The More You Know...

• How many gallons of sap does it take to make 12 oz of syrup? 

5-7 gallons depending on sugar content of the tree and time of the sugaring season

• How many maple tree do we have? 

Still counting, but so far we have identified 22 mature trees for tapping

• How long does it take to boil sap down to syrup consistency? 

4-5 hours with a steady-stage boil

• What is the final temperature of sap when it is finished?

219.5 degrees Fahrenheit

• How many taps per tree?

1-3 depending on diameter of the tree

• How many bottles did we make in our first test year?

Approximately 20 - 12 oz. jars from 11 trees.  One tree produced a 12 oz. jar in a 24 hours!!!

• What is the outdoor temperature necessary for prime sap flow?

40's during the day and 20's during the night

I have moved into the world of electric cooking.  It is a slower process, but I believe it will make a better product.  I am also considering building my own Reverse Osmosis system that will remove much of the water without using as much energy.  That is a TBD at this point.  

Weather forecasters are calling for a colder winter this year.  We will see how that affects the production.  I also found about 30 more trees that can be tapped for sap to syrup production this year.  I will be selling syrup this year.  Holla!

Additionally, I am going to tap Sycamore trees this year.  It is said that the syrup will taste like a blend of honey (the bees would be proud) and butterscotch.  If you want to try that, please let us know at our Facebook site.