Recent content by arkage82

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  1. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    TY TY! I really enjoy making it- gets one out of the "cabin fever" syndrome, and now that I've made the real stuff, I can't stomach the fake stuff.  Was hoping for a bigger batch this year, but you learn to be grateful for what the Good Lord  provides. 
  2. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    From my experience and from what I've read, it's all dependent on what the tree gives, and that is influenced by temperature, period of the seaon, sap quality , etc.  I've read where a long low boil supposedly brings a darker color, but my first batch (see above) was a long simmering cook, (and...
  3. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    Judging from the weather forecast, this might be my last batch for the year. Last year, most of my syrup was made in late March and early April. Goes to show how the sugaring season is dependent on weather and not the calendar. This batch came out very dark, but is very flavorful. (4 quarts, 1...
  4. syrupa.jpg

    syrupa.jpg

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  5. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    You pull the taps and let nature do the healing. It will drip for quite some time, but it's not any different than if you were continuing to tap the tree. Once the taps are pulled, the healing process speeds up and the hole will eventually dry up. 
  6. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    It's a part of the process. I don't know of anyone that doesn't have to deal with it.  I filter the sap before it goes into the pan (twigs, bark, bugs, etc). Then, I filter from the pan to the finishing pan (around 218 degrees for foam, niter, scum, whatever). Then I settle the finished and...
  7. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    You might have misunderstood, and most likely I did not explain it well enough. When I'm boiling mine down, I'm boiling mine down. For the most part, I'm simmering mine on top of the woodstove, but when I'm finishing it off, or if I'm getting behind, I put it on the gas stove and put the fire...
  8. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    If you go over to Mapler Trader forum, there is an entire section dedicated to filtering and bottling. You might find some information and advice there too.  Oh, and whatever you do, DO NOT try to filter cold or cool syrup. DAMHIK. Always warm it to help it flow. 
  9. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    Commonly it's called "niter" or "sugar sand". Most people fight with this and solve the issue in various ways, mainly filtering.  After trying lots of ways to fix it on a small scale, I finally decided to just let it settle out to the bottom of the jar, and then decant the clear off of the top...
  10. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    OK, see if I can figure out how to post pictures. This is how I hang my buckets. Drill the hole, tap  in the spile, hang a gallon milk jug by ZipTie to the hook. Some people say "What about the rain water?" Never had an issue. YMMV. Results of my "prospecting batch". I put a light behind...
  11. Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

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  12. syrup 002a.jpg

    syrup 002a.jpg

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    • Album: Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16
  13. syrup 003a.jpg

    syrup 003a.jpg

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    • Album: Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16
  14. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    Finished boiling down my "prospecting" batch of 11 gallons. Should have been just over a quart of finished syrup, ended up with just under. So, the sugar is a bit lacking but not too bad. Gonna look to put more taps out as time and weather dictate.  Have my first batch settling right now. Will...
  15. arkage82

    Home made maple syrup.... MONEY 2-26-16

    Here is a link to a Cornell paper on Sap Flow: http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/produc/sapflow.htm
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