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.