The OFFICIAL MAPLE SYRUP thread

michiganfarmer · #**181** 04/01/13, 12:20 PM

I sure like reading about people making syrup. Its a lot of fun weather you are making a couple pints or a couple hundred.

We are at about 190 gallons now. We canned about 130 yesterday. The forecast looks good after this 2 day cold snap we are having.

michiganfarmer · #**182** 04/01/13, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris in MI

After a stretch of below freezing weather, we had a few nice days where my 10 taps each gave me a gallon a day. So I'm now up over a gallon of finished syrup.

However, we had three days in a row over 50, with two nights above freezing so not only did the sap flow slow down, the buds on the trees really started to swell. Looking ahead at the forecast we have an not so great looking spell coming: nights above 40 and day time highs in mid to upper 50s. I think I might pull my taps mid-week this week. If I get two gallons of finished syrup, that should be enough for our use for a year.

pull your taps then you will get some freezing nights, and you will be booting yourself in the behind. lol

**Kris in MI** · #**183** 04/01/13, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

pull your taps then you will get some freezing nights, and you will be booting yourself in the behind. lol

LOL. I'm heading to the U.P. for about 5 days, and there might be cold enough weather again for a few days when I get back. Meanwhile, if I don't pull, I'll have to rely on my 18yo dd to collect sap while I'm gone, if there is any.

stanb999 · #**184** 04/01/13, 01:32 PM

I'm a quart shy of 5 gallons so far. I may just call it done even tho the season has only just started. In the past I had only made about 2 gallons. For next year I'm going to build a sugar shack/ smoke house/ tanning shed. Triple purpose building. She who makes the big decisions has approved the construction expenses largely due to maple syrup.

It will be nice to have the wood dry and stacked long before the season. Not to mention the block stove level so one end of the pan isn't empty with the other at 1".

michiganfarmer · #**185** 04/01/13, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanb999

I'm a quart shy of 5 gallons so far. I may just call it done even tho the season has only just started. In the past I had only made about 2 gallons. For next year I'm going to build a sugar shack/ smoke house/ tanning shed. Triple purpose building.

...and the insanity begins lol

Quote:

She who makes the big decisions ......

lol

tab · #**186** 04/02/13, 08:04 AM

Lol, dh just approved a shed of sorts. He decided it has to be about three times larger than I wanted, gotta store equipment in it. Not sure that I have a good feeling about that.
Up to six gallons with three batches left to finish. It is so windy it is tough to boil. Pulled taps as sap just was not running well. This has been a very tough season, not one day where things ran to overflowing. Cannot remember another season like this one. The sap may do that after this cold snwp, maybe not as it was getting buddy. Sounds like what Kris in MI posted.
Around here, there are two sugar bushes that are located a little higher in elevation that are having super good runs. Just enough difference in night temps.
With a new calf, milkng, want to get some eggs in the incubator and the need to get seeds started, there isn't a lack of chores!

**Kris in MI** · #**187** 04/03/13, 07:47 AM

I decided that I will be pulling taps this afternoon. Buds have swollen alot, although so far the sap has not changed color. However, my 10-day weather forecast looks like this for highs/lows:

44/27, 55/33, 47/33, 55/46, 61/35, 50/38, 51/41, 54/39, 48/37, 51/35 and most days will be wind speeds in the teen; rain is predicted for about half of that spell.

Looks like I'll finish up with right around 2 gallons of syrup from 10 taps.

michiganfarmer · #**188** 04/04/13, 09:49 AM

2 gallons is pretty cool

HuskyBoris · #**189** 04/05/13, 06:25 PM

we ended up with 3 pints and wifeys cuz took double that home with him,it's a pretty cool experience as this is only the 2nd time I did it,it's a great thing to do when it's too cold to loaf around outside without a fire and cabin fever is setting in,maybe next season I will make more

BigHenTinyBrain · #**190** 04/06/13, 07:08 AM

We pulled the taps on our south slope mid-week and used them for some trees on the north side of the hill. Sap ran very slowly yesterday, and buds have started to really appear on some trees. It looks like we'll be finishing up over the weekend, but we made about 20 gallons of syrup, which is 16 more than we need to get through a year.

HappySevenFarm · #**191** 04/07/13, 08:10 AM

Preparations for next year are underway already as I got my first load of firewood for boiling already piled up by the boiler!

Forerunner · #**192** 04/07/13, 08:18 AM

Yeah....... back-to-the-land syrup makers only make syrup as a by-product.

Their real calling is woodcutter.

BigHenTinyBrain · #**193** 04/07/13, 09:47 PM

I said we were nearly done for the year but I take it back. Hubby is out there now collecting sap... almost 11pm. He's got that homesteader madness, where you can't let it go to waste! ---- the torpedoes, no sleep for anyone, gotta get ALL THE SAP!
It's running like crazy on the north side of the hill.

I get that way about tomatoes. We're going to need a lot more canning jars this summer, he's stolen everything down to my half-cup ones for syrup.

Studhauler · #**194** 04/08/13, 06:48 PM

And I still don't have any sap. Makes me wonder why I live this far north. How long can taps be in a tree before a new hole needs to be drilled?

Forerunner · #**195** 04/08/13, 07:00 PM

6-8 weeks, they say....but, as cold as you are out there, you may have a little more time than that.

Studhauler · #**196** 04/08/13, 09:22 PM

Maybe I didn't say that right, how long can a tap stay in when there is no sap running? Will the hole start to heal-up around the spile? I thought I read this somewhere, but I am not certain. I have 4 taps in for about a week now, patiently waiting

Forerunner · #**197** 04/08/13, 09:27 PM

Nope.

You read that right.

Bacterial action will seal the hole from letting sap through in 6-8 weeks, but I suspect your cooler weather might prolong that somewhat.

The tree won't close up around your spile until summer weather hits.
I've occasionally missed one come the day I pull spiles, and after being stuck in the tree for a year, the spile will still come out with a claw hammer and a little finesse.

Two years left in the hole and you have more of a challenge on your hands.

michiganfarmer · #**198** 04/09/13, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Nope.

You read that right.

Bacterial action will seal the hole from letting sap through in 6-8 weeks, but I suspect your cooler weather might prolong that somewhat.

The tree won't close up around your spile until summer weather hits.
I've occasionally missed one come the day I pull spiles, and after being stuck in the tree for a year, the spile will still come out with a claw hammer and a little finesse.

Two years left in the hole and you have more of a challenge on your hands.

there is a new spile on the market, it has a one way check ball in it. the purpose is to keep bacteria out of the taphole. They keep the holes running well near the end of the season. NOW, they wont hold the weight of a bucket so that is a downside for bucket users. They cost 45 cents each, and are replaced every year.

Studhauler · #**199** 04/15/13, 08:45 PM

FINALLY the sap started to run.

I went out Satureday afternoon and drilled some more hole for splies. I tapped the boxelder (ash leaf maple) tree in the middle of the back yard with two taps and got 3 gallons in 3 hours. From the 10 maples I have tapped, I got 2.5 gallon total that afternoon. Then Sunday we had a snowstorm.

Will the boxelder syrup taste different than the other maples? Just wondering if I can mix the boxelder and the sugar maple sap together for storage or if I should keep it separate?

Thanks

Forerunner · #**200** 04/15/13, 09:28 PM

You may have to pioneer that one, S/H....... but a teaspoon of each should tell the tale.