The END

Well, This year started off with a bang and ended with a thud and not a good thud at all. We had a spike in temp on one Sunday which made the sap start to turn. Being Quality Control and Head of Sugaring, I decided along with Doug to throw out the almost 200 gallons that we had collected and were using as fast as we could.

Nothing could prepare us for the 40 to 61 degree change in temp so quickly and that is Mother Nature at her worst.

Our season started late and ran longer , but all in all we are still short about 7 boils which adds up to 7 Gallons of Maple Syrup.

I apologize to those who waited so patiently and were eager to try either the first time or as a repeat customer.

Weather controls US , we cannot control the Weather !!

On Wed, 25th , we pulled the taps as trees are budding and Spring has Sprung. This makes for rancid tasting syrup and even though some still use it, We do NOT

Thank you for following us this season

Can we get some SUNSHINE and WARMTH

Oh man, I am wayyyy behind this year with the syrup making . Only 7 boils so far and usually we are about twice that by now. I can only hope that this weekend brings the sunshine and higher temps that I need to get this thing going again. Yesterday, we made 3 Quarts and that is all that we have to boil. Taps are frozen and buckets are filled with solid sap , completely iced over. The wind from the snowstorm has ripped off a few roof covers from the buckets that are hanging in the yard. I need to dig those out and put them back on to prevent water melt from going in the bucket.

Ahh, the fun starts today. We will probably get hammered with Sap this weekend and collect over 200 gallons and I'll be boiling everyday next week. We shall see :)

Stay Tuned

Alicia

WOW !! Over 100 gallons

Today has been such a busy collecting and boiling day. We have over 100 gallons of sap from overnight and still running as of 4pm full force. I bet another 100 gallons overnight and then a BIG freeze due to the drop in temps and possible snow this week.

As you can see, the syrup has turned from Fancy Light to Medium Amber as the weeks and days go by.

Thanks to all of you who have emailed to order syrup . I promise to fill the orders ASAP. I hope that today will yield a gallon and tomorrow another gallon :)

Remember, Syrup has beneficial antioxidants and is a 100 % Natural Product. We add nothing to our syrup or sap in the sugaring process. Just keeping it "real." The way Nature intended.

Today's update

$15 a Quart and $10 a Pint
craybas4@gmail.com
203-730-1313




For the first time this season I was able to get 1 Gallon plus 1 cup of Finished Syrup. Today's syrup is a darker, more maple flavor. I have attached photos to compare and see what a difference a few weeks of sap running makes in the color and taste. The fancy grade A light amber is usually from first runs. The darker Ambers come as the season progresses .

Sugar Shack Staff

More Photos

Today is finally 40 degrees

Well, It is finally about 40 degrees and some sunshine so trees are flowing slowly but surely . I took advantage of the sun and took a few photos of the tapped trees and evaporating of the sap. I hope that you enjoy them !! The sweet smell of maple is in the air as the sap begins to turn. It gradually gets a light brown color and will thicken as it gets closer to a high sugar content. There is 97% -98% water in sap and only 2-3 % sugar content. That is why the ratio of sap to syrup is 40:1.
I anticipate that today boil will take from 7:30 am to about 4:30 pm to complete and I will yield about 3-4 Quarts of Syrup at most.

Slow Start due to Frigid Temps in CT

Well we were off to a bang in the first week with temps in the 40's daytime and 20's at night. The wive's tale is that you tap at the first full moon in February which we did. The first 17 days , we boiled 200 gallons and had 4 3/4 gallons of finished fancy amber syrup.
All of a sudden the freeze hit and the taps stopped running. I can only hope that this week brings back some 40's and sunshine to melt my frozen buckets.

NEW PRICES:

Quart $15
Pint $10

I'll keep you posted on the boils

Price List and Sizes

We hope to offer the same price for a Quart as last year which was $15.
We are looking at adding a smaller size such as a Pint this year .

Keep checking back for prices and when syrup will be ready.

I hope to start this week and have fresh product available by the weekend.

Remember , it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of finished Syrup, so patience is the KEY

Tree Tappin Time 2009

Well, the week looks promising for temps in the 40's and cold nights .
We decided to tap and see what happens. That will make a longer boiling season for us this year and perhaps more of the sweet stuff available to sell to friends who are already asking for some Craybas Family Maple Syrup.