Monday, March 7, 2016

Tapping Maple Trees

Remember last fall when I hiked our land marking maple trees?  Well a couple of weeks ago it was time to tap them.

We started using milk jug type containers to collect the sap, but quickly realized that we needed to switch to 5 gallon buckets.  This didn't mean we would have gallons of maple syrup.  It takes about 90 gallons to make just one gallon of syrup, once it's all boiled down! 

There was still a lot of snow on our hike up to the top of our land, and on one steep stretch Paul and I were slipping and sliding like crazy.  Luckily, it was a warm day and melted later on. 

We had enough taps to do ten trees.  Then we had to check them daily, and store the sap in the fridge until we would collect enough to boil. 

I will let you know how it goes once we boil it down.  It is an all day process to boil the syrup down, but we're hoping it will go smoothly.  I will let you know!

23 comments:

  1. That is so neat, hope you get it boiled down quickly. Years ago I would see the cows licking maple trees and found that the sap would drip down the trunk and evaporate leaving the sugar, I was able to lick higher than the cows so I guess maple sugar forms naturally.

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  2. Neat. So we can go to the store and buy some "Workman's Maple Syrup" soon?

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  3. Wow! I had no idea it took so much to make one gallon of syrup. Hoping it goes well for y'all. I'm sure it will be the best tasting syrup!

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  4. i saw a huge boiling vat at a sale recently. I wasn't sure what it was at first.

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  5. WOW - that's a lot of work! But I'm sure it is very rewarding. Can't wait to hear how it goes :)

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  6. We are in the middle of syrup country! Our neighbours have 35 acres, and a huge operation.
    Re: apple trees: I planted two last year. We'll see if they survive! The deer nibble the branches of the other trees!
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  7. I always picture the trees shivering in fear at the vampire humans coming to suck all their sap out....

    The guy that does it around here uses a big pot and a propane burner for his when boiling it down.

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  8. Wow I had no idea it took so much sap to get a gallon of syrup! Will you boil it down outside in a big vat or do it in smaller batches inside?

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  9. You're Actually Doing It!!! How exciting.
    I'm really looking forward to more of the story.

    You do the best adventures ever!
    love & love,
    -g-

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  10. That looks like fun. I'd like to try this.

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  11. My limited experience on this subject tells me its all about timing. Good luck!

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  12. This is a lot of work! I hope you are able to collect enough!

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  13. how exciting! i cant wait to see how it all turns out.

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  14. I have never taste the maple syrup. It's so expensive here and so rare.

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  15. Interesting that it takes so much sap! No wonder maple syrup is expensive.

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  16. How exciting, yet a lot of work. I have no doubt though, you guys will have maple syrup! :)

    xoxo

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  17. I can't wait to see and hear the process of boiling it down to make syrup. How do you know how to do all this stuff?

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  18. So cool! My son had the joy of learning about the maple syrup process at his school last year. They walked through the woods with their snowshoes and "helped" tap the trees and collect the syrup. I bet your boys must love learning how you can do it right at home!

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  19. I loved this and shared this with Benjamin, he thought it was so neat. This is something we don't have down here in TEXAS.

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  20. My dad used to tap maple trees when we were kids.

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