2013 Maple Syrup thread

[maple1]

We're just getting going here. Finished tapping yesterday morning, started boiling in the afternoon.

 

[maple1]

We're drowning in the friggin' stuff, ugghh...

 

[begreen]

We're drowning in the friggin' stuff, ugghh...

I would be most pleased to extend a hand to a drowning man.

 

[pen]

Pulled our taps yestersday and finished the last of what we are going to do today. Made 9 gallons of syrup in all.

 

[Hawkeye]

Wow it seems here we haven't even gotten started. The sap flowed well last Friday but now it's cold again and no sap - not a good year for us here.

I'm hoping it picks up next week - it's getting late. Last year I was pulling taps at this time.

 

[Bocefus78]

It looks like I'm done for the year as well. I only got 15 gallons of sap all week from 20 taps. I think I started too late. This being my first year, lots was learned...including that I need a larger evap pan to get any sort of production.

 

[pen]

It looks like I'm done for the year as well. I only got 15 gallons of sap all week from 20 taps. I think I started too late. This being my first year, lots was learned...including that I need a larger evap pan to get any sort of production.

If the weather has been cold, then you may just need to wait it out. I can be frustrating sometimes.

Regardless, the run shouldn't be over until you get some really warm weather and/or buds starting on the trees.

good luck!

pen

 

[Bocefus78]

If the weather has been cold, then you may just need to wait it out. I can be frustrating sometimes.

Regardless, the run shouldn't be over until you get some really warm weather and/or buds starting on the trees.

good luck!

pen

I'm starting to see little tiny buds on branch tips. My syrup is very dark too. From everything I've read, thats quittin time, right?

 

[pen]

I'm starting to see little tiny buds on branch tips. My syrup is very dark too. From everything I've read, thats quittin time, right?

Yep, sounds it sadly.

It's been a while since I had any taps out that late, but I almost seem to think I remember seeing little milky or white spots in the sap once it started getting too late.

pen

 

[maple1]

If your sap is milky, that is definitely not good and it's time to quit. But if not, and you're still getting maple taste, you could try staying at it. Nothing wrong with darker syrup, just has a stronger maple taste - and it can be hard to judge by appearance of tree buds. We finally got caught up to our sap, now it's winter here again, -24c windchill this morning with a couple of snowstorms in the forecast.

BTW, that one last run of sap that you decide is not good enough for boiling to syrup makes a decent pan cleaner if you fill your boiling pans with it up a bit higher than the dirt/sediment/scale, and let it sit for a couple weeks in a shaded place. It'll get to not smelling too good, but should loosen the hard stuff up.

 

[maple1]

Anybody else still at it?

We haven't seen a year looking like this since 1994 - no apparent end in sight yet in the 14 day forecast either. The wood pile is taking an awful kicking, gonna have to start scrounging to finish I think.

 

[begreen]

I prefer the darker syrup with the stronger taste. It's great for baking. Good to hear that you are having an excellent year for syrup. Maybe that will help lower the price for us on the left coast. It has been very pricey lately.

 

[PapaDave]

Went out for a couple days last week and helped collect sap at a friends place. They were expecting a good day Sat., and Friday wasn't too bad. I think they got about 250 gallons of sap on Friday from 3 collections.

 

[JustWood]

Couple operations just down the road from me. One is about 30 gallon/hr and the other is 10. I've seen the 30 gallon operation crack the tap and let the syrup run out the tail end for hours when he's got good draft and dry wood. He has his own pancake house right off the sugar house and does pancake breakfast/lunch all weekend long for about 8 weekends this time of year.