Bryankloos, sorry to hear about the tough times you are going through. Thinking of you and your son, wishing for a speedy recovery. Even though it is tough to fit it in the schedule with all that is going on, having your sugaring to do will be a good stress reliever for the rest of your problems.
Sugaring for 45+ years
New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around
This weather is tap-tempting .... but I'm holding off to Feb. to complete home based projects (aka -making wife happy)
19-21 Back to tapping
17-18: not able to tap
14-16 present: Portable Oil Tank evaporator 40+ taps
09-14: Stove to Barrel - 20 taps
Just for fun I looked at the farmers almanac for 2021.
This isn't encouraging.
Remember last year’s almost snow-free winter in the Northeast? Well, this year our prediction is very different, with the possibility of a blizzard hitting the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states during the second week of February. This storm may bring up to 1-2 feet of snow to cities from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Massachusetts!
Bryankloos, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Good luck to your son.
So I started tapping this past weekend and will finish up next. Expect first boil on the 23rd. I've heard rumors that there's guy who boiled two weeks ago in North Canaan.
A wise man once asked me "is the sap flowing?' Yes, I answered. "Then tap your trees."
1980 - 6 taps, stone fire pit, drain pan evaporator, 1 pint of syrup
2016 - 55 taps on 3/16 and gravity, new sugar shack, 2x3 Mason XL, 16 gallons of syrup
2017 - 170 taps on 3/16, 2x4 Mason XL, NextGen RO. 50 gallons of syrup
2018 - 250+ taps on gravity and buckets, 2x5 Smokey Lake arch and Beaverland pan.
2019 - 250+ taps on gravity. A few buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
2020 - 300+ taps on gravity. 50 gallons of syrup.
2021 - 280 taps on gravity and 40 buckets. 35 gallons of syrup.
I've tapped early before, Its the sweetest sap but when it stopped running I was disappointed with sugar content when it re-set. I don't get much time off work so I like to boil right through. I get real disappointed when I can't keep up with the flow. Looking at an evaporator upgrade. I've had this 18" by 38" for 15 years now. I'm trying to convince the bookkeeper(WIFE) its a good investment.
Tapped one string to get a sense of avg brix: 1.0, not much flow, most are frozen, as is the dog bowl.
2019 LNG fired pot, 20 taps on 3/16, 10 buckets, gave it up after 3 gal.
2020 New Mason 2x4 XL; 30 taps on 3/16
Thanks guys. I appreciate the nice words.
I’m still shooting for shortly after Feb 1.
I’m 97% ready to fire up the tapping drill.
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
Today’s Brix: 2.0, and she ain’t named DeborahOriginally Posted by Ghost
2019 LNG fired pot, 20 taps on 3/16, 10 buckets, gave it up after 3 gal.
2020 New Mason 2x4 XL; 30 taps on 3/16
Ghost... You're gonna love that Mason 2x4XL. Its a beast!!!
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
looks like a cooldown and some snow in the forecast. Feb 1st is my target date.
41.457 x -72.907 148 elevation
2x4 wood fired evaporator with the "Hercules Blower"
hybrid pan and backflip preheater by Smoky Lake
103 taps. 44 on gravity
All sugar Maples
7" filter press
10 x 12 sugar shack
two very helpful kids
a wife that thinks I'm nuts
https://youtu.be/7MiY8qzBKk8
https://www.wunderground.com/persona...d?ID=KCTCHESH7
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