Twenty years ago I posted about birch tapping, and what was then for me a new method with an auger, demijon plug and tubing. This was influenced by Ray Mears Bushcraft Four Seasons episode. Before that I just used a knife tip and a very small shaved stick jammed into the cut to direct the sap into a cup tied to the trunk . Because Ray used the more aggressive auger method, and explained it as harmless if you sealed the hole, I thought it was harmless. But he never explained the best wood or state of wood to seal the hole. It was great method as you get litres of sap with that, and in a very short time period.
Five years after that I posted on here the evidence of pretty much all the trees I’d tapped that way had died. During those years I’ve found that the important part, is how you seal that hole. Ray wasn’t specific. So I used birch and then cork as I found birch leaked as it was very porous and loose fibre. Then I used hard dead wood that was sealed with hot wax. It was hit and miss, but still more effective than anything else. But after the revelation that I’d killed many trees. I stopped using that method completely. And I still urge people to not use it. Ever.
Today I found a tree that I tapped twenty years ago. Sadly, the wind had pushed it over. But amazingly, the hole was healed. The only evidence in the bark. I’d used an old boiled champagne cork. But they’re had completely healed over from that massive auger excavation. It’s not a method I’ll use ever again as the results are mostly negative. But it is amazing to see evidence of a younger me finding out how much destruction we can reap with the best of intentions.
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I’ve long since gone back to the old ways. And sometimes you need two cups to catch the unpredictable flow
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