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View Full Version : Tapped my trees!!


HomesteadBaker
03-06-2009, 02:26 PM
I tapped 2 lovely old sugar maples in my front yard this morning. Already have 2 gallons of sap in the fridge, and fixing to go pull a third full gallon off the tree in a few minutes!

Tree #1 (about 20 minutes of flow in the jug)
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/HomesteadBaker/HPIM0312.jpg

Tree #2 (the "slow" tree)
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/HomesteadBaker/HPIM0314.jpg

I am excited..... never made syrup on my own before. Last time I helped was when I was a little girl when my GrandDad made it!

Kitty
MoniDew
03-06-2009, 04:34 PM
that's really quite amazing! Isn't it?!
HomesteadBaker
03-06-2009, 04:53 PM
Fixing to pull gallon #4 off the tree now.... gallon #5 is about 3/4 full. Tomorrow will be cooking day! LOL :D
HomesteadBaker
03-07-2009, 10:22 AM
Sap is running much slower today... 55*, but no sunshine to heat things up. It is overcast and drizzling a bit. Probably a good thing, as I have no more storage containers for sap!!!! LOL
ecogirl
03-08-2009, 06:20 AM
I wish I had some maple tree's in my front yard! Not many people here in the UK plant maple trees! I'll try my best! (you inspired me!)
HomesteadBaker
03-08-2009, 04:45 PM
And we have SYRUP!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!!!!! All day boiling for 3 pints of heavenly, home grown, homemade syrup!!!! Deeeeeeeeeeeelicious!!!!
Garden Green
03-09-2009, 02:10 PM
Ok, I'm jealous, I just love maple syrup. Was the tapping easy? How do you process it?
HomesteadBaker
03-09-2009, 02:20 PM
I wish I had some maple tree's in my front yard! Not many people here in the UK plant maple trees! I'll try my best! (you inspired me!)
I know there are other trees that can be tapped to make syrup... hickory comes to mind. Maybe birch? Not sure on that one. Do a google search to see what local trees you can tap!
HomesteadBaker
03-09-2009, 02:28 PM
Ok, I'm jealous, I just love maple syrup. Was the tapping easy? How do you process it?

It is very easy.... took my handy-dandy little drill (sorry, Patti, I don't have a brace like your uncle. ;) ) and made a hole to fit the taps I have... and nature filled the containers from her bounty. Processing is time consuming, but easy........ just boil it down. Approx 5 gallons will make a pint of syrup, depending on the type of maple and the sugar content of the sap. Sap becomes syrup when it reaches about 7.1* to 7.5* above the boiling point... here, that would be about 219* to 220*.