Chasing my "to-do" list but almost there.
I was hoping to get my 70 taps in yesterday but will now have to wait until at least Thursday as work has a hold on me.
If I don't get the taps in by this weekend I'll probably wait out the weather as I'm barely seeing freezing temps all next week...
2025 - 160 taps, Shruflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO - 30 gallons
2024 - 160 taps, Shurflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO - 19 gallons
2023 - 121 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 20 gallons
2022 - 103 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 23 gallons
2021 - 77 taps on Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 2020
__________________________
Trout Brook Valley
Weston, CT
waiting it out
Here in southwest Ct I am waiting it out in hopes of striking the big flow days with a fresh hole later on in the season. Weather seems like it has just been OK but not ideal for good flow. I am not able to tap trees twice or re tap.
And I am beginning to think from the past few years that early season tapping is bit over rated. For a couple of reasons. The flows are never as profuse as I want them to be and the syrup tends to me very light in color which people do not like as much, myself included. Although this year would not surprise me if early season syrup were on the darker side.
Nothing like putting a 5 gallon bucket out on a fresh tap in late Feb and having it fill up in 1 day.
Think I might hold off till around Feb 10 unless the soft night freezes for next week turn into hard night freezes.
If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.
Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.
I still haven't made up my mind on whether I'll tap this weekend or not. I'm already to go but most of my taps are buckets or bags and as another person said I would hate to trade early flows for late March ones. It is just a hobby and I do enjoy it so.... we'll see.
Last edited by CTfarm; 01-31-2020 at 05:43 AM.
2024 55 3/16 gravity, 19 5/16 gravity, 40 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator, Mason AUF arch.
2023 35 3/16 gravity, 30 5/16 gravity 53 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator.
Mason AUF arch
2022 35 3/16 gravity, 28 5/16 gravity, 50 buckets and bags, New RO Bucket rb15 kit.
2021 11 on 5/16 gravity, 30 on 3/16 gravity, 69 on buckets and bags. All sugar maples. Mostly large old trees.
Yep
Nothing like the flows of March.
Best to catch em fresh too.
If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.
Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.
Finished the "to do" list just in time for the warm up.
Whats up with this weather...??
I'll tidy up a few last minute things and then wait out the next decent cold snap with hopes things look better on the weather outlook.
With my first year on tubing/vac/RO and the new evaporator I'm hoping for a decent year. While I know its early and there is a lot of time, I'm anxious to test the new systems and boil some sap!
What are you all seeing/thinking?
Bryan
2025 - 160 taps, Shruflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO - 30 gallons
2024 - 160 taps, Shurflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO - 19 gallons
2023 - 121 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 20 gallons
2022 - 103 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 23 gallons
2021 - 77 taps on Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 2020
__________________________
Trout Brook Valley
Weston, CT
I’m in. Collected 15 gal today on 15 taps before all froze.
Here in Southwest CT at about 350 feet MSL, with a Northerly aspect, I am thinking around the 8th of Feb for tapping as next week looks like temps may not fall below freezing at night at all. No sense in dirtying up the holes.Originally Posted by bryankloos
As with every scheduled date in life, that date is subject to change. Up until the metal gets put to the wood.
Could be a different story in your area.
If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.
Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.
I got about 85 in today, about half what I plan. 19 F this morning, 35 later, never saw a drop of sap all day. I'll get the rest tomorrow.
10am and I have 3 solid 3/16 diameter streams coming down off my hill. It's a good day for a boil.
2017 25 taps on buckets got me hooked 1 gallon of sweet
2018 51 taps on 3/16 tubing/ DIY oil tank evaporator 8.5gallons finished
2019 60 taps 7 gallons finished ended season short
2020 New 2x4 divided pan ready to get away from the headache that is steam table pans
2021 off year due to pandemic and projects
2022 back at it
Hope to get 125 taps in tomorrow. Been a strange year for weather.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote