The Maple Calendar

 We have a wood-fired evaporator. From May to October, when we can, we cut and split wood.  Above shows just part of what we need.

January and February we conduct sap line inspections for improvements, down trees, and squirrel chews.

........and sometime dig the lines out of snow drifts. Ugh!

Trees are tapped in early March, and sometimes we are lucky enough to have help!

After tapping, we wait for the thaw. Sap runs best with night temperatures below freezing and daytime temperatures in the 40's. Currently, we tap just under 2000 trees.

 The sap comes in through miles & miles of food-grade tubing. (Note the sap icicle from a down windthrown maple tree that we trimmed to make way for the lines.) 

Our 1200 gallon collection tank, where we then pump the sap 1/2 mile to the sugarbarn, shown below.

Our 2nd 1200-gallon tank, which  is right outside the sugarbarn. See that steam?  We're boiling!