The Official 2025 Maple Syrup Thread

Thank you !

 

Well, I sanitized all my food grade 5 gallon buckets and lids this afternoon, to get ready for the season. I have a dozen more taps coming in the mail tomorrow. Also I pulled the trigger tonight on a pre assembled reverse osmosis kit from RO Bucket that’s rated for 8 GPH. I still have a face cord of skinny aspen/maple splits to use for boiling sap. Monday I’ll be tapping my trees. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be

 

Awesome ! That RO will make a huge difference in boil time/wood usage. How exciting!

 

I just finished getting my small 10 tap backyard operation off to the races. 6 sugar maples and 4 reds. My RO system is scheduled to arrive Wednesday so hopefully this upcoming weekend I’ll be boiling.

 

Great

 

We tapped on 1/26. We have had 2 mediocre runs. Looks like nothing for a couple weeks but we have made 10.5 gallons so far.

 

Nice looking syrup

 

Here the saying is tapped out by town meeting day. First Tuesday in March

 

Looks like lots of fun to me! I'm thinking of a plate of flapjacks swimming in butter waiting for the crowning touch......true maple syrup!

 

Still looking like a more “ normal “ winter and tap date in Mid Michigan . Froze up good for the next 10 days which is fine by me . Most of the 4 different woods is ready , just a few odds and ends . Need to work in the sugarhouse and kitchen getting that stuff ready to go .

 

Looking good to tapping here in NE Ohio the last weekend in Feb...at the earliest ! I check the long-term term forcast twice a day . Turning into an old fashioned winter and maple season here.

 

This week should be about perfect conditions. Running about 1.9% out of the tree

 

Same here. I kind of wished I waited to tap my trees. I only got about 3 gallons of sap out of 10 taps in my first couple days then winter came back in full force, shutting down all that. At least I'm ready for whenever the sap does start flowing again... late February (or into March ) I suppose I can't complain though; it's better than mosquitos and humidity.

 

Looking like a good week coming up. March is gonna be a busy month for us hoping to get what we need for the year and be done. The boy was eager to do most of the work himself, we will see what happens when it comes time for collecting. Gotta lil off the snowmobile trail with the 4wheeler and sunk it to the frame, Doh!

 

Well ....unfortunately....its looking like my Maple syrup days are repositioning behind me now. Been dealing with some ongoing health issues that have nagged me for quite a few years. All my help has gotten old...or moved out of the house and have great lives of there own ...which I'm very proud of. To keep the story short..ill leave it at that.
Ive learned that it's important to know when to start a job....and also when to finish it.
My brain has been struggling with this...but my body was talking loud and clear.
I woke up this morning...and i just knew. Everything is ready..cept for me.
I don't know if I'm gonna lock the doors and hope for something in the future..or sell everything off ...so I'll have plenty to think about.
I'm just gonna enjoy the spring...look for some deer antler sheds when i can....and sit by the woodstove...and hopefully heal up from the mental beating I've been putting myself through.
I've been a lucky man to do the things i want to try...and ill look back on this fondly.

Please..enjoy your time tapping and boiling...you never know when the last season..was your last .

Boil on !

 

Very sorry to hear this HoneyFuzz . I wish you the best with whatever it is you’re dealing with. Sounds like it was a very difficult and painful decision, giving up on something that you’re passionate about.

 

Thank you sir. I appreciate that.
Very difficult indeed. Ill get up and move forward at some point...and onto the next adventure I guess.

 

HoneyFuzz sorry to hear this; your not alone

 

...
Sure hate to read this, you put so much work into refining your operation.
But only you know when it's time to stop. Take care of yourself, brother, rest up, heal up and may new adventures await you.

 

Thank you for your kind words.
This was hard to make a post about. Admitting I can't do something anymore has been tough on me to admit...
But at the end of the day...its what had to happen .