Been collecting sap for nearly a month now, but only on my second boil this Easter weekend. Some of my 28 taps are dripping today approaching 60 degrees outside. Most of the snow is now melted in the yard. Anybody pulling taps soon?
Last Boil Easter Weekend?
Been collecting sap for nearly a month now, but only on my second boil this Easter weekend. Some of my 28 taps are dripping today approaching 60 degrees outside. Most of the snow is now melted in the yard. Anybody pulling taps soon?
14 Very Large Sugar Maples
28 Taps-Leader Aluminum Hookless 5/16" treesaver
Outdoor Fireplace
Mature Pines-lots of free fuel
2x4 Stainless Boiling Pan
Hustler Fastrak Z Mower (for mulching leaves)
I'm still in through next weekend. Sap is still running well here and it looks like OK after today. Woods are still snow covered here but it's getting spotty.
300 and growing taps
2'x6' air tight arch
Building a new sugarhouse in Ashford, CT
My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard
On April 3, 2014 I was doing my first boil of the season. Unless you keep notes you quickly forget what happens year-to-year.
~ Karen ~
2012 - 10 taps, 1 turkey fryer - 169.5L sap 4.2 L syrup
2013 - 23 taps, 2 turkey fryers - 748.5 L sap 17.56 L syrup
2014 - 22 taps, 509 L sap 12.5 L syrup
2015 - 28 taps, 1093.75 L sap 25.1 L syrup
2016 - 25 taps, 1223.5 L sap 28.25 L syrup
2017 - 21 taps, 518.5 L sap 12.7 L syrup
2018 - 28 taps, 2 turkey fryers & Denali 3 burner propane stove - 798L sap 16.9 L syrup
2019 - 28 taps, 1409.5L sap 40.12L syrup
Sugar, Norway, Manitoba, Silver and Freeman Maples
I have 50+ gallons of sap to boil tomorrow. Snow is gone by me and ground has thawed. Looks like one more frost night Saturday night, then will stay above freezing all next week, with day time temps in 50's and some days low 60's. I'll most probably pull the taps on Sunday after the Easter Feast.
2016: Second Year;
..........15 Taps- 177 gals 0f 2.40 % Sap / 4.25 gals of Syrup
......... Cinder block arch evaporato with 2'x2' Stainless Steel Pan
......... Finishing in stock pot on propane burner
2015: First Year;
......... 12 Taps - 135 gals of 3.37% Sap / 4.56 gals of Syrup
......... Cinder block arch evaporator with 2'x2' Stainless Steel Pan
......... Finishing in stock pot on propane burner
Why not just collect and see what happens? If it doesn't work out, you can pull the taps next week and if it does, you'll have some sap to boil. Either way, I hope you enjoyed your first season!Originally Posted by MichtonTree
I have 50+ gallons of sap to boil tomorrow. Snow is gone by me and ground has thawed. Looks like one more frost night Saturday night, then will stay above freezing all next week, with day time temps in 50's and some days low 60's. I'll most probably pull the taps on Sunday after the Easter Feast.
300 and growing taps
2'x6' air tight arch
Building a new sugarhouse in Ashford, CT
My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard
Wondering myself.... Boiling down 20 gallons today/ tonight, collected from 20 taps this week.. Not much collected today with last night being warm. I chose to leave buckets out because of predicted cold night Saturday. I am thinking this may be it though. I suppose it is a race between us and the buds. I did find ants got to one bucket. They don't get past the filter though!!
2014 Year 1, 1 large front yard shade tree with 3 taps - 3 quarts of the best syrup I ever had.
2015 - Convince In-laws and Neighbors, bought F-150 and bricks. 20 taps, 4 gallons in pretty bottles.
2016 -- More friends and neighbors, should add another 20 +, built temporary shelter as sugar shack. F150 traded for Ram 2500. Big Blue new barrels for 116 gal storage. 8 gallons Syrup.
2017 - Mortared Brick Arch with serving pans, no make that an 18 x 48 CDL divided flat pan, 48 taps.
I was thinking the same thing. Anyone know at what % it's considered buddy sap?
More of the taste and color than %.
Mike
pulled my taps today..the lovely Mrs. and I bottled up the last batch...not a ton of sap, but enough to give to some friends.. Thanks to the helpful and knowledgeable folks on this forum--I had a lot of fun!
2015: 17 taps, 2 gallons
2016: 35 taps, 3.6 gallons
2017: 60 taps, 2.7 gallons
2018: 56 taps, 4.7 gallons
I pulled all my taps yesterday, finished and bottled all the syrup I drew off wed and Thursday. Ended up with 40 gal syrup, all A light to A dark. I went to finish off the sweet in the pan this morning, and the sweet had gone ropey on me; gross looking stuff, that sweet last year was about 6 gal syrup, which this year got tossed.
Shorter season for me than last year, but I did a little better on sap and syrup count; much lighter syrup this season too. The color of my last batch (8) this season was the same color as my third batch last year. How about you guys?
2013 20 taps; 2'/4' flat pan with dividers/preheater on block arch, about 4 gal
2014 about 125 taps on 2/5 smokey lake hybrid pan; 34 gals
2015 about 125 taps, same pan, just over 40 gals syrup
12'/12' post and beam sugar house
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