Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Squeaker, Chessie, Mypondlife, InvasivepondPump, winscbk
18,772 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics41,401
Posts563,199
Members18,772
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,928
ewest 21,644
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,390
Who's Online Now
3 members (Rick O, Kevin and Lori, KenHorton), 360 guests, and 39 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone else has experience collecting sap from Maple and Walnut trees during sugar season? I have a dozen or so trees on the property and have all my Dad's old taps plus some new buckets and figured I'd give it a shot. Might as well make use of them since I have to deal with their leaves they can give a little back.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
A number of years ago there was a few threads about doing so. Tony (sprkplug) started one. I found it, here it is. Making Maply Syrup

I have a few taps and made it one year, it's a LOT of water to boil off to get syrup. Best time to tap trees is when daytime temps are above freezing and night time temps are below freezing. Stop collecting when the buds start to show on the trees - the sap will get bitter.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Thanks esshup, I barely remember much about the process as me and my brother basically sledded all day while Dad and his pals cut wood and made syrup. I dimly recall it took a lot of Miller High Life before they produced a final product smile

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,240
Likes: 371
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,240
Likes: 371
Walnut syrup? That's a new one.

We know a couple of serious maple sap collectors here; the use vacuum tubing instead of buckets for collection. Greater volume.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Yea, they always tapped black walnuts as well as Maple and boiled it separate (or at least they said so). I don't remember much of a difference between the 2 but we are talking 40 years ago and about of bunch of then mid-40's guys who knew more about logging, building fires and fermented beverages than just about anything else when gathered together.

Shoot, I can still hear the barrel of homemade sauerkraut gurgling in the basement - them dudes liked "projects".

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 15
S
Ambassador
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Lunker
S
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 15
Weird. My wife and I just returned from the sugarbush about an hour ago, been tapping trees most of the day. Then I hear someone on Pondboss is asking about the process.
Yes, we've tapped black walnuts. Syrup is incredible, process is much the same with a couple of notable differences. Our first year I boiled 10 gallons of sap, now we produce 6 types of maple syrup. I'll help in any way I can, but a few years ago I agreed to stop posting on the forum. If you're on Facebook, look us up at B&B Farms Maple Syrup. If not send me a pm and we'll work it out. I'll keep an eye on this site for a couple days. Good luck with your sugaring, it's VERY addictive!


"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"

If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1)
And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1)
Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT?
PB answer: It depends.
1 member likes this: azteca
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Likes: 95
4
Offline
4
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Likes: 95
Hey Tony, good to hear from you, even if you are just passing through.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Originally Posted by 4CornersPuddle
Hey Tony, good to hear from you, even if you are just passing through.

Ditto


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 574
Likes: 72
A
Offline
A
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 574
Likes: 72
Hello.

We can make Syrup with Birch trees, but with Walnut tree WOW.

How many gallons of water from the Walnut tree, to make a gallon of Syrup.

A+

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 15
S
Ambassador
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Lunker
S
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 15
Hello 4 corners, howdy Scott. Nice to see some names from the past. I nosed around the forum a bit, but things seem pretty subdued. Hope everyone is well.


"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"

If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1)
And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1)
Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT?
PB answer: It depends.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 15
S
Ambassador
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Lunker
S
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 15
We ran almost 90:1 ratio sap/syrup for black walnut.


"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"

If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1)
And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1)
Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT?
PB answer: It depends.
1 member likes this: FishinRod
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
Off topic reply - but I am enjoying this discussion (and others) about people rekindling "old-time" pursuits.

My grandmother used to make delicious sand plum jelly. My brother collected 5-6# of sand plums at our property this year. His jelly was excellent. (But still not as good as Grandma's!)




P.S. Thanks to everyone that posts these types of projects on Pond Boss. I always learn something new, and if it is too far "off topic" for those who only come here for the ponds, then it is easy to skip these posts.

1 member likes this: azteca
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
I hoped not to offend with "off topic" FishinRod but have learned so much here you don't find in a book from people who have actually done things it was worth a shot.

Seems a waste not to check in for real world experience from such a vast group of folks with know how.

1 member likes this: gehajake
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
STP,

I ENJOYED the thread you started.

I was marking my "sand plum jelly" reply as off topic - since your thread resulted in a lot of really good discussion for everyone regarding making syrup from sap!

We humans can certainly fail to communicate when tone and body language are not included with the words. Sorry I didn't write more clearly in my reply!

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Originally Posted by sprkplug
We ran almost 90:1 ratio sap/syrup for black walnut.


Tony:

Check your PM's.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Good to know FishinRod, we can certainly use more human inflection that simple print does not provide. I've never heard of sand plums, perhaps not native to Ohio? As for giving syrup a whirl, might as well learn and have a little fun in these 3-4 months of gray skies until the ice melts on the pond plus - who doesn't like building a fire? I don't know a man woman or child who doesn't like snow on the ground and a hot fire going, now we'll just boil sap on it as we go!

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
I have a few black walnuts at our farm, so we may try walnut syrup at some point in the future.

We do have thousands of invasive Siberian Elms at our farm. I always clear some in the winter after multiple hard freezes, yet they still run sap like a faucet.

Unfortunately, some of my neighbors call them "piss elms" - and the sap does smell like that at certain times of the year.

If someone would invent a valuable product made from Siberian Elm sap, I could retire as a multi-millionaire and just have fun improving my ponds all year! laugh

All joking aside, what other types of trees have sap that can be rendered down to tasty syrup?

Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 574
Likes: 72
A
Offline
A
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 574
Likes: 72
Hello.

Site with several species that produce syrup.

https://practicalselfreliance.com/trees-species-tap-syrup/
A+

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 749
Thanks azteca, that is a great link!

We do have a few boxelders. I didn't know they were maple trees, but one look at the seeds should have been a good clue.

The article says you can also tap elm trees. If we ever set up to boil sap, then I will have to try some of our elm trees. I think I could fill a bucket in about five minutes!

Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Great website, azteca, I'm just learning and making this up as I go along but it sure has the family excited.

Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Update, the Black Walnuts are running like crazy. We are going to boil off 8-10 gallons over the weekend - should be fun while we wait through the endless Super Bowl coverage before the game.

Be well!

1 member likes this: FishinRod
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,928
Likes: 975
Originally Posted by STP
Update, the Black Walnuts are running like crazy. We are going to boil off 8-10 gallons over the weekend - should be fun while we wait through the endless Super Bowl coverage before the game.

Be well!

They really should be running next week. Here we will have a few days in the 40's with night time temps at or below freezing.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
I'm hoping so, we had 3 great days with the right weather but now a couple cold days then right back to perfect weather. It's all about learning and being outside some.

1 member likes this: esshup
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Hey esshup, we boiled down 8g of black walnut sap to syrup. keeping to the math that turned out to be 5 8oz bottles of syrup finishing at 218F, filtered twice (once off the outdoor stove and the second into the bottle indoors using doubled over cheesecloth both times).

One could boil farther, more water than what I thought but I stayed to the temps and holy cow get out the vanilla ice cream, it's butterscotch. Maybe a hint of walnut but, it's butterscotch.

Enjoy the rest of the season.

1 member likes this: FishinRod
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
S
STP Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 12
Solving the pectin problem with walnuts: skim the foam, double up your cheesecloth when it look like "this is about to go down" filter into a second pan for another 30 minutes outside, double up the cheesecloth (meaning fold a piece over into a metal colander) again into the final pot and do the rest on the stove. Zero cloudiness in my experience but if you don't skim you'll really see the pectin build up.

Fun ride, if you have them - use them!

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
DonoBBD, jdfarmer, tz666
Recent Posts
NE Iowa Pond Builder Recommendations
by Kevin and Lori - 12/09/24 08:00 AM
Pumping Well Water Into The Pond Questions...
by FishinRod - 12/08/24 05:44 PM
What did you do at your pond today?
by Theo Gallus - 12/08/24 02:08 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by Bill Cody - 12/08/24 12:42 PM
My new pond documentary :)
by gehajake - 12/08/24 10:34 AM
Breeding in holding tanks
by Bill Cody - 12/07/24 08:02 PM
Small 1000 gallon stock tanks and geothermal
by Tbar - 12/07/24 07:40 PM
Happy Birthday Highflyer
by highflyer - 12/06/24 12:22 PM
Deer Season '24/'25 Thread
by rangerTXrancher - 12/05/24 04:03 PM
Happy Birthday DD1
by FishinRod - 12/05/24 10:18 AM
Red-tailed Hawks
by FishinRod - 12/05/24 10:12 AM
Killing pond and starting over
by Dave Davidson1 - 12/04/24 07:16 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Koi
Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, October 12
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
by Theo Gallus, September 21
How to Out Condello Bruce Condello ...
How to Out Condello Bruce Condello ...
by Theo Gallus, August 3
Major change since 2009
Major change since 2009
by SENKOSAM, July 3
Fishing with my Best Buddy
Fishing with my Best Buddy
by Theo Gallus, June 29

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5