North East Ohio 2025

[WoodButcher]

That's a nice little run! This weather is a bit too bipolar for me to tap right now.
Even if I put my taps in today I wouldn't have enough to boil for a week based on the weather coming up. But that's just my setup.

[johnallin]

Got the membranes installed in the new RO yesterday and have completed the initial rinse-wash-rinse.
Was really surprised that it would take 5 hours for the wash last night, but it is what it is.
Unit shuts down automatically when wash water is at 109 degrees.

Did the rinse today and then installed fittings on a new 165 gal additional permeate tank.
Have just a few little things to set up in the sugar house and I’ll be tapping.

Looking like this is going to be a more traditional season than the past couple and I’m 100% OK with that.

Let the Games begin!

[christopherh]

Got the membranes installed in the new RO yesterday and have completed the initial rinse-wash-rinse.
Was really surprised that it would take 5 hours for the wash last night, but it is what it is.
Unit shuts down automatically when wash water is at 109 degrees.

Did the rinse today and then installed fittings on a new 165 gal additional permeate tank.
Have just a few little things to set up in the sugar house and I’ll be tapping.

Looking like this is going to be a more traditional season than the past couple and I’m 100% OK with that.

Let the Games begin!

John, I ended up putting in a heating element in mine to help the temperature come up. I had the same issue.

[johnallin]

John, I ended up putting in a heating element in mine to help the temperature come up. I had the same issue.

Thanks Chris! Made me crazy waiting, but I wasn't walking away until I knew it would shut down...don't think I'll worry next time. Just let it do it's thing I guess.
Hope to be boiling soon!

[johnallin]

So is anyone else in NE Ohio tapped yet?
Every time I think it’s time, all I see is a week of single digit lows.
Not real excited to go through all the work for maybe a one day run and then 10 days of frozen trees and equipment!

You could play hockey on the driveways over here.

[Kh7722]

Yes 3/4 tapped.
Will finish last week in Feb.

Hopefully march is a 4 week steady flow

So is anyone else in NE Ohio tapped yet?
Every time I think it’s time, all I see is a week of single digit lows.
Not real excited to go through all the work for maybe a one day run and then 10 days of frozen trees and equipment!

You could play hockey on the driveways over here.

[madmaples]

I definitely tapped the first of my taps too early, they've been frozen for nearly two weeks, so I'm glad I held off on the rest of my taps. Keeping my fingers crossed for week after next. On a positive note, this freeze up gave me plenty of time to prepare setting up my very first tubing and build a little shurflo system.

I just need to find an IBC tote, I've been striking out finding any locally, does anyone have any good suggestions on where to get one?

[johnallin]

I definitely tapped the first of my taps too early, they've been frozen for nearly two weeks, so I'm glad I held off on the rest of my taps. Keeping my fingers crossed for week after next. On a positive note, this freeze up gave me plenty of time to prepare setting up my very first tubing and build a little shurflo system.

I just need to find an IBC tote, I've been striking out finding any locally, does anyone have any good suggestions on where to get one?

Be careful with the tote, or any tank for that matter...make sure nothing nasty was in there. You'll ruin some nice syrup in a hurry.

[Hunt4sap]

I will start tapping our "yard" maples this weekend and see what's running soon

[WoodButcher]

I definitely tapped the first of my taps too early, they've been frozen for nearly two weeks, so I'm glad I held off on the rest of my taps. Keeping my fingers crossed for week after next. On a positive note, this freeze up gave me plenty of time to prepare setting up my very first tubing and build a little shurflo system.

I just need to find an IBC tote, I've been striking out finding any locally, does anyone have any good suggestions on where to get one?

Reach out to Ray Gingrich in Owell. He builds ROs and sells maple for a living, but also gets 275 gallon poly tanks from the old middlefield cheese plant quite frequently.
Last time I bought them from him they were about 75 each and looked almost new... Nothing stinky in them. Just some sort of cheese making by-product that's food grade.

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