The Official 2022 Maple Syrup Thread !

I don't have any, but I've noticed buckets hanging on trees around here. The warmth of last week must have started the sap flowing.

 

I haven’t noticed any buckets or signs around here yet. It’s early but the week after looks like prime sugar weather starting Friday, so I’m going to put out my taps.

 

Yeah I probably wouldn’t do it either if the taps weren’t a couple hundred yards from my evaporator and easy access. I’m in the same boat as you lots to do, and usually only me to do it.

Heck I’ve been saying for close to a decade I’d like to have honey bees, but you need to be ready for the bees just after syrup and right when tree work starts to ramp up. Oh well maybe someday when I’m retireded

 

I hear you guys loud and clear ! I had to give up the honey bees...for various reasons...but mostly no time. Right as maple is up n going...the bees needs more attention... then all outer apple trees need pruned....the never ending list and how to prioritize it all. Still not sure if I'm doing it right..but I sleep good at night lol !

 

I take it you do not normally tap in 3-4 feet of snow
Please more pics

we did in Maple Corners. Yes a real place

 

-13 here this morning. Guessing it'll be awhile before we poke any trees here..

 

Starting to get ready here. 2 days of warm should finish off the snow to a reasonable depth ! Getting sap sack holders out and organized. We have been adding galvanized holders and phazing out the original pvc holders. They worked great...but prefer the ease of use with the new ones. Just hate the cost
Mostly just going through everything..and watching ice road truckers lol
Feel free to look around at all the rigging and weird things done to accomplish the goals. It's part of the sugar makers code to make do !
I personally think it's fun thinking outside the box !

 

We started with nothing fancy. Slowly upgrading every year .
One of those things is a new little stainless steel table for bottling and clean work. I thought taking the plastic sticky stuff off would be fun. I was wrong!

 

We have this whole shack running off of a little Harbor Freight Predator inverter generator...at idle ! Feeding back though a HD outdoor plug . Running all LED lights....TV uses nothing. The firebox blower is on a variable speed switch...bottler is off of propane...Heater fan...but runs on Kero. Still trying to figure out how to use one fuel for everything! Maybe when we get electric power ran back here...that will offer up the correct solution to that efficiency issue !

 

I liked everything in you pictures . How does your TV hold up in the high moisture setting ? I completed tapping yesterday morning , 120 taps total with storage capacity of 400 gallon. If sap runs this week like I think it will I am probably looking at some long hours at the evaporator.

 

Hey thanks!!!!
Sounds like you are up and running..exciting ! Think we will tap Saturday.....hopefully the snow will squish down to an appropriate level by then !
The TV has been great. Year number 4 with it sitting there....no problems. Our steam goes up and out pretty good..we have a big cupola with windows we can adjust. So we don't ever have a moisture problem..usually.

 

If I tried to watch tv while boiling I’d probably get involved in the tv show & scorch the pan.

 

We have gotten a routine. When it's tense and we are drawing off alot...we shut it off. But those days where there's not alot of steam....and there's alot of time between draw offs.. we can half watch alil...or at least listen.

We only started to scorch one time when we first started in this hobby. We had company drop by to see how we did it . Started talking and not paying attention. Before we knew it...a horrible smell could be smelled. I immediately hit the inlet valve wide open cuz I noticed our level in the pans were too far down !
Next day...we took a look. 2 little spots by the draw off. We cleaned them....and knock on wood....never have had an issue since !

 

Gathered 40 gallon from 56 taps and 60 gallon from 64 taps ,the sap didn't run quite as good as I thought it would. The forecast is for cold temps next couple of days ,then we might get a run Sunday. I hope you gentlemen are able to get tapped this weekend.

 

That's a great setup !!!!!!!! Looks like your up and going !!!
By the way.....that place is too clean !!!!

 

Sounds good ! Hoping to tap Sunday here !
Snow looks to be down to a gatherable level lol !

 

Looks like that hood works fantastic !
We appear to have about the same copper pipe inlet !! Great minds think alike !