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.