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02/05/14, 08:49 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,898
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I started tapping, on my own, about the time I was 15.
I was using a cabin, hard maple grove and basic setup of an old man who passed on about a year before I was born. It was all situated in a remote portion of virgin timber, a couple hundred yards from the river. Had to supply my own evaporator pan.....
His brother-in-law set me up with taps and buckets, and the sugar camp felt like a hundred miles from civilization.....though it was about four miles from my house.
I could have lived that life for a teaspoon of syrup, at the time. 
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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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02/06/14, 10:52 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: South Central Pa
Posts: 87
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A little sap did flow yesterday. It got to about 34 degrees in the afternoon. When I went to check today (about 10 o'clock) everything in the bags or jugs was completely frozen. Guess I should have waited a week or so to start. Another thing I noticed was the difference in the amount of sap I am getting between the two kinds of taps I bought. The ones that came with the plastic bags were a 7/16 tap with a sharp taper. (They go from 3/8 to 1/2 inch in about 1" of length ) The other ones were 5/16 made to use with the tubing. ( These go from 1/4 to 5/16 inch in about 1 1/2 inches ) There is very little taper in a longer distance. The 7/16 ones don't go into the tree very far and I seem to be getting more sap from them than the smaller ones that go into the tree farther. Any thoughts?
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02/06/14, 11:07 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,898
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Yup.
Next time you buy.....pick up more of the high flow type......
Apparently, the other type is impeding flow from a portion of the phloem.
__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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02/09/14, 07:03 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 413
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jingle5616
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Dr Tim Perkins, UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr, explains his finding at Maple Trader.com
http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...fuses-me/page2
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”Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”
~Noah Webster
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02/09/14, 07:33 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,216
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Studhauler, are you a member there too?
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02/09/14, 08:58 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 413
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Yep, same username.
I got the 400 gallon bulk milk tank home today, so I am excited for syrup, but the high temp today was −3 so it will be awhile. I'll post pictures sometime this week.
__________________
Patriot Guard Riders http://www.patriotguard.org/
”Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”
~Noah Webster
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02/15/14, 08:49 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,216
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FINALLY!!!!
It is -1 right now, about average temp for the past couple of weeks, but this coming week it it finally going to warm up. Looks like Monday will be in low to mid 40's, and by Friday, they are forecasting temps in the low to mid 50's.
Finally, sap will start flowing again.
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02/15/14, 09:29 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,898
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The kids just starting tapping here, Thursday.
Looks to be in the 40s and 50s next week, so.......
__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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02/19/14, 09:48 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3
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i just taped a couple silver maples.any advise specific to this tree?im in ohio.
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02/19/14, 11:09 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,898
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Collect the sap and boil just the same as any other maple.
__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
III
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02/19/14, 11:33 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,216
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Had about 2 gallons of sap yesterday, nothing to write home about.
Supposed to get into the upper 40's today and mid 50's tomorrow, so I am hoping to do a batch boil early next week when our temps are supposed to be back down in the low 30's again.
Im hoping to be able to get at least 20 gallons over the next few days, currently have about 2 gallons of concentrate ( started as about 10 gallons of sap) in the freezer from our last warm spell.
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02/19/14, 08:27 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: maysville WV
Posts: 45
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Finally got my trees tapped
Last edited by IDIGIT; 02/20/14 at 06:44 PM.
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02/22/14, 06:14 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,216
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Best day for sap this year so far. Collected just over 4 gallons.
It kinda baffled me why a couple of my trees really put it out, but the rest have yet to have really good days. I am assuming it it because my two good trees are open in my yard, while the rest are in the woods, but I really don't know.
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02/25/14, 07:35 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,092
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Dixie Bee, your description of yourself makes me smile every time I read it.
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03/03/14, 10:30 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,216
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Made some syrup this morning.
Last few times sap was flowing, it would only flow for a day or two, then the temps would drop and the trees would freeze up. What I started doing was, if I had several gallons of sap and then the trees froze up again, was to put the sap in my 20qt electric toaster and simmer it down to one gallon, then pour it into a milk jug and freeze it.
I ended up getting 5 gallons of sap Saturday, so, while simmering it in the toaster, I thought, yeah, why not. So I thawed out the two gallons of concentrate I had in the freezer, total would have been about 17-18 gallons of sap.
I let it simmer in the toaster over night till it was all down to about a gallon of conventrate.
Then, this morning, instead of freezing it, I went ahead and put it on the stove in a 13 by 20 or so stainless steel steam table pan, and took it down to syrup.
I ended up with almost 2 quarts.
Judging by the weather forecast, the trees should start flowing again Thursday or Friday this week, I hope it stays warm enough the trees continue to flow for at least a couple weeks.
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03/03/14, 11:18 AM
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: western mtns. maine
Posts: 32
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I guess it is time to strap on snow shoes and start tapping . Should be no sweat to tap 600 hillside trees 3 feet of snow and 0 degrees lol.
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03/04/14, 04:10 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 5
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Hello Everyone,
This is my first post and new to the Homesteading site. Forgive my ignorance but can you tap any maple tree? I live in SC and do not have any maple trees but who knows what some of the neighbors might have. We have mostly Sweet Gums, Pines and Cedars. Hoping to connect with someone near to be a mentor. I am slightly disabled so have to be careful about how much activity I take on in a day otherwise I will be in pain and not move for a few days. So any help in turning a 1 acre (house sits on it) into something that at least feeds myself and my sister would be appreciated. Have a great wonderful blessed day. Gloria
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03/04/14, 05:48 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: NY
Posts: 13
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Its supposed to warm up by us towards the end of the week as well. Hope to run a small batch. We have a whopping total of one pint of syrup so far this year. Im excited though as its the first year we tapped trees.
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03/04/14, 06:30 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,216
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Gloria, yes, you can tap any maple tree, so long as the trunk is at least 10 to 12 inches across. The sugar content of the sap will be a little lower in red maples and sugar maples, but it will still make syrup.
Fnfalguy, looks good, now you are hooked, time to play the waiting game for more sap.
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03/04/14, 07:48 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,898
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Gloria....don't be afraid to tap those sweet gums.
Sycamore, walnut, box elder and birch, as well.......
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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
III
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