove top in my kitchen. It's bad, the windows drip with condensation and large pools collect on the sills -- but worst of all, it takes FOREVER. I think I spent 20 hours evaporating 50 gallons of sap 2 years ago.

Needless-to-say, I need a better system -- the right size (custom made) pan in the gas grill is likely my best option. I just won't break down and spend the money.

Thanks for your interest eye8astonie and good luck to you this year!

[Tomahawk]

... And where do you find the trees?

I have a park with a small wooded area right near my residence. There are about ten maples there, half are red and half are sugar, so that's where I tap. I carry the sap back and store it in a (clean) garbage can.

How big is your operation?

Thanks Clan and good luck this season!

[TapME]

Tomahawk,

Just curious how you boil down there in the city? I just moved back into the city of Binghamton, and fire dept. says I can't run my wood-fired barrel stove in town. I've only got one tree to tap in my back yard, but I know I could find more trees to tap if I had a way to boil more efficiently. I'll probably do most on the side burner of my gas grill, and/or fire up the turkey fryer for the larger runs. Not efficient, but enough to quell the sugar bug a little.

Duane

your town fathers have to much time on there hands if they do this kind of stuff. If it was me and it was at one time I would move. Can't imagine what they are doing to the schools and the taxes. just my 2 cents

[Clan Delaney]

How big is your operation?

Thanks Clan and good luck this season!

Small. But only compared to what I could do, I guess. So let's say... big enough for now. 18 taps, 10 gallons last year.
Things didn't come together the way I'd hoped for this season, so I'm scaling back. I'll make enough for the family for the year on the propane and have already arranged to sell sap to another Trader down in CT. In my spare time, I'll be sticking my head in at Jim's (mapleman3's) sugar house and learning some more about running the "big rigs". If good things really do come to those who wait, then I've got a tidal wave of sap coming for me next year.

[maple flats]

eye8astonie, I think it is the law in NYS that you can burn wood to cook food, maple syrup IS food. They may be able to regulate safety issues and how the evaporator is set up for clearance to combustables but you should be able to use a wood fired evaporator. Check for the NYS law relating to cooking fires and cooking with wood, you should be able to get these online if you can word the search right.
What did the fire dept say was the reason for not being able to use it?