The Start of the 2015 Sugaring Season

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The 2015 season started out with snow and lots of it!  We spent the better part of two weekends unburying and re-working our existing 5/16” lateral lines in preparation for our new 1/2” main line and vacuum system.

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We ran approximately 250’ of 1/2” main line from our driveway to a 35 gallon collection tank at the low point of our sugar bush.

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In addition to adding the main line we figured it was time to invest in  a new tubing tool.  The shiny new red tubing tool proved to be invaluable, because we basically ended up rerunning all our existing laterals to accommodate the new mail line.

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This tool allowed us to easily install the light blue plastic tubing onto the black tubing fittings while securely holding the tubing in place and mechanically forcing the tubing on to each fitting.  Previously this was all done by dipping the end of the blue tubing into a boiling hot thermos full of water, which in hindsight was a total debacle!

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After connecting each end of the lateral to the tree, we temporarily held them in position at the black 1/2” mainline with some twine.  This was temporary until I could cut in a new 4-way tee into the main line.

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After running all the light blue laterals we went back and cut in the blue tees and attached the laterals to to the main line.

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When everything was connected we took a break for a Dunks medium iced black!

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I had to call in reinforcements for tapping the trees.

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We still have about 10 trees left to go, but between the weather lately, and all of our other tubing modifications we just have not had time to finish up the rest of the taps.

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5 comments on “The Start of the 2015 Sugaring Season”

  1. Judy Reply

    We went north yesterday to visit friends and spent the day in their sugar shack. A lot of hard work is involved in getting sweet maple gold for the top of one’s pancakes but it sure is delicious. Like your cute helper. 🙂

    • Bill C. Reply

      Thanks Judy. We are always learning something new each year we tap the trees. We will be boiling this weekend so it should be exciting!

      Bill C.

  2. Ruth Sloan Reply

    So interesting and it just amazes me how far you have come with your hobby of producing maple syrup and making it a family affair. Before long little creek maple farm will be one of the most popular around. And it doesn’t hurt to have 2 of the most cutest little helpers working for you!

  3. Anthony Fernando Reply

    I found your blog and website on wordpress and have followed for the last couple of months, your new website is great. I like the way you incorporate the family into everything and how your farm is really growing! I’m doing the same in SE Vermont and have been using a lot of your experience and advice along the way! This is my first year sugaring with 15 taps and a dual propane stove and I plan to upgrade for next season and triple my taps! I liked all your advice on your Mason Evaporator which is going to be my choice as well. So far we have our chicken and duck flock, starting out sugaring this year (inefficient but doing really well). Thanks again and keep an eye out for my site (soon to go online) as Maple Ridge Farm & Country Crafts in Guilford, VT.

    • Bill C. Reply

      Be careful the sugaring is addicting! It just a few short years it has become one of those hobbies you can’t wait to do every spring. I think the fact that there is a certain element of unpredictability to it really makes it exciting. We have done a lot of learning and experimenting, and are just finally starting to feel comfortable with some of the processes involved in making syrup. In a couple years we may try our hand at chickens but we will have to see. Thanks for reading along.

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