That's a trick that I learned from this site. If you vary the location of the spiles as you tap, you can help to extend the season a little. Or, at the very least, help to spread out your harvest so it's not all or nothing.Originally Posted by c0ps
That's a trick that I learned from this site. If you vary the location of the spiles as you tap, you can help to extend the season a little. Or, at the very least, help to spread out your harvest so it's not all or nothing.
~ 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
Noted. Thank you
I'm going to start pulling mine tonight after work, not all of them but probably the ones that are not as fast flowing as some, I am still not caught up on my boiling.
2018 28 tree's, 32 taps... 1206 L collected, 19.6 L Finished
2017 14 trees, 16 taps... for now465.5 L collected, 10.5 L Finished
2016 26 trees, 38 taps... for now
2015 7 Trees, 7 Buckets
2014 13 Trees,9 Buckets,5 Water Cooler Bottles,1 Turkey Fryer,ended up with 12 L syrup,light to very dark color
2013 9 Trees ,13 taps and buckets,1 Turkey Deep Fryer,Close to 15 L of syrup , light to dark color
Sadly only my neighbor has been able to take some of my sap. The rest will be dumped on the ground. Too bad as it is likely about 100 gallons of sap gone to waste. Maybe not a lot to many others out there but it is a lot for my little setup. Going on holidays Saturday and will not have time to boil before then. Every 5 gallon bucket here is running over so lots is already going to the ground anyway. Can't wait to get my shack built and a bigger evaporator this summer so I can keep up with the flow and not have to dump again next year. Last year I ended up giving away almost 250 gallons. Never again dammit!
2016 - 64 taps (47 gravity fed to buckets, 17 hanging on a tree)
2015 - 50 taps (35 gravity fed to buckets, 15 hanging on a tree)
2014 - 5 taps hanging on a tree
pair of showshoes and an inner tube and toboggan to haul it to the stove.
Boiling under a tarp again this year, hoping to build a shack in summer 2016. (Of course that was the plan for 2015 too)
Started this morning boiling down what I was storing. 200 L of sap boiled! On my last bucket. Think im done.
Well, I read a lot of articles about how this spring was going to come early, be much warmer than average, and not last long. Right now things are pretty much right on target for a normal sap run for me. It started a little early, but there are still no buds and my 8 day forecast shows probably 8 sap running days. I don't know why so many of you seem to be finishing early, maybe I have a favorable micro-climate...but I don't see finishing much before the 15th (as usual).
2017: added shut-off valves at several points on the main line, 66L made, 13L sold
2016: Added Wesfab 7" Filter Press with hand pump, 96L sold
2015: now 216 taps, added low vac (24" hg) to new Sugar Shack (24' x 16') w/400gal storage, 143.15L sold
2014: now 150 taps, added 2 sump pumps to 12'x12' sugar shack w/100gal storage to CDL 18"x5', 2 chamber drop flue, 40L sold
2013: 10 5/16 taps gravity to hose, boiled on BBQ
The taps are quiet today, but I still had 100L or so in the sugar bush to collect this afternoon. It's the first time it's been safe to go there in two days because of the high winds. Every container had overflowed. And so begins today's boiling session.
~ 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
Man im really being challenged for my first year of making maple syrup. Ice storm, down trees...yesterday I boiled down some sap, just as I thought I was close to start testing with the hydrometer...OMFG! It dropped out of my hand onto the granite countertop and broke. I almost cryed. Needless to say tommorow morning Im running to orillia to purchase another one so I can bring this batch to its proper brix. I think I got it dead on with the themometer but better to be safe.
Last edited by c0ps; 04-01-2016 at 10:13 PM.
Nice looking syrup c0ps. You can do a test tonight if you like. Put one of those bottles in the freezer and if the syrup freezes hard then it's too thin. If it ends up more like roof tar then it is the proper brix or even heavier. If it's the latter, you might just want to leave them be. It might save you the trip tomorrow and you can pick up a replacement hydrometer when you aren't having to make a special trip. You can also order one online from Home Hardware and have it sent to the Bolton store.
~ 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
Thanks Karen. Just put one in the freezer
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