Finally a Break!!!!

I have been so busy this past week after getting our taps out on the 11 and 12 of March. Two big sap runs and have cooked 3 times, and processed 20,000 gallons of sap thus far.  The forecast is looking good for the end of this week and weekend and then after April 1st…not so good.  The season may be over after next Sunday.  Snow is predicted in the northern part of the state and in the St. Croix Valley for Thursday,  Friday, which is always good news.  I definitely needed a break though to catch up on some sleep!

Enjoy the time off tomorrow and Wednesday with the rain coming in.  We need the moisture and will reduce the fire hazard after those 2 windy days.

Take good care. Be safe,

Don

Tapped 750 today

Put out 750 buckets today, most taps were dripping but not running, Should finish tapping tomorrow with 1250 planned for tomorrow. Fortunately we will have two tapping crews tomorrow.  Reports of sugar content were low 1.9 to 2.3, but now the sugar is increasing.  had a report of 4.5 north of Taylors Falls, yesterday.  Too windy today to get much sap.

I will be away from the store tomorrow till 4 pm.  Feel free to leave a message for supplies that you need,  I plan to be in the store all day Saturday and Sunday afternnoon,

I did get a couple of RObucket units in this week.  Call if interested, these go fast.

Thanks,

Don

Tapping

We will begin tapping Thursday March 11 and here is my experience and thoughts on this:

Last years 2020 temperature patterns look similar to this year.  We tapped in  2020 on March 5 with perfect weather for sap runs 40s day and 20s night , followed by a warm spell of 4 nights  with  night time temperatures above 40. The sap ran a little and we collected about 1000 gallons of sap(minimum need to start the Reverse Osmosis)  from 2500 pails.  Since it was the first boil, we only sweetened the pans and made no syrup.  The warm spell hit and after four days of 40’s and 60s , the “sweetened pan had soured” and the concentrated sap in the evaporator turned stringy like.

Unfortunately I attempted to cook it anyway and it boiled over like Mount Vesuvius.  what a mess, do not try and boil that stuff, bad news

This years temperature pattern is very similar. No freezing nights after this Sunday and temps in the 50s possibly a 60, until nex Thurs March 11, when temperatures go back to normal with highs in the mid thirties and forties and lows in the twenties.  Perfect temps and the snow will be gone!!

Maple Supplies are running low, so if you need something let me know soon.  I have plenty of filters, taps, buckets, hydrometers, quart, 12 and 8 oz glass.   Caps are in short supply so, I am unable to sell large quantities (>24) extra caps with your order of glass.  I will have some ROBucket units in this week. Still waiting for CDL Nano mini RO units as well.

Cheers!

Don