Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Making Maple Syrup

I have a couple of rent houses but don't find anything but trash left behind. Some even take the light bulbs.

Dave,you learn early in your career to keep toliet paper and light bulbs in the truck. Most of the stuff is junk but sometimes they do leave something worthwhile but we have had over 500 tenants in 32 years.

During the last 15 years of its operation, the campground had been lease site only. Since there were no weekenders allowed, several campers built on covered porches, added outbuildings, etc. When it finally closed, many of the residents were older folks, and they just walked away and left everything...trailers and all. Even gave up the titles. I've scrapped two, but there's still three more left.

I pulled the four taps and containers tonight...dumped nearly four gallons of fresh sap out on the ground, as today was warmer and the sap was running quite well.

Next year we're ramping up production.....Sue, my wife has the same idea as you. Homemade syrup as gifts.

Tony,the fire dept. here is to strict but in some places you can eliminate problems one match at a time.

Sparkplug,you have lightened your bucket list while adding another thing to mine.Thanks for sharing this.I honestly never would have thought to do this and I truly love maple syrup.This seems like a really good thing to get the family out of hibernation mode and ready for spring.With a little luck I could see myself getting close to a years worth of syrup(1 gal) and never have to hear my wife say you know what that stuff costs during sunday breakfast again

Ken, I've never figured out why people so often take the toilet paper and light bulbs. And, these are really nice houses.

When a new tenant comes in, everything works and everything is clean. There are fresh rolls of TP, a new roll of paper towels, all light bulbs work and the lawn is freshly mowed and edged. I have started deducting the cost of TP and bulbs from deposits when people move out. If it needs mowing and edging, I also deduct that.

When they move in, we do a walk through and I note every potential issue. I even open the oven to show that it is clean. I tell them that I deduct cleaning expenses, if needed, from their deposit when they move. Want a cat or dog? Put up an extra $1,000 pet deposit per animal. I have learned the hard way.

Most of the renters that I have dealt with are living "hand to mouth". When they lose their job, I try to work with them. I do not enjoy conflict and I understand that these things happen.

However, when somebody tells me that their Grandmother in North Carolina died and they had to use the rent $ to go to the funeral, I go from zero to sixty in a heckuva hurry. That's when they find a new place to live or come up with the rent in 3 days. I've heard that story too many times.

And, then there is this story: The Great Canadian Syrup Heist.

Somebody's got some 'splaining to do.

Tony, that is all really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I got a "Page cannot be displayed". However, I had heard about the theft. Seems that a huge amount was stolen but not sure who did it or when it happened.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/the-great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist

Between 9,000 and 10,000 barrels.........

Black market maple syrup..... unsavory characters selling it on the street...

"Yeah I got the good stuff right here....grade A dark amber....67% sugar content..uncut. How much you need? Pint? Quart? Hittin' the club this weekend? Better take a gallon......"

SP, thanks for the reminder of my youth. I can almost taste the syrup... Great story. Best of luck next year!!

And great quick wood burning stove!!

DD1, I have to buy my own toilet paper and light bulbs for my apt. No tp when I got here and recently changed all the bulbs to the energy efficient ones. 14 @ 6-7 bucks each. I'll leave the bulbs when I move out. Maybe a courtesy roll of tp to boot!

650.00 security deposit and 300 bucks for end of lease cleaning. About 20.00/mo extra for a cat, no dogs. I was going to do an apt RAS, but that added a big chunk to my renters insurance. Nothing heavier than a CA King waterbed tho. Besides, the VFD's would probably freak out the neighbors old CRT TV.

Must be nice to lease someplace where the LL buy's your tp!

Only the first roll JKB.

I don't do an end of lease cleaning deposit. I generally have to clean it myself and take a couple of hundred bucks for that. Before move in, I do a walk through inspection with the new tenant. I get them to stand on a little step stool and insure that even the ceiling fans are dust free. Very few people clean to my standards.

I figure that I make about $5 per hour on cleaning.

Things seem a little slow around the forum these days, so I thought I might share my maple syrup adventures, 2014 style.

Last year was my first attempt as a sugarmaker, and I was hooked from the get go. I vowed to go bigger on my next attempt, so to follow through, I tapped 25 trees this morning....up from the 4 I did last year!

No sap running yet, but the forecast looks good later on this week.

You can see parts of two snow covered ponds in the background. A watched spile never drips:


Buckets with covers:


In anticipation of increased production, I decided to move the boiling operation indoors. I built a new evaporator out of a used fuel oil drum, lined it with firebrick, and installed a custom stainless boiling pan. I finally broke down and purchased the pan, having no reasonable way to work the stainless sheet myself. It nearly broke my heart, (as well as my wallet) having to buy it:

Looking good Spark. I know what you mean about having to buy something that you should be able to make yourself. But sometimes its just faster and easier to buy vs. build. Good luck this year.

Very nice looking evaporator. Classy construction.

Thanks Bill. Sap started dripping this afternoon.

Tony,

Looks great, please keep sharing your story. I can imaging the smells already!!

I read this thread last year and loved it. You have taken it to the next level with that cooker, and I am jealous.

And If I have any evidence to get rid of, I know where to bring it.

Nice work! I cut down a Sugar Maple this afternoon and it was dry as a bone.

First sap collection of 2014...25 taps yielded almost 14 gallons! I'm well pleased with that for the first warm day, and the start of a run. Forecast looks great for the next few days also.

I need 40 gallons of sap in storage before I light the fire.....keeping my fingers crossed for the weekend boil!

I'll bet you will have your 40 gallons no later than noon on Thursday, possibly tomorrow evening.

Not doing it this year, too much going on with leading Scouts.

18 gallons tonight. Some trees are really getting into the spirit of the thing......



Tradition....drinking from a sap bucket.

OK Tony, I'm officially jealous now.