Thanks Tony! You should consider writing an article (in your spare time ) for PBM on Sugaring. I see articles all the time that are not strictly pond related but tend more towards land/wildlife management and I suspect they are popular with subscribers.
Vids showing our first attempt at using tubing for sap collection.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
SWEET !!! No pun intended. Hope to get some good dirt on ya someday so I can blackmail ya out of a pint or so. I know....it's a very long list. If ya had a way ta keep em warm, I'd smuggle some Tilapia to ya on my way home in April.
Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
What do you know it actually works. Almost 18" of vacuum generated by gravity, no mechanical assistance. And that's with a leak that is substantial enough I heard it hissing as I walked up.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
It's plumbed on it's own line, and never contacts the sap. But you're correct, things are tightening up, and rightfully so, where food grade items are concerned.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
It's plumbed on it's own line, and never contacts the sap. But you're correct, things are tightening up, and rightfully so, where food grade items are concerned.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
We broke down and hung a few buckets this morning. Life is so hectic right now, that we had almost convinced ourselves to take a year off from syrup production and concentrate on the new job and the new home. But, the allure was too strong. Plus, our experimental tubing is working very well, so we needed to decide if we were going to dump sap, or try and boil.
In the end we're going with a limited run. 15 maples on tubing, 18 maples on buckets, 17 walnuts on buckets. It hurts seeing all those maples without spiles, but we're stretched pretty thin. Probably need to take tomorrow off and boil sap, as it's running very well right now.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
And then there was an incident....a weld cracked, allowing the sides to pull away from the pan support rail....blowtorch up the side of the pan, and the added source of O2 turned the pan rail cherry in just a few seconds. Full shutdown.
The repair is simple, once the firebox cools. But to be honest, my heart just isn't in it this year. We have so much going on right now, that my wife and I have made the decision to suspend operations for the season. It sucks, as we are going to pull taps and buckets that we just hung yesterday, but this is an endeavor that you need to commit yourself fully too, for 4-5 weeks. And right now our focus is to get the remodel project done, and get moved in. We're disappointed, and will undoubtedly disappoint others who were looking forward to getting syrup, but with the new job, apprenticeship obligations, and the house ordeal, something has to give.
Hopefully we will be moved in, and ready to hit it hard next season.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
Sparky do ya have any friends/neighbors that ya can trust that might supply the labor for a percentage? I know it's hard ta let anyone use your property and or equipment. It's a shame to not utilize all of the tubing collecting already up and going.
Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
Bob, I don't know of anyone who would be willing to put in the time and effort. I agree though, it's a shame.
Thanks CMM...we're pinning our hopes on next year also.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
A long time ago when I read how many gallons of sap it took to make 1 gallon of syrup I knew I'd never do it. I can understand there being so few folks that would put in the effort. Next yr will be here all too soon.
Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
Tony, I think you have this a little backwards. YOU tried and simply were overwhelmed by events. That is not a failure, it was a great try!! So you did not hit it out of the park AGAIN. You will, and when you do, it will be even sweeter.
For me, I would rather try and fail this time then to never try at all. YOU will be back when your obligations subside some. That much I know.
Just so you know, it is because of people like you that we are learning about bees. I am looking forward to having several hives on the property this year. Hope we do as well as you do with your syrup.
Thanks for the inspiration!!
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
Well we are boiling now in Ontario. Few pictures of grandpa adding more sap.
This old hair dryer is the blower to really get her to boil good.
We estimate to have about 9 gallons in the first batch.
100 trees total with 45 on buckets still the rest on lines. Everything runs into the bottom tote then pumped into the second tote on top when we have more then the bottom tote can hold. Then gravity into cooking pan. With the cool nights lately no need for the second tote yet so just pumping into the evaporator pan.
Outstanding!!!! Nice family effort....it's addictive isn't it!
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.