It’s Sugarin’ Time!

Your gonna like the r.o. I built mine 6 years ago and just kept expanding it as I added more taps . I remove 240 gph of permeate ( water ) that I don’t have to boil so that’s a huge time and energy savings . I always save about 1000 gallons of permeate to use around the house . It’s great for power washing kubota’s, vehicles , ect..... never any streaks left over .
I have a couple farmers who also come over and get the permeate to use for the same purpose . Better than dumping 1000’s of gallons on the ground !

 

My buddy and I have been setting up a new woods for this upcoming season. Should be around 200 taps. 2 3/4” main lines and then 10 runs of 3/16” tubing. Over a mile of tubing. It’s been a good amount of work, but should have some nice production. Put in the saddles on Sunday, working on making drops now.

My buddy has his 2.5’x10’ evaporator all ready to go. Should have about 400 taps total, 350 on tubing and 50 on bags.

 

As a small hobby producer without a nice arch, that sounds amazing

 

Making drops is time consuming.

 

Yes it is AJtree88. The cost of pre-made drops has come down quite a bit . I just order them made up and 30” drop with spout and tee was .65 cents .

 

I decided I cannot wait for sap to try this out and find it too slow. I ordered 2 new pressure vessels and membranes today. I’ll get it together and wait for sap!

 

Just finished cutting in all my new drops and spouts on Wednesday. Tanks are scrubbed. Buckets are ready to go. Working a half day today and coming home to tap for the afternoon. Weather looks good for what I hope is a really great run.

On another note - Smoky Lake really came through with a hood for us. In one week they already have one made and on its way on their private freight carrier. I was so shocked when the driver called me yesterday afternoon and said he’d be in my area this Saturday afternoon. Can’t wait to get up and running with it!

 

Wow, that was fast. Great news. Can't wait to try some of your syrup.

 

Yes sir! Really unbelievable turn around time. Not sure how they did it. When we ordered our boiling pan from them last year it took over a month before it got here. They use a private truck driver with a 53’ trailer and I guess it makes the most sense for them to fill the truck before he heads out (?). Must have caught it just in time. Maybe I was one of the last orders on? Not sure. Can’t wait to see what else he has on that trailer this year - last year it was LOADED with amazing maple equipment. Just a neat sight.

I’ll let you know when the first round of bottling and labeling is done and get one sent down to you! Our thanks for you continuing to support us on the farm Facebook page. You were one of the first to follow the page. I learned quickly last year just how important social media is for business. The traffic we get from Facebook alone is amazing. Amazes me too how much interest we get from people no where near us. Lot of love coming from down south. Again, appreciate the support!!

 

Hey, we're a lovable bunch...lol...
You're quite welcome. It's an inspiration to see y'all wanting to have land and a farm and work it like you do. I've never mushrooms grown lome that. I'm enjoying the journey with you. Best wishes and good luck in all you do.

 

Got this high up hanger to deal with today. Long dead maple tree. Not sure I’ll get any wood out of it. It’s barely hanging on where it got caught up. Just seems like an accident waiting to happen. No way to get it down without it hitting the line under it. Might cut the line, tie off the ends and then reconnect them with a fitting afterwords. I’ll try getting a rope around the hanger and then giving it a pull with the ATV to get it down. No way I’m standing anywhere near that tree with a saw.

 

Looks like FUN...not...be careful. Pulling down is probably the safest. Hope you don't tear up your lines.

 

Woodsman , It looks like those are just your lateral lines in the pic . I use the slide fittings on both ends of the laterals , very easy to just disconnect lay on the ground and then let that tree fall on the line . Never had any problems felling trees that way with the lines in the way .

 

Looks like a dammed if you do, dammed if you don't. I think I'd cross my fingers until the lines could come down.

 

Got a couple out today thanks to my helper. More after work! Got to get some done before helper #2 shows up in a week or so!

 

Starting him young! Get the boy addicted to sugaring and everything nature early on and you’ll never have to worry about him asking for video games or a TV. I’m glad you’re tapping this year even with the new little one about due.

 

Started tapping yesterday and kept going today. Taking a gamble on the weather this early in February but right now the sap is running hard and fast! Looking to fire up the arch before sunrise on Wednesday morning.

Few pictures from yesterday and today.

 

What does the gauge tell you?

 

It’s a vacuum gauge for 3/16th tubing. In 3/16th diameter maple tubing, the smaller size (compared to the more commonly used 5/16th tubing) creates a natural vacuum in the line provided you have an elevation drop. The greater the elevation drop between the top end of the line and the bottom, the greater the potential for creating a natural vacuum. The gauge in the picture is for a line that drops over 70 feet from top to bottom. I believe 50 feet is the target for pulling 30 in Hg. After I completed tapping today I went back and checked all my 3/ 16th lines to make sure everything was running smoothly. Had to find and fix a leak in one line (squirrel chew that I missed when walking the lines to look for damage). I have a couple lines below the sugar house with a much less dramatic elevation difference. 25 feet between top and bottom on one like and I see natural vacuum cut in half to about 15 in Hg (compared to the 70 foot drop line). The vacuum helps get the sap down the hill faster and helps you collect more from each tap over time. A lot of producers with larger set ups run electric vacuums to achieve vacuum in their lines.

 

Thanks, great info. Using nature, I like that.