Information: How to Tap

[kate@vermontevaporator]

Howdy Hobby Folk!

If you are looking to tap for the first time this year, or just brush up some tapping skills from days of yore, check out our latest blog post and handy infographic! Link below.

Be Well,

Kate

"DIY Maple Syrup: How to Tap" --> https://vermontevaporator.com/2021/01/diy-maple-syrup-how-to-tap/

[berkshires]

Nice! A couple of thoughts, if you're interested in feedback:

1 - Previous year tapping info. You wrote:

every year you should tap a distance away from the prior year’s tap anyway (6″ horizontally and 12″ vertically)

The UVM Proctor Maple Research Center suggests tapping
at least 2-4” side-to-side and 6-12” up-or-down from the previous year’s taphole. Reference: https://mapleresearch.org/pub/sapyieldtips2020/

So I think that your recommendation of 6" spacing to the side will result in making it difficult to find good wood within a much shorter time.

2 - Regarding where to tap, you wrote:
For best results, you should choose a place on the tree that is either below a big branch or above a big root

Dr Tim Perkins, a researcher at PMRC says that the above is not true - it makes no difference if you tap above a large root or below a large limb. Reference: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?35238-Tap-root-question&p=379125#post379125

Cheers,

Gabe