Central Ontario Tapping

[NTBugtraq]

I've had this happen several times. Usually caused by a bit of debri stuck in a float box valve. Gets worse later in the season when nitre starts to build up. I always shut the valves off in my float boxes but I know this is not always an option if you still have a hot fire going when you shut down.

Well, the interesting thing was that the float was completely askew, only one small edge of the float was touching the bottom of the float box. When I touched it, it moved easily. I too wondered if I had boiled down to the point of the float sticking to the bottom of the box, but it doesn't appear so...but thanks Clinkis, I will definitely keep an eye on that.

To resolve the problem, I did something that now appears strange. I drew some 20gals of "nearup" (maybe 30-40 brix) off the arch and dropped it into my storage sump. That promptly changed the color of the tank the sump pumps into, and the manifold that comes off the bottom of each tank. I tried drawing off into my OMG pail, like 10 times, hoping the color of the sap would lighten...it didn't....;-] So right now it looks like I am feeding my arch with a light amber sap....?? In any event, I boiled for 6 hours today and got my front pan back to +8, then I shut down. I wanted to shut down early so I could check Clinkis' idea. So far, the pan level is not rising and the boil is gone. Later I will be putting a piece of plywood covering the float box. Unfortunately, it means I boiled some 40 gals with no draw...so much for my 12:1 ratio.

I have to say, I don't get you guys and your aversion to flies. So a fly (or 100 flies) get into your sap, that's what filters are for. If you find them revolting, I just want you to consider how many animals have peed around your maple trees, pee which seeps down to the roots and...becomes sap. As maple syrup producers we should embrace the nature that gives us this nectar. Also remember how prosciutto is made...hams are hung to be infested by flies laying eggs...when enough have laid eggs, the ham is then smoked...I'm just saying...like everything else in our bushes, flies serve a definite purpose and should be embraced for the job they do, and if we happen to kill a few in our sap buckets...sorry flies, but I'm not throwing anything out because of it...;-]

[67HEAVEN]

Different strokes.

I don't do prosciutto either. LOL

[Run Forest Run!]

MSM I collected 56L today! Very unexpected. Just take the flies out and boil down everything you get. They just add to the 'terroir' of your blend. Enjoy your day!

[MustardSeedMum]

Don't get me wrong. A few flies, moths, spiders and whatever other crawlies that are in my sap don't scare me. But I had 1 bucket that had more flies than sap. As in a complete layer of flies in a 5gallon bucket that had at most 5mm of sap. I don't need that sap *that* badly to bother filtering it out.

[NTBugtraq]

Don't get me wrong. A few flies, moths, spiders and whatever other crawlies that are in my sap don't scare me. But I had 1 bucket that had more flies than sap. As in a complete layer of flies in a 5gallon bucket that had at most 5mm of sap. I don't need that sap *that* badly to bother filtering it out.

and 3 seconds later with a strainer and bada bing, its pristine sap....;-]

[Galena]

LOL with ya all the way, Bugtrap! Everyone, don't forget, that water you're drinking today was probably once dinosaur pee, and in a few more hours it'll revert to that state again. And don't forget all the nummies made due to infestastions of more microscopic bugs like mold...blue cheese, anyone? Yum yum yum!! I loves me a good stinky Stilton! Probably because my heritage is mostly British, I have a palate very oriented towards savoury. And for ages the Brits didn't have refrigeration...they would keep cooked meat in a cupboard and continue to eat it til it was pretty manky.

So, so long as any wildlife in my buckets aren't mammals - I do have my limits - I'll go ahead and keep the sap.

[NTBugtraq]

So, so long as any wildlife in my buckets aren't mammals - I do have my limits - I'll go ahead and keep the sap.

Oh, don't get me started on mice and voles...;-]

[Galena]

What, you do get the little stinkers in your sap? I get em in the attic usually in the fall, and trap them. Also see evidence of them and their tunnels everywhere (have a nice cube of green nummy rodent killer, you little $#&%^!) :-0

[Run Forest Run!]

Had a nice day boiling. Swallows returned and I hear peepers! Oh no!

[Clinkis]

Very disappointing day. Sap ran reasonably well and collected a 100 gallons of sap. A little cloudy but still tasted sweet (2.7%) and smelled fine. I noticed slightest hint of an off flavour but nothing terrible. Kinda attributed it to all the bugs I strained out. Started boiling and the smell was awful! Ended up dumping it all. 😥 Evaporator was all cleaned out when I started so not sure what happened. I've had buddy sap before and I don't think it was that. A couple of my collection barrels on my pipelines had a bit of sap in them for a few days so I suspect one of them had turn and contaminated it all. A lot of work for nothing. Certainly not how I wanted to end my season. Now time to tear everything down and clean it all up and start planning for next year. Ended up making 118 litres from 147 taps which is a little disappointing but I guess you take whatever Mother Nature decides to give you.