Schenectady-Albany-Saratoga Counties

[MRFNY]

Looked at my notes for every season we've been tapping and in 2021 we tapped on 2/27. It was a very short season that came to an end on 3/23 due to a long stretch of very warm temps, upper 60's and low 70's during the day and nighttime temps in the upper 30's / low 40's. Only made 15 gallons that season. Hopefully this year doesn't follow that pattern!

[MRFNY]

Put in 50 taps yesterday. Wasn't fun stomping through the layer of ice on top of the snow! Will finish the rest throughout the week, yesterday mainly focused on the trees that get a lot of sun during the day and typically start producing earlier in the season.

[The Heldeberg Sapper]

Took the morning off of work today and got my 47 taps done. Sap has started flowing a little bit. I don't expect to have a huge run this week but i usually tap around this time so figured id go for it. I really like the golden syrup and i typically make that during February. I have a bout 12" of snow on the ground but its settling down fast, finally have some decent frost in the ground this year as well. Now i just need to get the evaporator setup and ready to boil later this week!

[ADK_XJ]

Glad to hear others are out tapping, too...we tapped in our 100 taps on tubing (this included replacing all of the drop lines and tees, WITHOUT a two-handed tool) on Saturday with the help of a small crew. That was a great time, I love sharing the experience with friends who've never done it before; they are instantly hooked.

As of first thing this morning, not a drop of sap had come out but I have to imagine it ran today even with the windy conditions. My kids and I will tap in our 50~ bucket taps over the week and into the weekend. I also need to plumb in the new solar vacuum pump and make sure that is drawing correctly from the 3/16 runs into the new (425 gallon) collector that replaces our old IBC tote.

You have to love it to want to do all the work!

[MRFNY]

Glad to hear others are out tapping, too...we tapped in our 100 taps on tubing (this included replacing all of the drop lines and tees, WITHOUT a two-handed tool) on Saturday with the help of a small crew. That was a great time, I love sharing the experience with friends who've never done it before; they are instantly hooked.

As of first thing this morning, not a drop of sap had come out but I have to imagine it ran today even with the windy conditions. My kids and I will tap in our 50~ bucket taps over the week and into the weekend. I also need to plumb in the new solar vacuum pump and make sure that is drawing correctly from the 3/16 runs into the new (425 gallon) collector that replaces our old IBC tote.

You have to love it to want to do all the work!

It is definitely a great time when others share the experience! People don't realize how much work is involved until they come over and experience the process

Our buckets were dripping but very slowly today. I think it's going to take a few days of warm weather for them to thaw out. Wasn't much sun today either which doesn't help!

[ADK_XJ]

It is definitely a great time when others share the experience! People don't realize how much work is involved until they come over and experience the process

Our buckets were dripping but very slowly today. I think it's going to take a few days of warm weather for them to thaw out. Wasn't much sun today either which doesn't help!

Same here. I had just enough daylight to check them after getting home from work and there was a very slow but steady drop from most trees.

[MRFNY]

Same here. I had just enough daylight to check them after getting home from work and there was a very slow but steady drop from most trees.

I put in 18 more taps tonight on some big producing sugar maples that usually take a little while to start producing and they were dripping so that's a good sign. Not sure about the upcoming weather though. Questionable lows at night, then rain during a couple days.

[ADK_XJ]

I put in 18 more taps tonight on some big producing sugar maples that usually take a little while to start producing and they were dripping so that's a good sign. Not sure about the upcoming weather though. Questionable lows at night, then rain during a couple days.

Yeah, that is where the tubing setup earns it's stripes...I find it can weather (sic) the temperature fluctuations much, much better than the buckets.