The Official 2008 Maple Syrup Thread.

jadedhkr · #61 01/24/08, 01:45 PM

thanks, sounds easier than making candy, but I'm sure to mess it up anyhow. lol

michiganfarmer · #62 01/24/08, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadedhkr

thanks, sounds easier than making candy, but I'm sure to mess it up anyhow. lol

I think it is easier because there are no ingredients to add.

tab · #63 01/24/08, 08:47 PM

Wohoo! DH ordered a new pan for me from a welder nearby to his work! He has already made plans to alter it.....

There's a brief thaw coming so I want to try to get the area set up where I will be boiling and get the long dead elm cut up for wood so it is nearby. Those buckets are really calling my name now!

tab · #64 01/24/08, 08:52 PM

A good book, if you can find it, "Backyard Sugarin" will tell you about the basics. There are lots of others, too.

ericjeeper · #65 01/24/08, 09:05 PM

we have many maples. I am just trying to find 20 that are pretty centrally located. I am hoping that my shipment from RMG gets here tomorrow. This weekend should start the sap to flowing a bit

ericjeeper · #66 01/25/08, 10:25 AM

here is my new setup for this coming season The Official 2008 Maple Syrup Thread. - Homesteading Questions

I opted for used brackets for 2.00, the soule spiles are new for 1.99 the bags are .25 each.
I bought 20 brackets, 20 spiles, and 100 bags. I figured it was easier to order extra bags now as opposed to paying more for shipping later.
Weather this weekend is supposed to be warm during the days and cold as a well diggers bottom at night.. Sap should begin to flow.
I have to go install one window this afternoon then I might come home and go tap a few trees.
Oh the hole is not shown to hang the bracket. my bad.it is on the other side obviously

MELOC · #67 01/25/08, 10:32 AM

how do the bags empty and can they be re-used?

ericjeeper · #68 01/25/08, 11:14 AM

so they can be removed easily and replaced. The Official 2008 Maple Syrup Thread. - Homesteading Questions

I am guessing the easiest way to empty would be to just pour it out in the barrel. or bucket. The band with the bag folded over the top drops down into the wedge shown in the second photo.A neighbor sugars using this method and seems to think it is"the cats meow"

seedspreader · #69 01/25/08, 11:32 AM

Let us know how you like after season is up.

I am a bit of purist when it comes to bags... not the plastic, etc, but the fact that you have to buy something manufactured for limited use. Even using a milk jug I am cool with as it's getting another use.

MELOC · #70 01/25/08, 11:39 AM

that reminds me... i found another brand of bottled water that has a really handy 1 gallon jug..."acadia". it is a square gallon jug with a nice plastic flex handle which you can use to hang the jug on the spout. it works really good with the plastic tubing spouts.

Pelenaka · #71 01/25/08, 02:33 PM

In a few of the first posts on this thread road side trees were mentioned which I am assume means rual roads not city correct?
My neighbor next door has a huge 75 + year old maple tree about 80 feet from our city street. Trunk's gotta be about 5 feet around.
Across the street is another maple recently trimmed. Tree crew put it's age at 100 +.
Around the corner are some red maples more like 30 years old.
Within walking distance well over 50 Maples.
Mute point if I can't tap them due to accumulated pollution starting with that Model T.

~~ Pelenaka ~~

ericjeeper · #72 01/25/08, 03:55 PM

I would not tap a tree that I did not own. Tapping is not exactly healthy for a tree..Plus it will scar the tree for veneer reasons too.

Sharon · #73 01/25/08, 04:11 PM

We live a bit south for tapping trees, but are giving it a try just for fun. Tapped a red maple today, as that is what we have. This is the first time we've done this. Seems to be working so far. We have a lot of poplars and I know you can make poplar syrup, but does anyone know if you are supposed to tap a poplar or use the bark. All the info I can find on poplar syrup talks about using the bark. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

ericjeeper · #74 01/25/08, 05:10 PM

We made up the bags to the brackets and packed them carefully into the box. Then we went to the woods. and tapped 20 trees all on basically the same ridge for easy collecting.We are hoping the sap will begin to flow over the weekend.

ericjeeper · #75 01/27/08, 09:42 PM

I had some sap flow today.
Note to self.. Next year drill all holes on south side of tree.
I collected not quite two gallons of sap. The trees tapped on the south side flowed much much more than other tap locations.It cooked down and easily filled under half a pint jar.. LOL
But I have a cousin here for the weekend and it was nice to show him how it happened from start to finish process.
Hopefully the sap will flow well tomorrow.. supposed to hit the 50s

michiganfarmer · #76 01/28/08, 05:50 AM

http://www.mi-maplesyrup.com/Contents.htm

THis is pretty long, but it answers a lot of questions, and in one sceen it shows the flues in a flue pan really well.

There are two parts. Near the end of the second part they show store shelves with containers of syrup, and one of the close ups shows "Olds Brothers Maple syrup". Those are 4 brothers 2 miles from me who milk cows, raise beef cattle, sell firewood, sell sweet corn, and make about 2500 gallons of maple syrup per year. I was shocked to see their name in this video,lol.

Happy7Farm · #77 01/28/08, 06:08 AM

The sap was flowing some here in Kentucky on yesterday. We collected 7 gallons at about 6:00pm and some were still dripping pretty good. The low last night was about 25 and the high today is supposed to be sunny and 57!!!!! Wow! I do think we will be making syrup tonight!

We are going to be tapping our neighbors trees today. (should of did it yesterday!) I made a deal with him to split the syrup 50/50 that we get off his land. I'm not sure how many trees he has but I do know of at least two that are 3 tap trees and about 5 other single tap ones.

michiganfarmer · #78 01/28/08, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericjeeper

I had some sap flow today.
Note to self.. Next year drill all holes on south side of tree.
I collected not quite two gallons of sap. The trees tapped on the south side flowed much much more than other tap locations.It cooked down and easily filled under half a pint jar.. LOL
But I have a cousin here for the weekend and it was nice to show him how it happened from start to finish process.
Hopefully the sap will flow well tomorrow.. supposed to hit the 50s

WHEW, Im envious.

Im getting the bug!

Ive been collecting kiln dried lumber scraps from the cabinet shops that I shapren saw blades for. I add these kiln dried scraps to the firewood when Im boiling. It seriousely increases the boil!

Happy7Farm · #79 01/28/08, 06:24 AM

Talking about firewood, about a mile down the road from us there is a pallet mill. Once a week he gets a tractor trailer full of old pallets he just burns in his field. I kindly help him out by taking a 16 ft. trailer full. Talk about a hot fire!!

michiganfarmer · #80 01/28/08, 06:30 AM

IM going to start spending weekends in the woods fixing tubing.

I want to buy an R.O. this year.