Got the taps in.

[bakerhillpins]

    No not those taps. Maple taps.  

Only run 9 taps in the trees around the house but we end up with about 3gal of syrup each year. After we hand a bunch out to family/friends we usually have just enough to last a year. One of these days I will get a real evap pan but for now we just boil it outside on a gas turkey fryer. Guy I work with works with his brother in law who has a huge operation and a few others in the neighborhood have a bit larger operations. Later in the season we usually head over to a friends place for a boiling party. Set the kids up in the sugarhouse watching Bugs Bunny Road Runner cartoons and the parents drink beer and boil sap and share in the sugar on snow.

Its fun and you end up with something sweet at the end.

[skip68]

Ooooooh yeah, real maple syrup.   

[Fred]

Do you do that in the winter time when the trees are dormant? Or are you just getting preparations underway for Spring?
When does the sap start flowing?

[bakerhillpins]

Don't get things ready early but rather wait for "sugaring" season. Started early this year as some businesses actually tapped over 3 weeks ago. It then slowed down as winter came back for a couple weeks. As soon as the days are sunny and warm and the nights still freeze the sap is flowing. Sun during the day and clear nights make the best flow. It's actually the freeze/thaw cycle that "runs" the sap. The sap is flowing now. In fact it starts running out of the tap hole the second you drill it. The first year I did it that was completely unexpected.

Here is a short article on maple production:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/pdfpubs/7036.pdf

[Tilar]

Here is a short article on maple production:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/pdfpubs/7036.pdf

That's interesting... There are a lot of maple trees around here and I've thought about trying it.

[Fred]

That was very interesting reading, thanks. 

[bakerhillpins]

Here is a short article on maple production:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/pdfpubs/7036.pdf

That's interesting... There are a lot of maple trees around here and I've thought about trying it.

The first year we tried it we put 2 taps into one of our biggest trees out back and just boiled it on the stove top. It was fun but was kinda a hassle as it filled the house with lots of moisture and chewed up space on the stove top. It's a good way to see if you want to go overboard and start running more taps though. It can be a lot of work since you need to move through roughly 40gal for each gal of syrup. So lots of collecting/storing/boiling. We boil up a bunch and then finish it inside on the stove top where we can monitor the last bit of water boil off. As the sugar content keeps going up so does the boiling temp and the water boils off faster. If you are not careful you can burn it to the bottom of the pan fast. Of course the more you have in the pot the less likely you are to over boil and if you do you can always add tap water and try again.

The kids enjoy helping out to so it's a family activity to boot.
 

[BananaDan]

Nice BH, that's awesome that you and your family make syrup.  I just ran out of my supply last month.  I can't wait until we head up to Vermont in 6 weeks to stock up.  The producer I buy from makes a syrup he calls commercial grade, which is darker and stronger than Grade B (and cheaper!).

[bakerhillpins]

We tend to end up with the Grade B stuff because our batch process boils the sap longer and results in a more caramelized and stronger tasting syrup. Though we do try to make a few smaller batches early on so we get a little of the fancy grade stuff. Most of our family prefers the grade B stuff as well.  If you haven't tried the maple candy you should. Yummy!   

[69_500]

Not sure how it all works up there, but here in Indiana I am told that the Grade A or clearer syrup is from the earlier batches, and that the later the season goes on you wind up with more of the Grade B which is the darker and sweeter. Only have about 15 trees in the yard that we can tap but we have not tapped any yet. Neighbor has 109 taps out this year though.

[BananaDan]

BH,
Yes, I prefer the darker syrups by far.  I'll usually buy Grade A Dark only if they're out of Grade B and the Commercial grade stuff.  I've tried just about every Maple product you can imagine, I've been a part-time Vermonter since I was 5 years old when we started vacationing up there.  When I get blood work done, they check my blood sugar levels and my maple sugar levels.   

We always plan the weekend we open our house up for the season the same weekend as VT Maple Fest.  Check it out.  I don't know how far of a trip it would be from wherever you are in Maine, but if you're a Maple fan this is a good party to be at.  You can eat Maple everything.  Its good fun for the kids and its a good way to support the local farmers and economy.

Vermont Maple Festival - St. Albans, VT
http://www.vtmaplefestival.org/

[bakerhillpins]

Not sure how it all works up there, but here in Indiana I am told that the Grade A or clearer syrup is from the earlier batches, and that the later the season goes on you wind up with more of the Grade B which is the darker and sweeter. Only have about 15 trees in the yard that we can tap but we have not tapped any yet. Neighbor has 109 taps out this year though.

Yep, that's the same thing I understand. I though I read somewhere, but can no longer find, that batching it (boiling the same pot for the 48hrs or more and just adding new sap) resulted in darker syrup. In big production setups the sap is fed in one end of the pan and by the time it flows out the other it is finished so it "cooks" for a much shorter period.  Anyhow, In general if you have fewer taps and batch boil then you are mixing early and late season sap into the same batch and thus end up with darker.

Thanks for bringing that up. Wish I could recall where I got that from? 

[bakerhillpins]

We always plan the weekend we open our house up for the season the same weekend as VT Maple Fest.  Check it out.  I don't know how far of a trip it would be from wherever you are in Maine, but if you're a Maple fan this is a good party to be at.  You can eat Maple everything.  Its good fun for the kids and its a good way to support the local farmers and economy.

Vermont Maple Festival - St. Albans, VT
http://www.vtmaplefestival.org/

We are in NH, and it's about 2.5hrs to St. Albans. Didn't know about the festival. The Charger should be out of storage by then.   

[BananaDan]

Nice.  Let me know if you go, I'll be there likely on Saturday.

[bakerhillpins]

Things have been slow this year.. got another 9 inches last night. Spent the afternoon skiing with the kids.

[cactuswren]

This year was the first time I made syryp. It was alot of fun, but takes alot of time to boil down. Was kinda glad when it slowed down.

[rt green]

that is real cool stuff. you never hear of people doing that kind of thing around here.

[bakerhillpins]

This year was the first time I made syryp. It was alot of fun, but takes alot of time to boil down. Was kinda glad when it slowed down.

I know the feeling. Starts off slow and easy and then just goes nuts. (well sometimes) Careful, it's an addictive and tasty hobby. 

that is real cool stuff. you never hear of people doing that kind of thing around here.

Thanks! 

We are WAY down on sap this year. Looks like at most we are going to get maybe half of our normal take, probably less. Friends are also way down, in the 1/3 of a normal year down.    Not hard to see why as it's supposed to be 70 deg over the weekend. Good for getting the Charger out though. We just finished our first batch this year, have a little more boiling down in the barn and that's it. 

[Bob T]

Good work. Always wondered how it was done , Thanks for the pics and explanation.
Man I love that stuff, usually get the Steeves brand, so nice on hokey pokey ice cream 

[BananaDan]

Nice!   

[bakerhillpins]

Well, pulled the taps from the trees today and boiled down the last 3rd of a gallon of syrup for us this year. Trees are budding. Made a bit under half of what we have in previous years. Hearing the same thing from lots of other folks. I suspect that Syrup prices are going to go up quite a bit this year.

[rt green]

what do they normally get for a jar?

[bakerhillpins]

Syrup is going to vary greatly with the quantity purchased, grade, and where you get it from. Everyone around here typically talks in $$ per gallon knowing that as you buy in smaller quantities it goes up in price. I honestly don't know what the going rate is since I haven't bought any in quite a few years. A quick google search has a gallon in the high $50s or low $60s.  Wholesale is obviously less.

The jars I have there are quart sized.