Has anyone checked if sap is rising?
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about shin high, its defo not dog, as no one goes in to the woods where i set the tap, how did yours do?
I got about that much in an hour, which is all the time I set it up for. It was clear, looked & tasted like slightly sweet water. Nothing like yours (which looks like maple syrup!)
it could be that dark due to the tannins coming from the bark where it is trying to heal etc etc...
try higher up the tree and see if that helps the flow....
try higher up the tree and see if that helps the flow....
it should still be ok but a little bitter maybe, it wont kill you thats for sure....
try another tree, use differing levels with a knife tip before you tap it properly...
try another tree, use differing levels with a knife tip before you tap it properly...
it should still be ok but a little bitter maybe, it wont kill you thats for sure....
try another tree, use differing levels with a knife tip before you tap it properly...
I will do that, it doesnt taste of anything  i might use a different tree
Just to say to remember that's its still just water that's been through a tree, I may have picked up some nutrients and stuff, but dont expect some sweet elixir, nice yes, if you like tree water
all areas are different, even different trees in the same area vary.....
just keep trying with a knife tip pushed into the bark, if liquid comes out tap it propper....
jobs a fish....
just keep trying with a knife tip pushed into the bark, if liquid comes out tap it propper....
jobs a fish....
Just to say to remember that's its still just water that's been through a tree, I may have picked up some nutrients and stuff, but dont expect some sweet elixir, nice yes, if you like tree water
Very true, this is the first year I've tried tapping for sap, normally I get to April and realise I've forgotten again! Lol
I got just under 2l from a large sycamore in 36 hours and was slightly underwhelmed, so reduced it to about 2-300 mls and it tasted like very watery apple juice. And yesterday I took about 250mls from a birch which was very much the same. Still, I'd rather drink a glass of sap then a glass from the tap, it's always nice to feel you've provided for yourself. Or your kids, who drank all my birch sap when I was rinsing my Billy can. Lol
Cheers
Mat
Collected about half a litre from a Silver Birch next to a lake while I was out all day, made shelter, fire, cooked some food... great day out, got there (near Troserch woods) at 8 in morning, got home at 4 in the afternoon. Never done so much walking, I will try to get pictures of the shelter, not the best shelter, it was like half a lean to, and I added a bit to it not bad for second try...
Never been so tired
Good time though!!!
Never been so tired
Good time though!!!
Silver birches are running sap now in south Essex. Spent a few hours in my local woodland today and collected a liter of sap in just 2 hours; time enough for a fire and a brew and to enjoy the early spring in the woods. Just what the doctor ordered.
Never collected sap before and was surprised by the taste. Just like water without all the chemicals we get in tap water. It oxidises to a very suspicious looking yellow colour. though
Never collected sap before and was surprised by the taste. Just like water without all the chemicals we get in tap water. It oxidises to a very suspicious looking yellow colour. though
My brother asked me can he taste it, so I'm up the woods tomorrow, build another shelter, fire, and check the sap, but it takes very long, is there anyway to speed it up, because if you make more than one hole in the tree, more sap come out, I made one hole, and I got half a litre in about 2 hours, although my first time trying to get it...The sap was going all over the place...
Anyway, if anyone is going up Troserch, I'll met you up there
Anyway, if anyone is going up Troserch, I'll met you up there
If you want to check, I guess you can just simply jab the tree with a knife and see if the sap runs down the blade? However... How do you go about plugging up that small hole. Or is it not necessary (Is pushing the flap down enough?) unless it's a big gaping whole? Thanks.... don't want to kill any birch
Tried collecting some more today, but in an urbanised place, last time I was in spruce woodland, with some birch next to a lake.
I left it dripping for about 3 hours, I retuned to it, and the tree, which was incredibly large, sealed itself up, and I only managed to get a mouthful, and it was pretty murky/brown...Maybe because it was in town...
I left it dripping for about 3 hours, I retuned to it, and the tree, which was incredibly large, sealed itself up, and I only managed to get a mouthful, and it was pretty murky/brown...Maybe because it was in town...
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