Ideas from the latest Maple Syrup Digest
As I was reading the newest issue of the Maple Syrup Digest, dated June 2024 I adjusted my plans. In the past I've always started fixing lines on Jan 2 and started tapping as soon as the repairs were completed, along with putting up any new lines and taps. The New York report in the Digest points out that those who did the best in 2024 (and if I recall 2023) were ready to collect in mid to late December.
At this point I'm mentally lining up my plans. I'll need to do repairs and add new laterals in Oct and Nov. Then tap in early December. The plans will need to readjust my work in the sugarhouse. In years past I generally finished the tapping and then went into the sugarhouse, first major cleanup and organization. Then to the little things that never seem to be ready in time. For 2025 I'll try to do the major cleanup and organization in the sugarhouse in Oct and Nov on days not ideal for working in the woods. Then once the tapping is finished I will need to check everything to be sure I'll be ready for the first sap flow.
To that end, I have an SP22 bought and paid for, I'll need to get it to my location. Right now I only know it was tested and gets 27" vacuum and makes no wierd noises, The pump is almost 400 miles away now. My neighbor (who drives his own over the road rig said he will pick it up if he gets a load in the vicinity where it is, but if he doesn't get a chance by early August, I'll take a long day and go pick it up. Then I want to rewire it, the name plate says 115-230, but it's wired for 115. I will change it to 230 or in my case 240V. My sugarhouse vacuum pump circuit is already set up for 240 and I have a line going to where the pump will be placed. Then the only thing I might need is to change the breaker if the wrong size is in it. My old pump was a BB4, slightly larger than the SP22. I suspect the breaker will be good, but I'll confirm that. Then, I have a double vertical mechanical releaser and I have on hand a new seal kit for it. If a new electric releaser isn't in the cards I'll revive that one. I will need a moisture trap, unfortunately when I thought I was not going to boil any more I sold my pump, moisture trap and a nice small double horizontal releaser, now that I've decided to get back into it, I need to replace those items/
Then I need to plan for my tanks. I still have a nice 300 gal Mueller tank, with lids and a 200 gal Icebank tank that's still good inside but is rough and dented on the outside. I also have a outer tank from another icebank tank that I used in my largest lease for sap collection in years past. It has a capicity of a calculated 850 gal. I might use that for permeate. It wears multiple covers that cover all but about the last 2 foot at one end. That's where I had a shelf support and my double releaser in the past. I made the existing covers, each is full width of the tank and each interlocks with the next cover, like a standing rib roof. All I'd need to complete one last such cover. The only other issue is that it has no valve outlet, when I used it I pumped sap over the top, I can do that again, or I may study adding a drain valve in 1 or maybe 1.5", that's all it would need. It does have 1 bottom drain but it's only 1/2" copper and I never used it, I plugged it off.
My plans on taps right now are all over the place, from a minimum of 200 to 425 max unless I talk with my neighbor. Over 40 yrs ago her dad (now deceased) planted 2 or 3 rows of maple trees ( all sugar or reds), one being about 1' on their side of the property line and the next is about 15' farther in, and I think there may be a third row past that, I've never looked that close, I've just noticed them as I mow the field on my side. She also has a horse, and I let her (actually I prefer) dump the horse manure/bedding on my land. I then turn it a few times and once ready my wife uses the compost. If I decide this next year or the following, I might tap those trees. Most if not all are big enough for 1 tap. I think there are at least 20 maybe 25 trees in each row, and in the first row all survived, I think one or 2 in the next row died. The trees are about 20' apart in the rows.
If that part ever happens it won't likely be for 2025. For my 200-425 I still have most of the mains and they are in good shape. I think all laterals need to be replaced as do all drops. Before I temporally retired from maple I used to change all drops every 3rd or 4th year. All of this will be a lot of work for one old man, still with a bad hip.
Being borderline diabetic I hesitate to get my hip replaced only because I heal so poorly because of being borderline diabetic.
For those who know about blood sugar levels, my 6 mo tests come back at 105-112, with an A1C of 5.8-6.2. Not bad, but when I had to have 3 surgeries in 2022 my healing suffered to say the least.
I guess I've rambled on long enough, but I will start earlier prepping for 2025 than in any year in the past.
Dave Klish, I recently bought a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
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Originally Posted by Pdiamond
