Category: 2020: Season 103 Page 5 of 6

Its a nice sound to hear the R/O running. Started at 7:45 AM and finished 425 gallons by 12:30. This is just over 85 gallons/hour. There is one 225 gallon tank for tomorrow. We wanted to bottle today so stopped cooking by 3:00 PM. Otherwise we would have pushed through all of the sap, We got 8 Brix from the R/O. Six batches into the milk can.

Into the woods by 6:30 AM. 38 overnight. Cloudy at low 40s for the day. Started raining around Noon. Rain melts the snow. Forecast is 27 tonight and 40 tomorrow.

Another valve problem. The valve that re-circulates water from the wash tank though the R/O started leaking when opened. Looks like a crack in the valve. It doesn’t get any stress so its not clear why it cracked. Maybe a manufacturing defect. To the hardware store to get a replacement. The hot wash cycle is important to keep the membrane operational.

Bottled 24 quarts and 3 pints. Didn’t mess up the filter aid this time. The syrup is crystal clear.

Back to the farmhouse by 5:30 PM.

Into the woods by 6:30 AM to cook out the remaining sap in the tank. Finished by 12:30 PM. While cooking we prepared for bottling. We got a new stainless steel finishing pan off-season. It needed scrubbing before using. Also checked that burners on the propane stoves worked. By 10:30 AM we emptied a milk can into the finishing pan. It was ready by Noon. Checked the first bottle: cloudy. We didn’t use enough filter aid. This batch went back into the milk can to finish and filter again.

Over night the thermometer said 34, but the ground is cold and ice formed on the puddles. Today was sunny and temperature upper 40’s. The sap run started yesterday but must have ran overnight too. We picked up 650 gallons today. Fortunately the R/O pump is fixed. As long as we don’t have other R/O problems we should ready to use it tomorrow.

Spent some time troubleshooting a valve leak. The brass valve on the 225 gallon tank was leaking. We noticed a persistent stream the size of a pencil lead even when the valve was closed. We close this valve so all he pipes drain and don’t freeze. With empty tanks we weer able to take the value off and check it. The leak is fixed now.

Started collecting at 2:00 PM. Many full and overflowing buckets. We had a good crew and finished by 4:05 PM. Our transfer pump is finally working as we envisioned it should. The quick connects eliminated the leaks by the pump fittings and makes connecting the hoses fast. Emptied our tanks in about 10 minutes.

Rain is forecast for tomorrow. Followed by several days of non-freezing nights.

We are running out of milk cans for syrup. We have to bottle to free up milk cans. Also considering purchasing another milk can.

Busy day cooking tomorrow.

The Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association (WMSPA) held a First Tapping even to kick off Maple Month in Wisconsin. It was held at a neighbor’s sugarbush call In The Woods Sugarbush at 10:00 AM. Alice In Dairyland and Governor Tony Evers attended too. There were about 30 people and we got to meet and chat with the Governor.

Didn’t get into the woods until 12:15 PM. One batch into the milk can. 10.5” remain in the tank to cook out tomorrow.

Shout out of thanks to cousin David . He came this afternoon to install the replacement pump on the R/O. He connected the electrical and re-did the hose connections to the pump because the new pump has different fittings. It was a nice to hear it start up. We ran 200 gallons of water through to prepare the membrane. He also connected the propane tank and changed a valve handle. Very nice to have this all done.

17 overnight. Sunny and 40 today. Not as warm as forecast. Trees dripping this afternoon. We plan to collect tomorrow.

Back to the farmhouse by 6:15 PM

The day started blustery and snowy. Maybe ½” of snow overnight but the wind blew it around. Temperature overnight 29, but with the wind it was much colder. Cloudy and windy until about 1:00 PM. Then the sun came out and wind dropped.

Into the woods by 6:30 AM for another long day. Three batches in the milk can.

The R/O manufacturer called us last evening after 6:00 PM to discuss compatibility. The R/O had a Grundfos JPS2-A. The new pump is Grundfos JPO5S-SS. We had to check it used the same volts and amps. After a several pictures and discussion it should be compatible.

Made arrangements to get the R/O pump installed. Got one final compatibility question answered. The pump manual said the pump needed priming. That was a problem. The R/O manufacturer says the pump needs liquid so it seals don’t run dry. The head from the tanks should take care of us in most cases except the beginning of the year when we setup. We won’t have enough water yet so will need to add water to the pump.

Still 180 gallons to cook tomorrow. Hoping to cook out this tank with the R/O.

Forecast for 17 overnight and 47 and sunny tomorrow.

Back to the farmhouse by 6:15 PM.

Into the woods by 6:30 AM. About 34 overnight. Cloudy. Drizzle. Wind. Sunny and 40. Cloudy again. Cooked about 195 gallons today. Four batches into the milk can. About 180 gallons in one tank and the main bulk tank with about 200 gallons remain.

The replacement pump arrived. Its a different model then what was on the R/O. We had to check with the manufacturer that it was compatible. The pump had a sticker saying I was wired for 230 V. It was our understanding this feed pump used 120 V. Took several hours to reach a representative because they are busy with other maple syrup producers too. After several calls and pictures it seems the pump is compatible. The pump does use 230 V. If we match the wiring connections from the old pump we will be fine. Next we contact our electrician to get it wired in. Also have to change some plumping fittings. Bottom line is it could be another day before its in operation.

Back to the farmhouse by 6:30 PM. Back to 12 hour days.

Into the woods by 6:30 AM to cook. We are spoiled by the R/O. Going old school cooking raw sap at 2.5 Brix takes so much longer then cooking concentrate at 7 Brix. At 7 Brix its 12:1 ratio of sap to make syrup. At 2.5 Brix its 34:1. That’s 22 gallons more of water to evaporate. We did empty the 225 gallon tank and put three batches into the milk can.

28 overnight. 38 and sunny today. The type of weather we need. But the ground is still cold. There is melt, but not running water from the melt. And puddles freeze earlier in the evening when the air temperature is still mid-30s and take longer to thaw during the day. The snow stays crunchy too. The biggest sap runs happen when the frost comes out.

Our equipment dealer was able to order a replacement pump. Now we wait for it to arrive. Its shipping from Vermont. Or instructions were to ship it as fast as possible for up to $200 in shipping costs. When it arrives we have to arrange for the electrician to install it.

Picked up 375 gallons today. The weather was good today. Tomorrow is forecast for snow flurries or rain. Collect in good weather.

Back at cooking tomorrow. We have about 575 gallons in tanks.

Back to the farmhouse by 5:30 PM.

A frustrating day.

Into the woods by 6:30 AM to get the R/O setup to process yesterday’s sap. Started the evaporator right away anticipating there were be concentrate later in the morning. Several missteps connecting the pipes. Mostly the connections to the control panel must be done before mounting on the wall. Took it down at least three times before I realized that.

Finally it was ready. Started the feed pump. Nothing. Motor gets power but pump not spinning. Called the electrician thinking we were not getting proper volts or amps. They confirmed proper volts and amps. Tried turning the motor by hand. Found a spot that turned hard. We turned off and on several times. Finally the motor gave out completely in a puff of blue, acid smelling smoke. Its toast.

The is stored at the farmhouse all year in a room that is at least 65 degrees. Its drained at the end of each season. The pump has two thumb screws to take out to be sure its empty. Maybe we can do an autopsy after its replaced to determine what happened.

Called equipment dealer to try to get a replacement. Ships from Vermont. Maybe Quebec is we are unlucky. The manufacture is in Quebec.

Until its replaced its back tio old school cooking. Lots of wood. Long hours.

26 overnight. 40 during the day. Started partly cloudy. By 11:00 AM snow flurries moved it. By 3:00 PM the sun was out. 27 tonight with sun and 40 tomorrow.

Tree pressure -9 PSI this morning: the tree is pulling sap up. Later up to 15 PSI.

One positive: wonderful aroma from the cooking sap.

Back to the farmhouse by 6:30 PM.

Into the woods at 6:30 AM to get setup with tanks for collecting. We knew there would be sap soon, but didn’t expect to collect today. The trees had different ideas. By 10:00 AM we had some buckets overflowing. We had to collect today.

Pushed hard to get all the tanks ready. First thing is a tank of water for the R/O. We need water t200 gallons of water to prepare the membrane. We have to get that water from the farmhouse. We use the collecting tank to haul it so we have to get that into the woods first. We made a mistake on year to full the collecting tank with sap before getting water. Then we had to use a smaller secondary tank on a trailer which was much harder.

Got all the tanks ready by 2:30 PM. Headed out collecting. Picked up 480 gallons. We used an inefficient route through the woods. Too much walking. We’ll need to adjust that.

And the new pump didn’t work. Its gets electricity, but doesn’t spin up. We’ll need to take it apart to check for twigs or bark blocking the propellers.

Tomorrow we get ready to cook. Setup R/O. Connect all pipes. Then fire up the evaporator.

Finished tapping by 10:30 AM. 502 or 503 total. We loose count because a tree gets a tap but the spout is missed. We go back to set the spout and hang the bucket but the count is disrupted now.

30 overnight. The day started with a cold South East breeze. Sunny and up to 45. Warmer then forecast. Forecast was 40. Tonight is 28.

Late afternoon we put out the tree pressure gauge. It hit 30 PSI. This was a fresh tap which always runs fast because its releasing the initial tree pressure. Like popping a balloon or tire: there is an initial high pressure release. During sap runs last year the pressure was around 15 PSI.

Got the R/O into the woods. Turned over the evaporator pan. That’s easier to do with two people. Tomorrow will be a busy day of getting ready to cook. There will be sap this week. Weather forecast looks like sappin temperatures with 40s/20s.

Its been cold the past four days. Highs in the 20s. Lows in single digits. It was 9 this morning. But the weather pattern is changing. Sunny today. Warmed to abut 30. The next week is forecast for 40s during the day and 20s at night. That’s sap weather. We started tapping today.

Got organized. Tractor took some time to warm up after sitting in the cold. The tapper would’t start. The spark plug was full of carbon. After cleaning the spark plug the tapper started on one pull. Into the woods by 8:30. Cold but sunny. Two person crew to start with. After an hour a third joined. Around 12:30 three more. That makes tapping much quicker. We got 418 out today. We’ll finish the remaining 82 tomorrow for 500 taps.

But Noon it warmed enough that some taps started dripping.

Back to the farmhouse by 3:00 PM.