Birch sap

[happybonzo]

Is anyone collecting Birch sap yet?

[RobbC]

No, its abit too early yet, the best time is around the end of the first week or second week in march.

Robb

[Martin]

No, its abit too early yet, the best time is around the end of the first week or second week in march.

Robb

lol, that'll be tomorrow through to the end of next week then? :D

Martin

[RobbC]

lol, that'll be tomorrow through to the end of next week then?
You know what i mean, its been a long day and i was convinced it was monday:confused2:

Robb

[Tony1948]

The birch sap is flowing now in south essex.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Dont Get Eaton By The Bears..............atb,,,,,,TONY..............

[happybonzo]

How did you know about the Bears :)

[GaryBeaner]

I'm still weighing up the pros and cons of using a drill bit/auger and some tubing Vs the point of a knife and a shaped piece of wood. Opinions anyone????

[RobbC]

I'm still weighing up the pros and cons of using a drill bit/auger and some tubing Vs the point of a knife and a shaped piece of wood. Opinions anyone????
I have to say i use the auger method, but instead of using pipe i use the method that ray mears uses with a pices of wood with a grove carved in the top with my spoon knife. if using this method then i would use a bit of birch with a slight bend upwards so u can hang a billy can on it.

Robb

[GlenM]

I'm still weighing up the pros and cons of using a drill bit/auger and some tubing Vs the point of a knife and a shaped piece of wood. Opinions anyone????

Try Both, then you'll know which you prefer for next year!

Glen

[MikeWilkinson]

Sap is flowing up here in south lancashire, if a little slow in some trees.

[Tony1948]

Gary wot i do is get a bit of 1/2 inch copper water pipe(15mm i think) and put a compreshion tap on it so when i put it in the tree i can turn it off & on as i want,that way if you'r not there you can stop the run,like if you go to work or out with the BOSS.THen when you'r back just put you'r billy under the pipe and start again, you dont have to plug the hole each time ,just on &off the tap............atb.............DONT GET EATON BY THE BEARS..................TONY

[Adam Savage]

Just got back from an hour tapping the local birch. decided to stop at that as if I left the billy there over night, some youths would have pilfered it. Managed to get a good half a cup or so, and I must say it is most refreshing. Never tried it before but it will be on my list of things to get on with next year, seeing as I have tonnes on at the minute.

[swkieran]

beutiful drink isint it crazysaint :).Makes you wonder if our ancestors would have drunk it when they moved over the country to hunt,and i like tonys idea above :)

[fish]

can you folks post some pictures?

[Adam Savage]

beutiful drink isint it crazysaint :).Makes you wonder if our ancestors would have drunk it when they moved over the country to hunt,and i like tonys idea above :)

Trouble is its only really flowing for a month I guess, but sure for that month, I'm sure they must have made full use of it's high nutritional values. Even read it has the all important proteins in it too.


can you folks post some pictures?

If I pop out to get more I'll take the camera with me Fish. :)

[beechnut mick]

just come back from a weekend camp and got to slurp on some refreshing hornbeam which is flowing well,yet to go check on my birch trees but them babys will get tapped

[kINGPIN]

can you folks post some pictures?

Here are the photos of my attempt this spring. I had the auger bit fabricated that afternoon. I can't wait to get straight onto this next year as I was too busy at work to do much this time round.http://thesecretcamper.blogspot.com/2011/04/birch-tapping-guide.html

[Adam Savage]

Here are the photos of my attempt this spring. I had the auger bit fabricated that afternoon. I can't wait to get straight onto this next year as I was too busy at work to do much this time round.http://thesecretcamper.blogspot.com/2011/04/birch-tapping-guide.html

great little set up there

[kINGPIN]

Thanks crazysaint, it didn't cost too much either.

[Adam Savage]

I like the augers. might weld a bar on the end of some of my old ones lol

[kINGPIN]

Just make sure they are sharp as it is bloody hard work, unless is is a much smaller bore.

[Adam Savage]

I must admit, I used a spade bit and a cordless drill last time I tapped a birch

[kINGPIN]

Believe me if I had any local to me I would take my drill with me.