Markct,
I am so sorry to hear about your "illness". We started about 8 years ago with wanting to make a "little bit of syrup" using an old flat pan we got from my wife's grandparents hobby at their cottage. So far I can't tell you what this illness has cost me and how it has grown. We started with about 15 taps went to about 40 the next year the same spring we had twins (not a good idea to mix new twins and maple sugering we did not do well that year. I think we pulled the taps in about may that year) We make anywhere form 12-20 gallons of syrup each year depending on how mother nature helps out last year was our worst year ever in Michigan.
So far our hobby has only cost us a new sugar shack, small evaporator which we have outgrown, 80 taps, storage tanks, sap buckets, bottles, not sleeping many nights. (remember it only takes around 40 gallons of boiled down sap to make 1 gallon of pure syrup). But man what a fun spring time hobby. We sell a little bit each year to friends and neighbors to get a little out of it but what a fun way to spend time with the kids as you can see the fun we have We have four daughters ages 9, 6,6, and 3 and I can't think of a better way to spend a day than outside in the spring collecting boiling and just doing something not many people have the patient痴 for anymore. Their is not a fast instant way when it comes to maple syrup. I have a lot of friends who ask if the syrup comes out of the tree and are shocked when I give them the syrup lesson. It is a great hobby and also another excuse to get on the tractor of course. We have a blast with it every year. You can see some our pics of our fun hobby.