Find a good maple tree
This one looks good. It is large and has a nice full crown.
This one looks good. It is large and has a nice full crown.
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Run lines from your trees...
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...to your holding tank.
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Then go back to each tree when the weather is right for the
sap to run. (20°F or so at night and 40°F or so during the day)
sap to run. (20°F or so at night and 40°F or so during the day)
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And find a spot on the tree where there are no old
tap holes within a few inches all around.
The old holes on this tree are circled.
tap holes within a few inches all around.
The old holes on this tree are circled.
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Then drill a hole about 1.5 inches into the white wood.
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Tap the spile into the hole...
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... and watch the sap run!
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This is how I get around in the woods
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Sometimes we still do it the old fashioned way with buckets
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Drill hole with bit and brace
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Hammer spile with hook into the tree
Don't forget the hook!
Don't forget the hook!
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Then hang the bucket on the hook...
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and listen to the sap dripping!
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Then put a lid on the bucket to keep out sticks and leaves...
and small animals!
and small animals!
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Guess how deep the snow is!
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Next comes the fun part: boiling!
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The sap comes from a tank and runs through a preheater and then into the evaporator.
(I use a redneck preheater: a coil of copper pipe!)
(I use a redneck preheater: a coil of copper pipe!)
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The scum has to be skimmed off.
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The fire gets so hot that the arch doors turn red!
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Then, after boiling and boiling and boiling, I have to check the syrup with a hydrometer to see if it is done.
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The thermometer also helps tell when the syrup is ready. The boiling point of syrup is 7.1°F above the boiling point of water. At our elevation, this is roughly 216°F.
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If the temperature is good and the hydrometer reads 32 Baume, then it is time to draw off!
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After drawing off, I filter the syrup and let it cool before bringing it home to can.
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The finished product: Pure Vermont Maple Syrup!
