Any sappers out there?

[cherokee]

Maple syrup time is getting close. Hopefully this year is better than last.

[Gissert]

Yep, I'm all primed to go. Shooting for 20 gallons this year. The first few collections look like snowshoe and toboggan time.

We will run 120-140 taps this year.

[pushbutton]

Probably wont set up this year, bone dry where i am at. Look forward to the reports though!

[zzammon]

Last year my first test tap went in Feb 19th with sap running 3 days later. Looking at the extended forcast, it may be March 19th this year.

[Gissert]

I wont mind waiting a bit this year. I tapped the first week of March last year, but it was two weeks later before anything flowed to any extent.

One it started, we never really got a good freeze/thaw cycle and it was all done in about 8 days. Still ended up with 7 gallons of dark amber.

[cherokee]

Good to hear from you all. I'm tapping 3/2/13. Conditions seem favorable.

[toughguy]

Please post pics if you run any taps this year guys. I love watching the process. I'd like to get into it someday if I have the right land eventually.

[cherokee]

Will do, I have a bunch someplace from previous years I'll see if I can find. Or be sure to take some this year.

[toughguy]

I remember someone posting pics of taking honey from bee boxes on this site a few years ago. That was really cool too. He went through the whole process from setting it up, watching the honeycombs grow, taking the honey, filtering and bottling it.

[mainbutter]

We're giving it a try for the first time ever this year!

We picked out trees last year and have 'em all marked, the real planning is currently being done by my gf's mom who is the most serious about it.

Wish us luck, hope it ends deliciously

[cherokee]

Best of luck to you. It is a fun event for the whole family.

[Gary_l]

I'll post some pics later (of my helpers), Killed my 18v battery twice already (only 11 taps in) last 2 maples tapped where really wet (this is in Blaine), time to get a better cordless. Anyone else started tapping?

[Gary_l]

27 taps in, 5 to put in tommorrow, 3 trees already spurting (but not consistently). Let the Blue Bag Brigrade began. Now to figure out the wifes new camera to download pics.

[flyfisher03]

If anyone is curious about how to go about tapping and boiling sap the State Parks are having maple syrup events.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/maple_syruping.html

[Rick G]

I have had about a dozen taps in since last Thu. Not much happining yet, trees were pretty dry when I put them in.

[zzammon]

Put 8 taps in Boxelder trees last thursday, two of which started dripping yesterday. One line was frozen solid. Two taps into maple trees yesterday. Heading up to the Little Falls area tomorrow to set maybe 75 taps. Weather is looking favorable for next week, for now.

[cherokee]

I would say next weekend should be the one for the first boil. I was hoping to boil this weekend but I doubt there will be enough sap. Although the the next couple of days are looking favorable for sap running.

I will make the run to my property 45 minutes from my house just to see what is happening.

[Rick G]

Went out this morning to collect, starting to get some but not as much as I would have liked to see. I'm putting in another dozen taps in tonight by the river.

[Gary_l]

Have my first 40 gals of sap of the year(my break even point for people allowing me to tap their yards), seems just as the maples start to flow (all but 2 out of 34 now producing) the weather turns south. Bring on some low 40's w/ freezing at night !!!

[Lurch]

I think I'll wait to tap until next weekend. 30 miles north of Duluth, we haven't had much for good weather yet. Plus we have a pretty good snow cover to wade through.

[cherokee]

Checked mine yesterday and all were dry. I had mine tapped for two weeks now and I thought a few of those days I would for sure get some sap.

I have mostly the giant sugar maple trees tapped (100 years old). Maybe the younger ones run better. Does anyone know which trees produce the most sap (as far as age goes)? Conditions do not look good this next week.

[zzammon]

Checked my taps sunday and came up with 4 gallons of sap for 10 taps in boxelder trees, south central Mn. Seems to me the boxelder trees start before the maple trees. Now the 4 gallons is ice in the pail.

[lovfs]

Ottertail Co.

Its 3/24 and temps supposed to be around 30.

Never done it before, but would like to try this year for maple, box elder, pine, and black wallnut.

Trying the extracts for multi uses.

Do temps need to be in the 40s?

For sap to run?

[Gissert]

No, but temps like that help. I had a silver maple in my yard pump out a pint and a half today and it did not get above 32. My sugars are not doing anything yet, I predict next weekend should start the season in earnest if the forecast holds up.

Black Walnut and pine? Really? I've never heard of tapping those before.

[mainbutter]

Put in a tap in Lino Lakes, MN as our "test tree" a few weeks ago. We've collected at least a gallon, less than 1.5 for sure (as of yesterday morning). There was a good layer of ice in the top of the bucket, but the tree was flowing during days when the temps were certainly not favorable.

This past weekend we tapped a dozen trees up near finlayson. The weather forecast looks to be good from what I've been reading we want, no sudden warm spells for the next week at least and no more big freezes for the rest of the spring I hope.

We're going to try cooking on top of a wood stove outdoors. I was more in favor of building something out of bricks so we could have direct flame contact with our pans, but I was outvoted. I have a feeling it will be slow cooking, but should work just fine with a really hot fire inside. We got the stove set up yesterday as well, and have stockpiled enough wood to keep us cooking for a loooong time. I think it's likely that we'll do our first cook two weekends from now.

Good luck everyone!