Tapping 2024
After consulting the weather forecast, I tapped the majority of my trees yesterday, 1/30. Was rewarded with about 100 gallons of sap as of when I shut off the vacuum last night. I'll tap the remaining trees today. The season has officially begun. Good to be back after last year's debacle.
The major upgrade for me is that now I have a (mostly completed) 14 x 22 post and beam sugarhouse that I have been building over the last year and a half. It will be great to work inside and have light! Should be quite a step up from standing in the driveway in the cold wind.
Best to all for a productive season this year.
John
All red maples:
2013/4 - A few taps and propane burner
2015 - 54 taps on bags and buckets, 2x3 Mason evaporator - 3.5 gallons syrup finished and bottled
2016 - 72 taps on home-built vacuum/mainline system, home built RO (2 - 2.5 x 21 membranes) - 9+ gallons syrup finished and bottled
2017 - 91 taps upgrade to RO (single 4 x 40 membrane) - 13 gallons syrup
2018 - 91 taps - 12 gallons syrup
2022 - Back after 3 years off, 106 taps on vacuum - 29+ gallons syrup