Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[Pdiamond]

How many tons do you think you've done doc.

[DrTimPerkins]

How many tons do you think you've done doc.

It would be too depressing to even hazard a guess - probably about the same amount of weight as the hay bales -- just more bales by number than stones. Kept me outside in the fresh air though, and taught me that I didn't want to be a dairy farmer (that and haying). I have no desire to physically work THAT hard, but certainly admire the determination and many other wonderful qualities of farmers. You've got to be a real optimist to farm for a living.

[Pdiamond]

Unfortunately that hard working fool was me. I now have degenerative back disease. Guess what, nothing they can do to correct it. I just get a little slower every year. But keep moving because I have to pass on traditions that haven't been fully learned yet.

[drewlamb]

Good to get a look at the VT thread and see the shared enthusiasm mounting. I'm certainly feeling it.

We had a few non-covid related health setbacks that had us worried about getting work done, but we started tapping this week and will be ready by end of the month. Big change for us this season is no more tractor collection. Before this year, we had 3 road tanks collected by truck and 3 woods tanks collected by tractor. Tractor had a 750 gal poly tank on trailer and 250 tank on FEL. We added a 10 acre parcel that sits below our main bush which now allows us to divert all the sap down to a roadside tank for truck collection. No more plowing tractor paths then tearing them up in the mud, getting stuck, pumping from 3 different woods tanks, and lost time making multiple collection trips. Also added 550 taps in that area. It's steep ground but we're used to that and it's good for our 3/16 system. Honing all the systems for efficiency is one of my favorite parts of sugaring. Another big step in that area for us this year.

Look forward to following everyone's season and may we be blessed with lots of sap and lots of sugar!

[blissville maples]

Good to get a look at the VT thread and see the shared enthusiasm mounting. I'm certainly feeling it.

We had a few non-covid related health setbacks that had us worried about getting work done, but we started tapping this week and will be ready by end of the month. Big change for us this season is no more tractor collection. Before this year, we had 3 road tanks collected by truck and 3 woods tanks collected by tractor. Tractor had a 750 gal poly tank on trailer and 250 tank on FEL. We added a 10 acre parcel that sits below our main bush which now allows us to divert all the sap down to a roadside tank for truck collection. No more plowing tractor paths then tearing them up in the mud, getting stuck, pumping from 3 different woods tanks, and lost time making multiple collection trips. Also added 550 taps in that area. It's steep ground but we're used to that and it's good for our 3/16 system. Honing all the systems for efficiency is one of my favorite parts of sugaring. Another big step in that area for us this year.

Look forward to following everyone's season and may we be blessed with lots of sap and lots of sugar!

Sounds like someone's life just got much easier!! Enjoy the improvements, I personally know what it's like!

[blissville maples]

Unfortunately that hard working fool was me. I now have degenerative back disease. Guess what, nothing they can do to correct it. I just get a little slower every year. But keep moving because I have to pass on traditions that haven't been fully learned yet.

I feel your pain, years of overuse and lacking a governor haven't treated my back well. Got worse this year and I purchased a harness call "sit and decompress" .....check it out fairly inexpensive and it does seem to help....

[Pdiamond]

blissville
Where did you find that?

[blissville maples]

blissville
Where did you find that?

I found it while searching inversion tables, eventually it brought me to the product called 'sit and decompress '

If you Google it should come up in a search.

[DrTimPerkins]

I feel your pain, years of overuse and lacking a governor haven't treated my back well. Got worse this year and I purchased a harness call "sit and decompress" .....check it out fairly inexpensive and it does seem to help....

Truly amazing how a simple thing you did a billion times when you were younger will one day suddenly be a problem. Many of us are past the days of "die young and leave a good-looking corpse", so guess we just get to keep going as long as we can manage. Good luck, stay healthy, and best wishes for a great 2021 season to all sugarmakers out there.

[steam maker]

Blissville, thinking of getting a steam pan for my evaporater. Can i ask what u ro to and then what it is coming out of steampan. Up in the air about adding another post to ro or will steam pan work . Plus make hot water