Central Ontario Tapping

[NTBugtraq]

I'm not sure how to respond. Weather affects vacuum, so not sure where you got the impression it doesn't. You suggesting there is less syrup now than 20 yrs ago?

[MustardSeedMum]

Has anyone else heard the theory that there should be 20 good sap flowing days in a season?

Haven't heard that one before. 2012 was a 10-day season. As Galena said, weather patterns have changed over the years.

[MustardSeedMum]

No flow here in Erin today. It was a soppy mess outside with freezing rain and more rain. Took whatever I had in the pans inside to finish. I still have 50L of sap from Tuesday to finish boiling.

Meanwhile inside, I had a boil-over in my steam pan - left the kitchen for a split moment after putting in a little more partially boiled sap, thinking it was far from done. Probably spilled about 100ml of nearup.

[Run Forest Run!]

In the same boat here MSM. Brought in my sap from the pans today and am also finishing on the stove. I have about 25ishL of raw sap left with a bit outside still on the tree. If the forecast shifts just a tiny bit Friday and Saturday nights we might get a little more.

[MustardSeedMum]

What website are you using for weather, Karen? I've been working with weather network, but the last few days their "last 24 hours" chart has been missing, so I can't tell if
the overnite temps have gone below 0. Technically we should've gotten sap today since we went below 0, and a tad over today. My trees seem to be sensitive to rain and barometric pressure. Sigh.

There's a rainfall warning for my area tomorrow…I guess I won't be boiling tomorrow. Do you think my sap will be okay in the white 5 gallon buckets tomorrow? Or should I figure a way to keep it cold until I can boil?

[Run Forest Run!]

I've been looking at Accuweather and weather.gc. Even though Accuweather says tonight's low for me will be 1, it's currently 0 here. Fingers crossed. I also have a rainfall warning for tomorrow. I think that the sap we've both got in white buckets should be fine because the daytime temperatures aren't too high and the evening temps are fridge-cold. If you are really concerned you can freeze a few water bottles and then drop them into the white buckets. That would help.

[MustardSeedMum]

On accuweather right now. It's saying that Friday night will be -2. (Weather network = +3).
Further out, accuweather shows the week of april 19 having 0 to -2 lows. Weathernetwork is all + territory??!
If accuweather is accurate (hahaha), I wonder if the trees will hold out a week before budding. I remember in 2010 we had a week where it got all warm in the middle of march. Moths, flies, bugs. But my sugar tree lady told me the season wasn't over yet. True enough, temps dipped again and we got more syrup.

[Run Forest Run!]

I always remind myself how inaccurate the forecasts can be when we are trying to figure out when the season is going to start. Why should their forecasts be any more accurate now? All the buds are tight around here, so I'm willing to leave my buckets out for a while yet. The worst thing that can happen is that they stay empty.

[Lespetras]

I always remind myself how inaccurate the forecasts can be when we are trying to figure out when the season is going to start. Why should their forecasts be any more accurate now? All the buds are tight around here, so I'm willing to leave my buckets out for a while yet. The worst thing that can happen is that they stay empty.

I'm with you Karen, like I said earlier.. The locals here say that the north facing trees aren't done yet! By the way... I knew you'd be up!!! Me too I'm still boiling... My 12th batch and yes a glass if wine

[Run Forest Run!]

Yes, I'm still up. I'm trying to get this mini-batch of box elder syrup rendered down far enough that I can check for density in the morning. I can't wait to measure out the batch of soft/sugar syrup that I made from Monday's tsunami. Looks like it could be 7 or 8L!