It's Maple Sugar Time

[jimmyb]

I've seen a few videos of them tapping Birch trees.
Is the taste similar to Maple?

[Summerthyme]

Where are you located (general idea, not town!)

Feb 1 is WAY early for tapping here in Western NY, although I'll admit that it's probably running now. Problems arise if you tap too early, and get a long cold snap... the holes can dry up. Hubby once saw a year where it came off REAL early... he said they were tapping using miner's lamps to see (no such thing as LED headlamps then!).

They tapped 1800 trees (much of that using snowshoes) and got one run... and then it turned cold.

Five weeks later, it warmed back up, they got one more short run... and it turned hot and stayed hot. The trees budded out shortly afterwards. IIRC, they made something like 10 gallons total!

I'm not going to tap this year... I got almost 7 gallons of good syrup last year, and we've got plenty in the cellar.

Summerthyme

[Meemur]

I think the majority don't start tapping here until late February, although it might be as early as Valentine's Day if we keep having warm spells.

[Seditious]

Where are you located (general idea, not town!)

Feb 1 is WAY early for tapping here in Western NY, although I'll admit that it's probably running now. Problems arise if you tap too early, and get a long cold snap... the holes can dry up. Hubby once saw a year where it came off REAL early... he said they were tapping using miner's lamps to see (no such thing as LED headlamps then!).

They tapped 1800 trees (much of that using snowshoes) and got one run... and then it turned cold.

Five weeks later, it warmed back up, they got one more short run... and it turned hot and stayed hot. The trees budded out shortly afterwards. IIRC, they made something like 10 gallons total!

I'm not going to tap this year... I got almost 7 gallons of good syrup last year, and we've got plenty in the cellar.

Summerthyme

I'm in southern lower Michigan and the micro climate is a bit warmer than surrounding. From what I'm reading the season is starting early this year everywhere. If any taps are dry I'll redrill them. It's just 10 trees and they're easy access.

Anyone who wants to try can make up spiles pretty quick or buy some plastic at home depot. You can even make metal ones out of fired rifle brass and a drill. You don't need purpose built spiles to try this.

Wooden spiles https://youtu.be/4zeR1Esc460

Plastic spiles https://youtu.be/zqN9BWML4c8