Northerners - ever tap a maple tree?
With this continuous snow....I'm trying to think warm thoughts....spring thoughts. Last fall my husband & I identified
several maple trees in our yard that we're going to tap this spring to try to produce a small amount of maple syrup.
Has anyone here done this before? How did it turn out for you?
I have been doing research online, but any other tips and stories would be helpful!
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14 Comments:
I watched an excellent documentary on it, wish I could remember the name to recommend it to you. If memory serves (and it doesn't much anymore), you won't get much from a few trees? You've done research, so you'd know. I always had maple trees, but never thought to tap them - for some reason I think they need to be further north than the mid-atlantic states. Are they a different variety, or does the colder, snowier winter make the difference? I bought lots last time I went to Vermont, Maine & New Hampshire and it's all gone. Not a single drop left. I love maple syrup. I even ate the maple leaf maple lollipop I had planned to give to my granddaughter. My daughter didn't want her to have anything that sweet. It was SO good. ;-)
PerkyMac at 4:38PM on 01/30/09
I live on the MA NH border and while I've never tapped a Maple tree, I have a friend who does so annually to make maple syrup. He lives in the White Mountains. He talked about the process and just how much sap it takes to make a decent amount of syrup. He usually gives us about a pint, which is great since he gets maybe a gallon. It sounds like quite the project and I believe it can get expensive due to the heating process required. That explains the cost of good maple syrup. My husband loves it, but I don't care for it...so our supply is all his.
Pawsinhand at 5:06PM on 01/30/09
Growing up, I helped my dad harvest and boil maple syrup, so I've had a little experience with it. So here's a few pointers:
1) Get a bucket. Make sure you put a lid on the bucket, or it will just fill with drowned insects. Also, the lid keeps out most rainwater. You'll still have to filter the sap before concentrating it- cheesecloth works well for drowned bug removal. Drill a hole in the tree and put a spile in the hole. Attach the bucket to the spile.
2) The ratio of sap to syrup is about 40:1, that is, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. So, you probably won't get very much syrup even from a lot of sap.
3) You can just boil the syrup on the stovetop, or on a wood stove if you have one. Be careful once the sap is nearly syrup, as it can boil over or burn easily. You can determine whether the syrup is done with a density measuring tool, if you can find one. If not, I suppose you could just guess.
4) You can start collecting syrup at the end of February or very early March. Once the trees bud, it's too late- the syrup will taste "buddy" and just not right. The best days will be ones with cold nights and warm, sunny days.
5) Boiling the syrup will fill your house with steam. This can be kind of annoying, so be prepared for it.
Good luck! Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. : )
foids at 5:59PM on 01/30/09
i've never done it, but i have see places that do it. it takes so many trees just to make a small amount. the whole process is so interesting. i miss going on day trips.
dearrie at 5:59PM on 01/30/09
I have done it as part of a group thing several times at Bendix Woods in Indiana. We got to help with the whole process and take home some syrup. I have always wanted to do it for myself, but never had a tree to do it with.
I would try to boil it outdoors if I had enough. Save the steam indoors, plus keep the outside fun going.
sadiepix at 8:40PM on 01/30/09
Lots of videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=making+maple+syrup&aq=f
PerkyMac at 8:53PM on 01/30/09
When I lived in Ohio, one winter I had the brilliant idea of making maple syrup. When the wallpaper in my kitchen started to peel off the walls from all the steam the project came to a screaching halt. The following winter I moved the operation outside and used a turkey frying rig and tanks of propane. It took about a million hours and 2 tanks of propane to make a few pints. I did enjoy the process at the time and now really appreciate why the good stuff costs so much in stores. You really only need a small amount of special equipment and a lot of mature maple trees.You can find all the instructions you need on the internet. I especially liked the Lehman's mail order catalog for my supplies http://www.lehmans.com/ (search "maple syrup" in their on-line catlog). It's also a great source for just about anything else for your kitchen, including cheese making supplies...and that's another story!
kathyvegas at 8:57PM on 01/30/09
ah yes, we have some local folk making syrup.... nectar of the gods... and a true labor of love.... lots of serious producers do their simmering outside in "sugar shacks".... it's fun and interesting to observe.
pooch at 1:40PM on 01/31/09
@foids gives you a very good synopsis of what to expect. At least you will know what you are getting into. Up here in Canada, we have several local operations, some of them have weekend family themes and you can take the kids out for sausages, pancakes and maple syrup and watch how they make the syrup. The kids love it and usually get to dribble some syrup in the snow and eat it like taffy. The best part is buying the syrup or candy (my personal favourite is maple butter and I buy it whenever I go to Europe as a gift) at the end of the tour.
bareneed at 1:51PM on 01/31/09
Thanks for the tips....especially yours @foids and @kathyvegas.....it's great to get a first hand account.
Where I live in WNY maple production is getting bigger & bigger every year. Nearly every spring I do make it to a sugar bush for samples, to watch production, and pick up some syrup....so I have gained some knowledge that way. I'm planning on tapping the trees this year mainly for the experience of making my own....I don't expect to get super large quantities.
I think I'm going to use the stand from my turkey fryer to boil the syrup....I'm thinking of trying to boil it using hotel pans, as I just read in Hobby Farm magazine that shallower pans are better for boiling down the syrup. I'm going to do it in the doorway of my garage....I've heard about the steam it produces when trying to do it in the kitchen.
I did also find some great info here:
http://www.nysmaple.com/
Thanks again for the info!
@perky...any time you need more syrup...just hollar....I'll grab some great NY state produced syrup & send you some! You are right too....the colder weather is whats needed to run the sap used to make maple syrup. From what I've read so far...it's the freezing at night, and the warming during the day that does it. Amazing what Mother Nature does for us...huh? :-)
mepolo at 2:13PM on 01/31/09
MMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEPOLLLLLLOOOOOO
That's me hollering @mepolo as requested. Sounded like the Ricola commercial yell. Thanks for the clarification about the weather. That makes sense, Dontja just love Mother Nature? And maple syrup? ;-D
PerkyMac at 2:38PM on 01/31/09
@perky....I do think I heard ya! lol
Yes....I am a maple lover through & through. I blame it on my mother.....she's a maple lover too....she turned all of her kids into the same! Growing up it was always a special treat to get the maple cream candy in a box of chocolates, we all fought over it! lol
mepolo at 2:02PM on 02/02/09
Check out www.TapMyTrees.com - walks you through the process of tapping maples trees at home and making syrup.
tapmytrees at 12:22PM on 02/22/09
@tapmytrees...ironically I just checked out your site before coming back here to see if there was any new advice. Your site is exactly what I needed..thank you! I've already printed out the tapping info....we've got our taps & buckets, and plan on getting the trees tapped this week. We're still pretty cold in WNY...but it's supposed to be warming up this week, so I think I'm just in time. I'm starting small....with only 6 taps.
Thanks again for the info!
mepolo at 2:06PM on 02/23/09