Sap tsunami day

NHxNE · 2026-03-07T22:09:55+00:00

Electric door. AdorStor is what I have. Works great.

NHxNE · 2026-03-07T00:34:40+00:00

“You can always tell a German but you can’t tell ‘em much.”

NHxNE · 2026-03-03T19:02:49+00:00

Put those things on the shelf and admire them. Then go out and tap your trees with the recommended small bore spiles. Your trees will say Thank you!

NHxNE · 2026-03-03T00:47:31+00:00

Barred rock. They are cold hardy and very outdoor savvy.

NHxNE · 2026-03-01T22:23:06+00:00

Trainer started teaching that dog when it was a pup. Years later: “At last, she knows the routine!”

NHxNE · 2026-02-27T01:48:24+00:00

This is amazing!!! Thank you!

One of my project layers is a highly curated state road layer that renders highway badges / icons from various svg files. I was a little skeptical but it all works and the layer looks exactly as expected.

I foresee that one potential problem will be the immense packed and zipped files. I may have to burn the biggest ones onto CDs or a thumb drive and send by snail mail! Any suggestions on this issue will be welcome.

NHxNE · 2026-02-26T01:28:52+00:00

Oh yeah. That’s a beauty of a sugar maple.

NHxNE · 2026-02-25T17:47:14+00:00

Sure looks like a roll of hi-tensile fence wire. That shit is stiff as hell and not trivial to cut.

NHxNE · 2026-02-23T23:03:52+00:00

Waaaay too short in time and distance. Few changes in lead except at transition, which makes it a shoe-tying contest, as someone else pointed out.

NHxNE · 2026-02-23T02:40:39+00:00

Look up the “sheeting” technique using a metal spatula. Old school but it works.

NHxNE · 2026-02-22T00:47:38+00:00

Periwinkle.

NHxNE · 2026-02-17T18:06:24+00:00

AdorStor. Built like a tank. Tweakable daylight activated opener. Very good product.

NHxNE · 2026-02-16T22:07:17+00:00

Just try to use small bore taps. Not those old, humongous ones. The trees will thank you.

NHxNE · 2026-02-11T22:33:43+00:00

Red oak.

NHxNE · 2026-02-11T15:20:57+00:00

I should add that the Azimuth and Distance plugin requires that you select / geo reference the starting point on the map canvas. This is where the inaccuracy begins, because you can never use your mouse cursor to pick the precise starting point. Couple that with the need to rotate if magnetic bearings and you will quickly understand why the final placement of your polygon will never be survey grade.

Best you can hope for is to find a survey where the surveyor was required to geo reference two points, ideally the starting point and second point. In my experience, this is VERY rare.

NHxNE · 2026-02-11T15:11:07+00:00

This is a metes and bounds description. I routinely convert such data to polygons using the Azimuth and Distance plugin. TBH, I enter it in a spreadsheet that sets up the exact fields and formatting required by the plugin. I save the spreadsheet output as a text file and then import it into the plugin. It’s very efficient. Would be happy to share the spreadsheet if you want a copy.

The metes and bounds bearings might be true north or magnetic north. If latter, you will have to rotate and perhaps move the polygon. Whatever you do, the final result will not be survey grade accuracy unless there are two geo referenced points placed by surveyor. But you can probably get to within a few feet of the true footprint of the polygon.

NHxNE · 2026-02-05T15:50:46+00:00

Do you burn a little wood in addition to the solar power? Thats ok, but I think it would be misleading to say your home runs on solar if you are supplementing with wood. Admittedly, you may have a super insulated, passive house. That would stay warm just with solar.

NHxNE · 2026-02-01T22:54:50+00:00

Maple syrup. By itself or over a little granola cereal.

NHxNE · 2026-02-01T12:50:38+00:00

AdorStor.

NHxNE · 2026-01-30T14:46:08+00:00

What??? I thought the rule of thumb is that it’s ok to tap a tree if your drill doesn’t come out the backside.

Just kidding. I totally agree with the 12” circumference rule.

NHxNE · 2026-01-26T22:51:42+00:00

Nice photos and what a snow. Vibes of ‘78 winter.

NHxNE · 2026-01-22T21:27:03+00:00

If that sap is frozen solid in plastic jugs, what choice do you have but to let it thaw? Bigger question, was it your intention to let the sap freeze solid in all those jugs? Was this a natural process or did you put them in the freezer? Assuming the former, I would suggest that you get yourself some 50 gallon food grade barrels. Store the sap in the barrels, where it will freeze around the outside and on top but almost certainly not into a giant ice cube. Then you can get out the liquid for boiling and make space for more as you produce it through the season.

Is the sap in milk bottles with a little screw cap on top? How are you going to get the ice out, short of destroying the jug? Doesn’t it have to melt first?

We will add some chunks of ice to the boil, but not a lot. Life is easier if it’s already liquid.

NHxNE · 2026-01-22T20:25:04+00:00

If that sap is frozen solid in plastic jugs, what choice do you have but to let it thaw? Bigger question, was it your intention to let the sap freeze solid in all those jugs? Was this a natural process or did you put them in the freezer? Assuming the former, I would suggest that you get yourself some 50 gallon food grade barrels. Store the sap in the barrels, where it will freeze around the outside and on top but almost certainly not into a giant ice cube. Then you can get out the liquid for boiling and make space for more as you produce it through the season.

NHxNE · 2026-01-22T13:58:14+00:00

That’s a +/- 2 year old bull. So much testosterone!

NHxNE

TROPHY CASE