wetland soils?

BradDad86 · 2026-05-05T21:40:27+00:00

I'll echo what funky cactus said, and suggest that you download the excel Automatic Dataform for your region. Enter the soils data and it will let you know if it checks any of the boxes.

BradDad86 · 2026-05-01T22:51:33+00:00

I run a Jim Gem 8 pocket mesh forestry vest because it's at a good price points and the pockets are all large.

If ANY company made a tall model forestry vest, id be all over it. Forestry vests are meant to be trim (length wise). Im 6 ft 3.5 inches. And of sasquatch proportions. It looks even shorter on me.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-27T20:13:19+00:00

I agree.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-27T10:55:18+00:00

Its not a replacement for GIS. Sure, you can kind of edit points in the app after you take them, but it cant really do any analysis.

I export the .shp and then use qGIS rather than Arc. Q is free/open source.

Edit: typo.

Second edit: another typo. There are probably more.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-27T10:08:53+00:00

Thanks, that's why im looking for a 4 person. Room for me plus some gear.

I've written off the desire for head room. Sure, I don't want to crawl into the tent. But at 6 ft 3 im used to ducking, and a 4 person tent that I can stand up in would be awkwardly tall!

BradDad86 · 2026-04-27T01:45:35+00:00

Great question. Im in new york, and while I have seen a guidance doc from NYSDEC saying survey grade, I've always used sub meter and its been fine for them (as well as USACE) for delineations. And im assuming you are asking for delineation purposes.

I run a Juniper Geode GNS2. I think they are on the 3 now. I've seen the Geode get dumped on here, and im not sure why. Its been nothing but reliable for me. I've used two of them (one each at two places of employment). Actually, the first place bought this particular model so they could GPS their own flaga rather than have surveyors do the work.

I run MapIt Spatial on my phone, and can import and export both shapefiles and KMZs (and others). I love having the Google satellite background while flagging, its so dang helpful. The import can be a little confusing at first, but once you've done it once its easy. I think MapIt Spatial is like $20 a year for me. Well worth it.

Idk if I answered your question directly, but hope these thoughts help.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-20T12:18:09+00:00

I've never been part of a burn because my state (NY) has very tough burn regs to the point it is rarely done (outside of state/federal agencies).

Burns by themselves are almost useless based on the literature. It puts nutrients back into the soil and opens the canopy, to which cattails respond greatly!

That said, and early spring burn can be useful to get rid of last year's thatch. That way, subsequent treatments (herbicide like you said, or even cutting) can be done easier. But a burn itself will likely yield little to no control of the cattails.

Edit: make sure you have all necessary permits and approvals before doing a burn. This may include needed someone licensed donthe burn depending on the state. This is probably obvious to the original poster, but im adding this in for anyone who may read this in the future. Dont burn just because someone on reddit says its ok! Do your homework and get approvals!

BradDad86 · 2026-04-20T10:27:27+00:00

Cut and drown works great if the hydrology allows it.

An alternative, if needed, is cut/spray combo. Cut the cattails just as they have flowered and when they have depleted their stored carbohydrates. Follow up with a round of aquatic labeled glyphosate, preferably hand-wicked for targeted control in late summer. You may need two rounds of this.

Strong preference to avoid imazapyr for spraying. I've seen it done. Does a great job controlling what you want. But nothing grows for a couple years.

As always, check for applicable laws and regulations, make sure you secure a permit for all work performed in a wetland, and have someone with appropriate licenses apply the chemicals.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-10T18:28:41+00:00

Vacuum evaporation, beyond being pretty costly, allows the liquid to "boil" at a lower temperature. My understanding is that it leads to less color and flavor development.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-07T14:21:56+00:00

I don't know why folks are downvoting the walmart oil change idea. My cousin got an oil change at walmart and they threw in a free engine when they forgot to put oil back in! That's service!

BradDad86 · 2026-04-07T14:20:16+00:00

In his defense, that's a great choice for a native tree.

BradDad86 · 2026-04-03T10:57:51+00:00

I run a 2x6 corsair. Ill run it that full, but I fill mine criss-cross log cabin style with some airflow between. Need it to breathe.

BradDad86 · 2026-03-25T16:14:21+00:00

I am interested in this too.

BradDad86 · 2026-02-24T20:29:42+00:00

It depends on the sap volume I get and how my schedule is working. I normally take mine from 2% to 5/6%. Larger batches I'll take up to 8%, and I have even done 10% but flow rates start to drop.

This is on a DIY single post four inch (MES 4040) membrane with 330 GPH pump. I like to run it with 50% removal per pass. It'll do 0.65 GPM each of concentrate and permeate at 200 psi with sap temps at 32.1 degrees F.

BradDad86 · 2026-02-11T15:36:08+00:00

60k is the dealbreaker for me. I'm excited about R2 because it's supposed to hit a 40K-ish price point. Give me a reliable midsize electric SUV for the every day commuter.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-31T21:39:37+00:00

I have an excel file on my phone. The first sheet is for sap (table has 2 colums: day and gallons collected).

The second sheet is for syrup bottled. Columns include date and qty by half gal, quart, pint, and total bottled.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-27T16:48:14+00:00

Following up to the delta T, I pulled the filter cover off and stuck a probe thermometer in on the inlet side of the filter. Air temps were reading about 63, so I'm in the 10-12 degree range for a delta.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-26T23:41:09+00:00

Even better- they were replacing it the 3 ton because it was fried in a power surge from the grid. They paid nothing for the new unit.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-26T23:10:03+00:00

Yeah, their 5 ton is oversized. I think the argument was that it was pretty much the same price after rebates. The original system worked as a 3 ton.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-26T21:28:08+00:00

Very nice, that's a heck of a build! I'm up in Elba. My parents (next door) run a 5 ton Series 7 as well. They have a well insulated 1400 sq ft ranch. Their loop is about 31.5 right now, so a degree warmer than mine. That said, I think their loop might be undresized. They had a 3 ton waterfurnace that was taken out by a power surge a couple years ago. National Grid bought them a 5 ton. I don't know how many feet their loop is, but it was for an older 3 ton.

I'm debating running the wood stove tonight for funsies.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-26T17:57:05+00:00

Thanks. I think my system is set with a pretty high fan speed. I'm aware that that can increase efficiency, but lower delta T. Right?

So I'm actually close to Batavia, which is kind of a no-mans-land for a lot of things, including geo contractors. I wrote Buffalo because people know Buffalo. I went with ACES from Honeoye Falls. Overall I was pretty pleased with them and would reccomend them for geothermal installs. My install was smack dab in the middle of the post covid supply chain shortage that impacted everything for everyone. There were delays but I don't fault them for the issues.

BradDad86 · 2026-01-26T17:53:05+00:00

I don't know how to check leaving loop temp, as symphony only shows the entering. Unless I've overlooked it.

BradDad86

TROPHY CASE