In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

It’s Sugarin’ Time!

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by Woodsman, Feb 3, 2019.

  1. Flamestead

    Flamestead

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2013
    Messages:
    2,145
    Likes Received:
    10,847
    Location:
    Windsor County, VT
    Relatives in Maine, getting ready last weekend.
    C121103A-706E-4010-A130-0501601C7D9E.jpeg
     
  2. CtRider

    CtRider

    Joined:
    May 7, 2016
    Messages:
    684
    Likes Received:
    3,940
    Location:
    Ct
    Nice clarity on this batch with a new finishing filter.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,686
    Likes Received:
    9,530
    Location:
    Ohio
    Had a rough day Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.



    It did get better.

     
    Chazsbetterhalf, Need2Saw and billb3 like this.
  4. Flamestead

    Flamestead

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2013
    Messages:
    2,145
    Likes Received:
    10,847
    Location:
    Windsor County, VT
    Quite a sinking feeling when you get that first whiff of smell. I assume you are running oil, so the fire was able to be killed immediately? 20 brix??! I’ve never run a high brix rig - I’d probably have someone stationed at each corner, and would still be sweating! Very glad to hear it was just bad, not awful.
     
    Chazsbetterhalf and T.Jeff Veal like this.
  5. Woodwidow

    Woodwidow

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    13,901
    Likes Received:
    86,706
    Location:
    Port McNeill, BC Northern Vancouver Island
    Casper If you would have had to replace the flue pan, how long would you have been down for? How much syrup/sap would you have lost? Glad things worked out well for you.
     
  6. billb3

    billb3

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Messages:
    10,136
    Likes Received:
    52,216
    Location:
    SE Mass
    no bueno is spanish, very poor spanish, insulting, you-might-get-slapped by someone who is latino spanish. Or at least laughed at. Something you'd only hear in America spanish. American slang on the level of Valley-girl-speak. It's actually no esta bien, or no es bien, or something like that.
     
  7. Deer Meadow Farm

    Deer Meadow Farm

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2015
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    3,427
    Location:
    Warren, MA
    Ran the bucket RO overnight. Went from 1.7 to 3.7 sugar content.
     
  8. Need2Saw

    Need2Saw

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2018
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    485
    Location:
    Central Michigan
    Less boiling is good! What size ro and how many gallons of sap?
     
    Chazsbetterhalf and T.Jeff Veal like this.
  9. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,686
    Likes Received:
    9,530
    Location:
    Ohio
    that's the joke. ;)
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2020
  10. Deer Meadow Farm

    Deer Meadow Farm

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2015
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    3,427
    Location:
    Warren, MA
    It's a bucket RO (But I have it mounted to a board). It was the largest they made last year but they have a bigger one now. We had about 635 gallons to start.
     
  11. Need2Saw

    Need2Saw

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2018
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    485
    Location:
    Central Michigan
    Dropping 300 gallons through the ro is awesome! That saved a lot of boiling time!
     
  12. Need2Saw

    Need2Saw

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2018
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    485
    Location:
    Central Michigan
    Another batch done tonight, it’s been a good start to my second season.
    22 taps- 2.5 gallons so far.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2017
    Messages:
    5,325
    Likes Received:
    38,827
    Location:
    Pelham NH
    Sap is running pretty good today! I had collected 3 gallons in 9 days so far. I got 5 gallons in the past 24 hours.

    So I still have next to nothing :rofl: :lol:
     
  14. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,686
    Likes Received:
    9,530
    Location:
    Ohio
    It is running hard since yesterday.

    Hauled 5000 gallons at 10:30 and brought it down to an average of 49% capacity. 2 hrs later, it's up 4.5%

    Screenshot_20200303-122547_Chrome.jpg

    An hour later? Another 3%

    Screenshot_20200303-132859_Chrome.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2020
  15. Hoytman

    Hoytman

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2018
    Messages:
    1,254
    Likes Received:
    2,790
    Location:
    OH
    I would love to learn how to do this. Just bought my grandparents 4 acres. Never counted the maples in the woods up the hill, but there’s at least 4-5 as we have a lot of oak and beach. My neighbor has another 10-15 acres he’d probably let me tap for some syrup. I’m sure there’s at least a dozen sugar maples up there. To tell the truth I’m not sure how many are up there. I’d be happy to get a couple gallon to start off.

    Have no idea how to start. Been going to the local state park the last few years during tapping season. We enjoy the walk-thru’s and visiting the sugar shack.

    I have a nice shed that’s 12’x32’ and half of that is an open shed with gabled roof. All my taps could run downhill with about 30’-75’ of fall if I ran tubes. Won’t do it this year of course since it’s late, but would love to be ready next year even if just a few trees.
     
  16. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,686
    Likes Received:
    9,530
    Location:
    Ohio
    Approximately, where in Ohio are you? Maple Madness this weekend might be worth your while by visiting different operations and getting tours. Come to Bissells in Jefferson on Sat between 10 and 3 and get in on a tour with Nate.

    In high school I helped my friend's dad boil with their free gas from an oil well. The oil tanks have a burner in them to heat oil prior to pumping out for shipping. The pumper guy only use the burner every few months and sometimes maybe 2 times a years. We borrowed it to evaporate sap for a few days.

    Other folks use wood or oil. Some use propane. The funny thing to me is that it's totally opposite of a dairy or grain farm. Those type of farming you start out with little calfs or little seeds hoping to make them bigger. Syrup is opposite, you start out with a lot and make it little. I was raised on a dairy, we grew our our crops. It is a strange feeling going the other way during harvest.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2020
  17. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2017
    Messages:
    5,325
    Likes Received:
    38,827
    Location:
    Pelham NH
    I got everything set up this morning. Not perfectly level since the ground was frozen, but good enough for today. We'll see how it works out!

    20200308_141337.jpg
     
  18. fishingpol

    fishingpol

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    6,502
    Likes Received:
    39,641
    Location:
    Merrimack Valley, Ma.
    This is such a great thread. My dad tapped a tree back when I was a young kid and for some reason I always thought about this myself.

    We have enough trees at this new place and I set out 4 pails about 4 weeks ago. I had cut a few sugar maple limbs off and saw the sap run out and figured it was time. On good days I was ending up with 5 gallons on 4 taps. One tree near the barn was a darker color. The first week or so was more of a vanilla taste than maple. Last boil was a little darker and more maple flavor. There is a lot to learn, and I was boiling down on the stove top with hood vented right outside. I didn't really filter the product, so there is a little niter, but it is just for us and family.

    The process was fun and my son was running to the sap buckets every day after school to see how they produced. He learned a lot how temperature affect the run.

    The best thing I did was pre-heating the sap on the stove top in the back while full boiling in the front. It cut the boil time down quite a bit. I could fill the boil pan and set a timer for 30 minutes and go back for a top off. I was doing trim carpentry and painting the mudroom nearby, so it worked out doing two things at once. I may set the taps out for a few days to see how the later season product is. The 10 day weather doesn't really have below freezing temps around here. I think buds will be popping before long.

    Hats off to you big production guys. You are truly dedicated and known your stuff. I may look at building a small shack for next year. Here are a few pictures. All the syrup was put in clean, hot mason jars and the lids pulled down on all of them. They should have a bit of shelf life in them.

    2020-02-01 13.31.23.jpg
    20200212_154344.jpg

    My wife was rolling her eyes every time I was boiling. Good times though and a fun little hobby for end of winter. A little shack with a Jotul 602 would be fantastic out back.
     
  19. Woodsman

    Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    Messages:
    440
    Likes Received:
    3,789
    Location:
    NW CT
    That’s the attitude to have going in! And a full year ahead of you to learn and plan and get ready. Sounds like a good situation to start from as far as the land and shed. Good place to start would be to check the maples you have and measure them. Make sure they’re at least 12” DBH for tapping.
     
  20. Woodsman

    Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    Messages:
    440
    Likes Received:
    3,789
    Location:
    NW CT
    Sap flow has been great the past week. This week’s work boiled down to a beautiful Dark/Robust this afternoon. First time I’ve ever broken out of the amber territory. My trees just don’t give me sap that gives a dark or very dark grade. Pretty excited about it.

    48B3D7CF-6011-4E01-993E-4999EC948DF0.jpeg

    Pretty textbook color grade progression this year, too. Had three weeks of golden/delicate, two weeks of amber and now the dark this week.

    10E28019-3524-43D7-9401-6C91393DC879.jpeg