Warm Days, Cold Nights, Bright Sun - Almost There!

By Jeff Philbrick, Headmaster

The days are getting longer, the sun is higher in the sky, the temperatures are getting a little more mild. What does that all point to? The sap is going to run! The Maple Sugaring Team is preparing for a great season, just around the corner.

The team went to the home of Dan and Erika Burgher this week to learn some of the new equipment and techniques. Students experimented with the new Memprotech 200 reverse osmosis machine, getting familiar with its features, and the whole scope of sap logistics which will be new and different this year.

Next, the team got hands and eyes on the new sap hydrometer using home made sugar solutions. Historically, we have only been able to read up to 3% Brix, but now with the new RO machine and a newly calibrated gauge, we can read up to 15% Brix.

And lastly, the students did some practice tapping with the "health spouts", the new industry standard tap, measuring only one quarter inch diameter. The astute viewer will notice we are practicing tapping on a dead black birch tree: yeah we know, better things to tap next week!