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Anticipation of the 2018 Maple Season!

by Don 2/23/2018 8:12:00 AM

   What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time we had already started making maple syrup and this year we wait for warmer weather. While we are nearly prepared, the weather remains too cold to get very excited.  Our 100 taps were put in February 9-10 and the evaporator has been reassembled.

Forecasts indicate warmer temps during the day in the next week  - spring is coming! Here is the latest graph from the weather service:

  

Now, . . . . .we wait with anticipation!

     

 

  

2017 Season is finished!

by Mary 4/4/2017 10:22:00 AM

With the earliest start of maple syruping in February, we ended March 31 with a grand total of 544 gallons of delicious maple syrup. A new record for Somerskogen Sugarbush has been set! Every year has been highly anticipated and a bit mysterious - never knowing how the various weather factors would affect the sap flow. We were not disappointed this year! 

The maple buds began to swell a few days ago, and this means the season is over.  Though the sap will continue to flow, there is a chemical change in the sap and it would impart an "off-flavor" to maple syrup.  So, the season is over, cleaning begins, as well as bottling for orders.

Feel free to call (612-860-4403)or email us (dsomers@citlink.net) to reserve your supply of the 2017 allotment. If you prefer to pickup your order and avoid shipping charges, that can be easily arranged. You can still pay online and we'll refund the calculated shipping costs.

Nearing the end of the 2017 season!

by Don 3/29/2017 10:03:00 AM

Our unusual weather conditions surprised and intrigued meteorologists and naturalists alike during March. The ice on Whaletail Lake went out March 5th, the earliest we ever recorded. Five days later the lake froze again when Arctic weather descended upon us. The sap flow ceased and didn't restart for 10 days! The lake ice vanished for the second (and final!) time today. We make no predictions about the lake or the weather.

With the recent warmup, the trees responded with sap flows of over 2 gallons per tap on the last two "runs". We are on pace for a new record of maple syrup production. Our sap remains at 2.5% sugar, which is average for our sugarbush.  This translates to 34 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. The quality of the finished syrup has been outstanding, with rich amber color and unmistakeable smooth maple flavor that lingers on the palate (if you let it linger!)

Our next update will be with a final total - stay tuned!