Maple Season
Hello Everyone!
It’s the first of March, our trees are all tapped and ready for the next warm spell. Last week we got a good run, collected sap and boiled for the first time this season. First boil just sweetens the pan. It takes a lot of sap to make maple syrup the first time. The sap was 1.9% sweet, meaning 86/1.9 = 45 gal of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup.
The front pan was almost maple syrup, just not enough sap to back it up for a draw off. Next boil should result in a quick large 8-10 gal batch of maple syrup!
We boil the sap using a Leader 30″ wide and 10′ long Vortex evaporator with a 6′ steamaway on the back pan. The “rig” can boil off up to 300 gallons of water per hour. It requires an hour after firing to just cool everything down after a boil. We fire the evaporator every 6 minutes with firewood, with all of that heat it’s important to monitor the level of the pan so as to not burn it.
Once we boil again we shall be open for sale of that fresh maple syrup our customers are use too.
About the author
Mike Isham
Meet Mike Isham, the heart and soul behind Isham Family Farm - a charming wedding and barn venue nestled in the beautiful Williston, VT. With over decades of experience in the wedding industry, Mike has witnessed countless couples exchange their vows and start their happily-ever-after at his family's farm.
For Mike, helping couples create their dream wedding is more than just a job - it's a passion. He takes great pride in providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for every guest, and ensuring that every detail is taken care of. When you choose Isham Family Farm for your special day, you're not just getting a venue - you're getting a family who genuinely cares about making your wedding day unforgettable.
The farm is conveniently located 1 mile north of Lake Iroquois, 3.5 miles south of Williston Village, and 10 miles from Burlington, VT.