February Journal THE COUNTDOWN!!!

[C.Wilcox]

She who must be obeyed tells me keep adding taps so we can make enough money for her to quit her job. Still trying to figure that one out. Work harder so she can work less hmmmm.

She knows that you're addicted to this "hobby" and you're going to work harder whether she works or not so why not go for the gold? Sounds like a pretty smart woman. Given the likelihood that you're going to keep on growing until you've tapped every tree between you and KenWP she's nearly guaranteed to retire early.

[Farmboy]

I got my evaporator in position and level. Tomorrow I will brick it and finish tapping. Hopefully I will boil for the first time Friday. I want the BIGSAP to hold off till then. I still need to set up a block arch for my other pan outside to help with the BIGSAP runs.

[KenWP]

I finally got time to talk to my freind with all the trees. He wants to tap 200 of them he hopes and have me boil down the syrup. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I have to figure out how to haul the sap home for one thing. If by chance we had a good day thats like 4000 lbs of sap a guy would have to haul. I am going to have to think this one thru a bit better.
The weather here is finally warming up a bit. I started to gather everything up so I can wash it. Thats a chore in its self as I haven't got runing water out side untill late spring. Then I can actually have hot water from the water tempering system for the green house. So its got to be hauled from inside to wash things. owell so be it.

[vtsnowedin]

I spent the afternoon running some laterals. The end forks I bought today(DGYEF from Leader) are supposed to have one side with a hole through the barbs so you can add a double tap if the end tree is big enough but these look like there is a hole there but if you check by blowing on the end it doesn't go all the way through. I'll have to check when I'm tapping to make sure I don't have any taps dead ended. P.I.T.A. Now I'm guessing as to weather the ones I was using before are all right. Quess I'll have to check all double tap end trees. Not a big number in my case but I've got enough left to do and what about someone that just ran out a new thousand taps or so.

[Acer]

20/40 for the next 5 days.
looks like go time.

[Dan W]

How can you guys in New England possibly have sap before us in southern PA? Doesn't look like anything for the next 10 days here anyway. Wierd weather this year and I will probalby be collecting with snowshoes at the beginning. I am jealous!!

[jrthe3]

we all know what the weather down here is doing what is it looking like up north of the border after watching the olympics it not looking good in canada how is it up there

[dano2840]

tapping tomorrow! should be tapped by sunday, still alot to do,

[Dill]

This is sucks, its 43 degrees and sunny, and I'm stuck in the office doing nothing. Everyone else is skiing. I still haven't got the head tank hooked up for a test boil. My father did just call and tell me that the sap is really flowing, he just gathered all the buckets, probably 100 gallons of sap so far waiting down at his place, maybe friday evening I can boil.

[mapleack]

I just came in from tapping, got 316 in today. The snow is a real PITA for tapping. I'll have help tomorrow so it should go faster. Still 600 to go. Also have to hook up releasers, finish plumbing vacuum pump, wash tanks, put up stack, wash pans, etc. NOT ENOUGH TIME! BIGSAP will be here soon!