MapleAcres

We seldom mention current events here, but this is COVID-19 virus, also know as cornavirus, is sweeping around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it pandemic. It has symptoms similar to the flu but can be 10x more deadly. Started in China. Iran and Italy were hit hard. There are several thousand cases in the US now. Many schools, sporting events or any large gathering are being canceled to help stop the spread. We feel safer here at the farmhouse. We are not immune but this its more isolated so less change to spread.

Collected 500 gallons tonight. Checked the woods at 12:45 PM and were surprised to find full pails. The past days were cloudy and rainy but there was 7-10 PSI on the pressure gauge so sap was moving.

The stainless steel milk can arrived It actually arrived Monday but was dropped at a door we don’t frequently use. The order status said it was delivered Monday which promoted use to check that door.

28 overnight. Sunny and windy with high of 40. But the wind kept it from melting under after Noon.

Started collecting at 2:45 PM. Back to the farmhouse by 5:30 PM.

Problems again bottling today. Monitored temperatures closely. Started the hand pump for filtering as soon as the filter aid was mixed in to minimize temperature drop off. The hand pump again got very difficult to use halfway through the batch. Abandoned filtering with 2 gallons remaining.

Bottling started okay. Watched temperate carefully to hold between 195° and 200°. The first 6 or 8 bottles were clear but then started getting a little cloudy. After filling 12 bottles it was too cloudy and we abandoned bottling again.

Called our equipment dealer to discuss. They are sending a different type of filter aid (diatomaceous earth.) Apparently different brands are made slightly differently with respect to particle size etc. It causes a different chemical reaction with the syrup.

We are also tying a hot wash of the waffle plates from the filter press. There are small holes in the plates. Its possible sugar built up in the holes and blocks some of the syrup. We’ve had the filter press for 19 years. It seems sugar build up would have impacted it years ago. We have to find a solution. This is frustrating.

35 overnight. Cloudy with drizzle and 40 during the day.

Problems bottling again. The filter press did not push through all the syrup from the milk can. Its a hand pump so it takes physical effort to work the lever. It got hard to pump and we had to give up with about 2+ gallons in the finishing pan. The theory is the syrup got too cool in between mixing in the filter aid and pumping through the filter press.

We had about 5 gallons through the press and into the bottling pan. The first 11 quarts we crystal clear, then abruptly turned cloudy. The temperature was 200°. The theory is this was too hot for too long in the bottling pan. We have to strive for 190° and stay under 200°. We’ll try again tomorrow.

Nothing has been easy this season.

2” of snow overnight. 33 for the temperature overnight. Cloudy and 40 today. Tomorrow’s forecast is rain again.

Into the woods at 2:15 PM to get the finish pan going. Back to the farmhouse by 5:30 PM.

Froze hard overnight. Temperature was about 28 but with the wind it was colder. After yesterday’s rain the freeze created a coating of ice on everything. Ladder to tanks, tank covers, valves, collecting tank cover, flaps for steam on the coopla: all iced up. A hammer tap broke most of the ice, but we had to be careful on the ladder. Didn’t start to melt until after Noon. Trees tried to drip, but not much happening.

Because of the ice it took longer to get the R/O going. We hoped for a short day, but that didn’t work out. It was 9:00 AM before the R/O was going. Finished at 11:30 AM. Four batches into the milk can. Done cooking by 2:30 PM.

We planned to bottle again. But another valve problem. This time with the propane tank. The regulator (a type of valve) failed. Tried lighting the burners to wash out the syrup pan. Got a small fireball because the regulator was releasing too much propane. That regulator was about 45 years old so it served us well. But when things fail as we try to use them, it sets our work back. Got a new regulator this afternoon, but too late for bottling. Try tomorrow.

Snow forecast for tonight: 1”-2”.

Into the woods by 7:15 AM. Back to the farmhouse by 4:45 PM.

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.