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Bottling Syrup Soon!!!!

by Don 3/16/2016 1:51:00 PM

We anticipate bottling within the next two weeks when the production season is over.  If you order online and pay for your order, we will contact you via email  regarding shipping date. Send us an email at dsomers@citlink.net if you have any questions, requests, or special orders.

 The good sap production during this protracted warm weather has been a very pleasant surprise. Colder weather is forecast for the next few days which will lengthen the season further.

Syrup!!

by Don 2/28/2016 11:06:00 AM

The record setting warmth of 58 degrees on Saturday allowed sap flows of over 1 gallon/tap. By Peter's and my agreed upon scale, this is a "good" sap flow.  If the flow had reached more than 1.5 gallons/tap, we would have been in Trump territory of "Great!" sap flow.

The Reverse Osmosis has allowed us to complete the boil in 4 hours instead of 12!  We produced 15 gallons of medium amber syrup ("amber rich" by the new grade designation).

It is a delight to sample the first returns from the sugarbush.

The next few days look too cold for sap flow, but warmer temps are forecasted for the end of the week. We're always optimistic in the sugarbush and hoping for   terrific flows to yield syrup.

A Record Start to Syruping!

by Don 2/21/2016 2:00:00 PM

The early tapping of our trees on February 2nd and 3rd proved fortuitous as a warm air mass jump started the sap flow on February 19th! We have been keeping records at Somerskogen since 1994, the year we acquired our sugarbush and the previous early start was February 24, 2002. By comparison, the latest start was March 22, 2005. Quite a variation!

Our preparations for the first boil are nearly complete.  The vacuum system is operational and able to deliver 22" of negative pressure throughout the sugarbush. Careful attention to leaks at individual taps or connections will optimize the achieved vacuum. A well-designed vacuum system can increase sap production by 50-100% over gravity flow.

The weather models look somewhat favorable over the next few days for continued sap flow before a cold front arrives next weekend.

Check our website often to keep up to date on the activity in the sugarbush.