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2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
No sap In 10 days. My son said about 3 pm he checked the tank at the sugar house and there was a small trickle. As of 930 pm sap is running pretty decent. The sap at the house is clear and 2 percent on all reds. It tastes and smells good. Went to the farm and the releaser was tripping about every 7 minutes and the sap is clear and 2.3 smells and tastes fine but there was a lot of crap floating In the tank kind of like the first run of the year. I pumped it on the ground and rinsed the tank again and the new sap coming in was nice and clear. It is 34 degrees and ice was starting to glaze over the mud puddles so hopefully sap will get going this week.
2021 230 Taps on vacuum
Smokylake 2X6 pan set with auto drawoff
Homebuilt 2 4x40 membrane RO
Homebuilt filter press
Rebuilt arch with under and over the fire air we have named V 2.0
Smokylake steam bottler
Hoods and preheater
500 gallon vertical polytank to store sap for RO
Adding a laser eye to my bottler for autofill/stop
We have been making dark all season, but after this freeze its all fancy grade. Not sure what happened but glad it did. Saturday was a gusher and Sunday wasn't to bad, this week should be normal season weather so we will see.
After being in Louisiana for a two week work trip, all of my buckets and totes were full and running over and mostly frozen... Dumped them all out Sunday morning and by evening had about 1.75 gallons per tap. This week looks like it should be a great week for sap to flow. Of course the weekend weather does not look great for boiling outside, I guess I will have to put up the pop up tent to keep the rain/snow out of the pans.
Dried up here in the valley. Boiling for the last time. How's everyone else doing?
2014 6 Taps Block Arch and momas canning pot, 3 gallons YIKES
2019 100 taps and a new adventure with a home built arch.
2020 90 taps, my wife and I and a Bucket RO...
2021 112 taps and a modified Bucket RO.
2022 120 taps, modified Bucket RO a Wife, Son and Springer
2023 ~110 taps Nothing new
2024 90 taps health issues, family
2025 75 taps New RO Bucket filter canner
Hung my hat yesterday. Finished what I had on the evaporator and called it a season. Let the cleanup (and next year's upgrades) begin!
Leader WSE 2x6 w/hoods
12"x20" Mason Finisher
250 taps.. Majority on tubing
14'x20' sugarshack
Kubota RTV900XT
Home built Auto Drawoff
Leader MicRO 2 RO
www.mallardpondmaple.com
we shut the pump off tonight and have to boil down the remaining 350 gallons. It's been a long season of boiling everyday until 11:00 at night. clean up this week and then on to something else.
Thought I would tap this weekend but then saw 60s and even 70s (!!!) for mid week temps - would be one thing if there was an overnight freeze associated but looks like it will be Thu/Fri for the good cycle.
Probably for the best, my equipment is all still packed away in the barn. What's everybody else in Saratoga County thinking for a tap date?
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2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
I was going to tap today but those 60+ days talked me out of it. I'm going to tap Thursday morning rain or shine. I worked in the sugar House today and probably set my tanks and releaser tomorrow. We will see what happens. Jeff
2021 230 Taps on vacuum
Smokylake 2X6 pan set with auto drawoff
Homebuilt 2 4x40 membrane RO
Homebuilt filter press
Rebuilt arch with under and over the fire air we have named V 2.0
Smokylake steam bottler
Hoods and preheater
500 gallon vertical polytank to store sap for RO
Adding a laser eye to my bottler for autofill/stop
Changed my mind, I'm going to throw up some buckets today with the old 7/16 spouts and see how it goes.
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system