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  1. Thread: Birch Tapping

    by billschi
    Replies
    17
    Views
    19,917

    Last season we expanded our birch operation to...

    Last season we expanded our birch operation to around 700 trees. We hung clear plastic bags. We hauled about 8000 gallons to make about 65 gallons of birch syrup. Our last batch turned out close to...
  2. Replies
    78
    Views
    36,399

    We ended up making 42 gallons of birch syrup. We...

    We ended up making 42 gallons of birch syrup. We tapped about 375 trees. We got up to about 550-600 gallons of sap near the end of the season. We hope to tap 500 tree in the 2021 season. The trees...
  3. Replies
    18
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    12,391

    Did you ever try and make birch syrup? The very...

    Did you ever try and make birch syrup? The very important part is not letting the sap temperature go over 200F. I run mine between 180-190F.
  4. Replies
    78
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    36,399

    I may make this my last day. I'm exhausted. I...

    I may make this my last day. I'm exhausted. I hauled 450 gallons again today.
  5. Replies
    78
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    36,399

    After a request to see my aerator in a PM, I was...

    After a request to see my aerator in a PM, I was unable to load it up there so I will post it here. I found out 2 years ago copper can not be used as an aerator with birch because of the high acidic...
  6. Replies
    78
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    36,399

    Dr. Tim I can send a sample to you if...

    Dr. Tim



    I can send a sample to you if you're interested.
  7. Replies
    78
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    36,399

    lostupnorth, about 20 gph with only one 2x6...

    lostupnorth, about 20 gph with only one 2x6 evaporator. I have another but haven't been using it.
  8. Replies
    78
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    36,399

    Duncan, we are using a RO I made. It gives me 60...

    Duncan, we are using a RO I made. It gives me 60 gallons per hour of permeate. I have a homemade 2x6 flat pan with aerators. The pan and aerators are stainless steel. I use a Buckethead vacuum and...
  9. Replies
    78
    Views
    36,399

    Dr Tim, the taste is amazing. I can't even...

    Dr Tim, the taste is amazing. I can't even describe it.
    We cook it off at about 180F to about 60% sugar. Then we water bathe it at 160F to 67%. This stuff can actually be used on pancakes. It's that...
  10. Replies
    78
    Views
    36,399

    Our first batch of birch syrup finished. We are...

    Our first batch of birch syrup finished. We are processing 400 gallons per day. We don't cook our sap over 180F. After it gets to about 60%, we waterbathe it at around 160F or less.

    21435
  11. Replies
    9
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    5,571

    The trees just started running up near Brimson....

    The trees just started running up near Brimson. Only 40 gallons on 250 trees. The forecast the next 10 days looks really good.
  12. Thread: Pricing

    by billschi
    Replies
    3
    Views
    2,744

    Bottles always sell better than canning jars. In...

    Bottles always sell better than canning jars. In northern MN I sell 8oz bottles for $10 and 12oz for $12. I won't sell quarts anymore to lose money.
  13. I built a 12'x20' with an 8'x12' root cellar...

    I built a 12'x20' with an 8'x12' root cellar under it. The root keeps the sap nice and cool no matter the temp outside. I put fresh water tanks down there to hold the sap in. I use a battery and a...
  14. Replies
    10
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    9,156

    I used this to control my wet/dry vac that ran my...

    I used this to control my wet/dry vac that ran my aerator last season. It ran the whole season while making birch....
  15. Replies
    14
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    7,285

    In addition to all the good information you've...

    In addition to all the good information you've received there may be another tip. I'm not sure how much snow you have there but a good sign for me of when the trees are getting ready to run is when...
  16. Replies
    29
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    12,015

    Looks very nice snakes. You are going to want a...

    Looks very nice snakes. You are going to want a big, adjustable draft door under the wood door. This thing will want lots of air to keep that fire hot.
    I double insulated my fire box with rock wool...
  17. Thread: Early tapping

    by billschi
    Replies
    15
    Views
    6,193

    We are below zero at night and in the teens...

    We are below zero at night and in the teens during the day. If I were to tap now with new taps and then cap those taps until the maples flow, would the flow be hindered?
    In my way of thinking, it...
  18. Replies
    12
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    4,758

    I made some maple custard pie. It was a hit. I...

    I made some maple custard pie. It was a hit.
    I also handed out some maple/coffee bean, maple/fir tip, maple/chocolate, maple/pumpkin spice, maple/jalapeno and maple/birch syrups to both sides of the...
  19. Replies
    3
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    3,673

    I installed a blower on my small unit as well. As...

    I installed a blower on my small unit as well. As it did work, as long as there is a fire grate for it to blow under the wood, I found I needed a way to control the amount of air that gets pushed in...
  20. Replies
    33
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    23,784

    How many CFM was your vacuum? How many inches of...

    How many CFM was your vacuum? How many inches of Hg were you able to maintain during this process?
  21. Thread: Birch Bulk

    by billschi
    Replies
    1
    Views
    12,214

    Do you have bulk syrup for sale?

    Do you have bulk syrup for sale?
  22. Replies
    12
    Views
    8,885

    I have since stained the whole sugar shack. ...

    I have since stained the whole sugar shack.
    20219

    Now it's time to work on the inside.
    I have 110 gallons of fresh water tanks in the cellar below for cold sap storage until I boil. I use a RV...
  23. Replies
    25
    Views
    14,899

    I have completed my 12'x20' sugar shack. The door...

    I have completed my 12'x20' sugar shack. The door underneath is the root cellar to keep the sap cool. I gravity feed the sap to fresh water tanks and I use a RV pump to pump the sap to the pans....
  24. Replies
    78
    Views
    36,399

    We made about 15 gallons of birch syrup. We sold...

    We made about 15 gallons of birch syrup. We sold our 8oz bottles for $20 at farmers markets. All sold out. Our very first market I had a guy beeline to our table while we were setting up before the...
  25. Thread: 2019

    by billschi
    Replies
    95
    Views
    86,882

    I just pulled all my birch and remaining maple...

    I just pulled all my birch and remaining maple taps. It's tough sugaring in northern MN. I yielded 20 gallons of maple and about 13 gallons of birch. All in all the best of the four years since I...
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