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Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:25 pm
by Chad
Not sure if others are into this or not, but thought I'd post a few pics of my maple syrup making this year. I've been doing it since we moved here 5 years ago.
Really enjoy it, just upgraded to a different evaporator setup this year. So far it works much better, still tweaking and learning how to get it as efficient as possible.

So far I've boiled about 120 litres, resulting in about 4 litres of syrup. Definitely a labour of love. From start to finish was about 16 hours.
Eventually I will move and rebuild an old garden shed on the property into a sugar shack.
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Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:31 pm
by propane1
My neighbour use to do that. Sure doesn't take to long to fill one of those white buckets. He use to have quite a crowd around when he was boiling it in the sugar shack.
Noel
Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:37 pm
by Chad
Propane57 wrote:My neighbour use to do that. Sure doesn't take to long to fill one of those white buckets. He use to have quite a crowd around when he was boiling it in the sugar shack.
Noel
Nice Noel! Yes I can imagine everyone wanting a taste. My kids love being the official taste testers
Here's my son keeping a close eye on the operation. He thought it was hilarious watching me split some bigger logs to get a hotter fire.
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Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:37 pm
by Eugen
That's great
@Chad , can't say I could find time for it, but must be fun. I bet it tastes great. There are at least two wooded areas around us but I don't know if one is allowed to harvest sap on township land.

Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:38 pm
by Eugen
Chad wrote: ↑Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:37 pm
Propane57 wrote:My neighbour use to do that. Sure doesn't take to long to fill one of those white buckets. He use to have quite a crowd around when he was boiling it in the sugar shack.
Noel
Nice Noel! Yes I can imagine everyone wanting a taste. My kids love being the official taste testers
Here's my son keeping a close eye on the operation. He thought it was hilarious watching me split some bigger logs to get a hotter fire.
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Great picture, he's so cute!

Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:44 pm
by Chad
@Eugen Thanks! Ya until he can walk he hangs out with dad in the shop and things like this. His older sisters come and go, I'm sure he'll be the same but all fun. And yes I'm lucky that my wife lets me lol. But we all enjoy the rewards. If we didn't get the time off this time of year it would be much harder for sure. A nice way to spend the outdoors this time of year.
I'm not sure about township land. It really doesn't take many trees, I only tap 10 each year and average about 5-10 litres of syrup each season, depending on the weather.
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Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:55 pm
by DavidBarkey
I have helped a neighbour a few time . Yes , it is a labour of love . When friend get together to do it , fishing stories and beers tend to be part of the mix while tending the fire . Weekend boils are a lot of fun .
Dave
Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 3:35 pm
by propane1
Pancake time I’d say. Looks like the young fella is enjoying him self. Don’t think there’s enough temperature swing here yet between day and night to get anything yet. Another week or two I think.
Noel
Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:55 pm
by Gordy
I could do Boxelder syrup

plenty of them around. when the weather is right I have gotten some ice cycles from them to suck on. Sweet

but not as much sugar as maples, so would need a lot more boiling to get it reduced enough.
Gordy
Re: Maple Syrup time again
Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:43 am
by Chad
Back at it again today. Almost as much as I did on Monday.
@Gordy that sounds good too! I haven't tried tapping other trees but I know black walnut and birch are also common. My yields aren't that great as I have hardly any sugar maples on the property, but will tap more trees in the future.
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