SouthernSap
11-16-2011, 07:33 AM
Hello, everyone! I am a crazy nut job. Ok, well, somewhat. I am one of those guys who always has to experiment with everything in life and push the envelope in all things. I spent a good deal of time in Maine over the years, where I enjoyed gathering sap and making syrup on the wood stove on a casual, private basis. Now I live in "tropical" South Carolina, where, like, nobody taps trees. I don't even know if it is possible to get any sap at all down here, but I do know there are red maples all over the place down here, including 4 in my yard. There is even a sugar maple in my yard that somebody must have planted decades ago, seeing how they're not exactly native to the area. My friend who lives about three miles from me has at least 50, maybe 100 mature red maples.
I would like to hear all the opinions and information available about the feasibility of getting sap here in the South. Mind you, at this stage, it is more of academic and experimental interest than on a competitive commercial basis. I would be happy with much smaller sap harvests per tree than are acceptable for commercial operations up north. This is more of a "for fun" thing for me. If it should work out, then I would be willing to ramp things up in the years to come and go into full production mode. South Carolina, at least my area, has a healthy farmers' market and roadside stand business to sell fruits, veggies, and so on. The sheer novelty of local maple syrup would be a bonanza. However, first I need to see if sap will even come out of a tree here under any circumstances....
Being the experimental nut case that I am, I am also intrigued with the possibilities of tapping other kinds of trees. We do have box elders and walnuts around here, so I will want to try those, and also sycamores. I can't help wondering about other species too-- are those the only trees that are safe or desirable? Tulip trees sure smell good when you cut them or break them open, sourwood trees smell intriguing, and then there is sassafrass and sweet gum...
Ok, so you can see I'm a total nut job. I will try not to be too obnoxious on the forum. I understand if some of you aren't really interested in these fringe-lunatic dsicussions, but if there are a few people on here who can help me figure these things out, it's most appreciated. I'll be looking to buy a few spials shortly.
:D
I would like to hear all the opinions and information available about the feasibility of getting sap here in the South. Mind you, at this stage, it is more of academic and experimental interest than on a competitive commercial basis. I would be happy with much smaller sap harvests per tree than are acceptable for commercial operations up north. This is more of a "for fun" thing for me. If it should work out, then I would be willing to ramp things up in the years to come and go into full production mode. South Carolina, at least my area, has a healthy farmers' market and roadside stand business to sell fruits, veggies, and so on. The sheer novelty of local maple syrup would be a bonanza. However, first I need to see if sap will even come out of a tree here under any circumstances....
Being the experimental nut case that I am, I am also intrigued with the possibilities of tapping other kinds of trees. We do have box elders and walnuts around here, so I will want to try those, and also sycamores. I can't help wondering about other species too-- are those the only trees that are safe or desirable? Tulip trees sure smell good when you cut them or break them open, sourwood trees smell intriguing, and then there is sassafrass and sweet gum...
Ok, so you can see I'm a total nut job. I will try not to be too obnoxious on the forum. I understand if some of you aren't really interested in these fringe-lunatic dsicussions, but if there are a few people on here who can help me figure these things out, it's most appreciated. I'll be looking to buy a few spials shortly.
:D