Gregg I have a full time job that is why I devote my whole weekend and most nights to sugaring. I also feel that it is best to get the taps pulled as soon as possible after they stop running so I make that a high priority. The weather this weekend was perfect for it too. I have been out there when it was cold and even raining. It wasn't much fun then.

I made a manifold that I can hook a garden hose to and an air hose to the other side and use water and compressed air to clean my lines. I did it with the vacuum on for the first time today. I just used well water and I suck water and air into the spout so that it agitates like it does with the water and compressed air. Both methods work good. It takes longer with the vacuum but you don't get soaked.

Some season ending totals here; I made 153 gallons of syrup this year. 9 less than last year with 180 more taps on vacuum and 11 more buckets. I collected 11140 gallons of sap from the vacuum, 17.2 gallons per tap. I collected 8875 last year, 19.2 gallons per tap. I collected 675 gallons from 88 buckets this year, 7.7gallons per tap, last year 935 gallons from 77 buckets, 12.1 gals per tap. Last year I made 162 gallons of syrup. This year sugar content ave 1.1%, last year slightly over 1.4%. this year .21 gallons of syrup per tap, last year 3.0 gallons per tap.

Am I happy with that? Hell yeah! The bucket and gravity guys did much worse.