Comments on: Maple Sugaring at Chiot’s Run

By: Joe McHale

Joe McHale — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:26:50 +0000

It is amazing to see the sap start to flow once you tap your trees. Tapping maple trees is a great family activity – kids love it. For more information on how to get started, take a look at http://www.TapMyTrees.com.

By: Susy

Susy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:26:45 +0000

Yes, you take the taps out. I’m not sure about the hole, as you can see in the 4th photo down on this webpage (http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Buds_and_Bark/tapping_sugar_maple_index.html) you can still see the old holes in the tree.

By: Susy

Susy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:25:49 +0000

A bunch of mine are green red maples as well (actually I think that’s what most of them are).

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:37:03 +0000

forgot to add, do you take the taps out or leave them in after you are done tapping? If you take them out does the hole cover over quickly? Dan’s last blog post.. 2009 Vegetable Varieties Table

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:34:05 +0000

Very interesting post Susy. I also thought you could only tap sugar maples. We have 10 large norway maples in the back, like a red maple but green. I should try tapping them one season. Please keep use updated on the process. Dan’s last blog post.. 2009 Vegetable Varieties Table

By: Susy

Susy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:39:13 +0000

Yep you just boil and boil until it become syrupy. There’s a certain temp you boil the final syrup to.

It’s going to be a fun activity. We’re excited about next year because we’ll be more prepared and start earlier. We have been scouting all the rest of the maples around the property and in the woods behind us. Hopefully next year we’ll have 30 or more trees to tap. We should be able to provide enough syrup for our needs.

By: Susy

Susy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:37:10 +0000

Nope drilling holes in them doesn’t damage the tree. You’re suppose to take the tap out when the trees bud. They just seal up the hole. I’m pretty sure you have to drill a new hole each year. From photos I’ve seen most people drill them in same vicinity.

We’re planning on boiling it down over a fire outside. I’ve heard this imparts more flavor. We’ll see, I’ll keep you posted.

By: Susy

Susy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:35:30 +0000

Yes, Lehman’s is very close, we love going there for supplies. I’m planning on buying a few big pickling crocks from them for sauerkraut & pickles this year. They do have the best supplies for people that love doing things like maple sugaring or any other kind of homestead kind of thing.

I would love to try birch syrup. I don’t know if we have any birch trees. I’ll have to walk around in the woods behind the house to see. If I lived closer to the family hunting cabin I’d tap some hickories & walnut trees to see what that syrup tasted like.

By: Susy

Susy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:33:28 +0000

That sounds like fun. I would love to go see a really maple syrup place.

By: Susy

Susy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:32:50 +0000

I’ll have to see if we have any birch trees. It’s definitely an interesting thing.