Schenectady-Albany-Saratoga Counties

[Trevor5]

That was me last year, i ran out of wood and had to start cutting up standing dead trees on the property. Luckily still had snow so was able to use snowmobile to haul the wood out (this was prior to getting my side by side). I tapped on 2/9 this year which was a solid 2 weeks earlier than usual. A few years back i had my last boil on 4/20.

I had snow, but only manpower and a 12 yr old daughter power to drag wood, she even helped split some wood! One weekend of trudging through the snow was enough for me. I tapped 2/11 which was only one week early, but I think the season really started in my area a few weeks prior to that. My last boil is normally around the first weekend of April. With how much snow I still have I would have been able to keep my storage cans cold for a few more weeks easily.

[The Heldeberg Sapper]

I threw in the towel Friday night, was a great season overall for me considering how early I was able to tap. Ended up with 19.5 gallons of syrup on 47 gravity tubing taps. I only expect to make 15-16 gallons or so. The weather is still looking great for the next week or so and trees havent budded yet. I didnt pull taps but stopped collecting in my barrels and all day yesterday and Saturday they were still flowing like crazy, just didnt have it in me to keep going. I still have syrup left over from last year so no real incentive to kill myself and keep going.

I hope everyone else ended on a high note as well!

[The Heldeberg Sapper]

So i havent physically pulled the taps yet, just my collection barrels and the sap has been flowing like crazy all of last week. If i hadnt given up last week i am thinking today would be the last real day of the season for me. I probably gave up a few hundred gallons of sap over the past week. This is just a hobby for me so while i am sad i dont feel too bad as i still have syrup left over from last year and the year before haha. I do sell some by word of mouth, but need to put more effort into that this year.

The buds on the trees are starting to swell quite a bit and im curious if they will pop this week with the project warm days and no more freezing nights till the weekend.

[sugarman3]

Good for you sapper

[MRFNY]

Hello All,

Surprised there hasn't been any posting activity this year so far! Weather has been interesting, curious what it will mean for the 2024 season.

I purchased an RB15 RO system from RO Bucket this year. After last season I didn't want to go through the time and wood it took to make 35 gallons. Hopefully with an RO I'll WANT to make 35 gallons again, but without one there is now way I am interested in making that much!

For those using an RO, I'm curious how it impacts the boiling and the shut down of daily boils, if any? For example, without the RO i was comfortable doing a draw off from my 2X4 evaporator as long as I had at least 8-10 gallons of unconcentrated sap left. Will that change at all with a more concentrated sap?

[Ghs57]

On my 2x6 hybrid pan, I start to shut down when I have about 20 gallons left. My rig runs at about 35 gallons an hour. This usually works out well, with the head tank empty and a lower pan level than I normally run at. Next run will bring the pan back up to my operating level. This is not an exact science though, and takes some practice to zero in. You really have to know your rig and its boiling rate, cool down time, etc. I have doubled my RO capacity this year, so there may be some variation.

[MRFNY]

On my 2x6 hybrid pan, I start to shut down when I have about 20 gallons left. My rig runs at about 35 gallons an hour. This usually works out well, with the head tank empty and a lower pan level than I normally run at. Next run will bring the pan back up to my operating level. This is not an exact science though, and takes some practice to zero in. You really have to know your rig and its boiling rate, cool down time, etc. I have doubled my RO capacity this year, so there may be some variation.

Thank you for the info! I think I know my rig pretty well without the RO but I think I will need to plan on shutting down with a little more concentrated sap than I am used to. I always have 5 gallon buckets of water handy as well just in case I dont time it right. Thankfully I haven't had to do that! Knock on wood...

[ADK_XJ]

Hi all, we're approaching the start of another season one way or another...what are other folks thinking in terms of long-range forecast and tapping timeline? I've yet to have a year when I tap before Presidents' Day but it's late this year and of course this winter has been anything but winter'y.

The reality is I probably won't have my act together before Presidents' Day and all our "volunteers" in the neighborhood know that's when we usually go out, so that will likely still be the date...

[MRFNY]

Hi all, we're approaching the start of another season one way or another...what are other folks thinking in terms of long-range forecast and tapping timeline? I've yet to have a year when I tap before Presidents' Day but it's late this year and of course this winter has been anything but winter'y.

The reality is I probably won't have my act together before Presidents' Day and all our "volunteers" in the neighborhood know that's when we usually go out, so that will likely still be the date...

Probably holding off for a bit here in Charlton. It's tempting but I think the long range forecast gets cold and stays cold for a while. February 2023 was probably a fluke, at least I think it was!

[crzypete]

Hi all, checking in. Getting excited for another season. Days are getting longer. Currently Eying next Thursday as being a potential start, but will wait until we are closer and see the extended forecast from there. won't tap if it is just a couple of days of potential. I'm looking to do the same 50 taps as last year.

Pete