Well, not sure where to place or start this, so now that I'm here, this is it)
I just wanted to start a quick Thread so that us birch tappers can have a spot here. Although we have much in common with the maple industry, there are differences.
I like to see a section created and called "Just Birch"
As for me I started in 2005 with a plastic water tee and one tree and collected birch sap for, 10 day or 40 liters.
Since then we have been selling birch sap wine here in Newfoundland called "Lady of the Woods", created a vodka called "BirchWynd", developing a birch juice called "Sapalicious"
in 2006 I had 200 taps, 2007 - 1,000, 2009 - 2,000 and now we are getting our first harvesting site 122 Hectors or about 50-60,000 trees and have a plan to develop a 20,000 harvesting site, to collect 200,000 gallons of birch sap to produce 2,000 gallons of birch Syrup. I have yet to make one, cup.
So I'm looking at starting this spring and l could use your help.
I am only looking at using the 2,000 taps this year, and I don't want to go flat out boiling all the sap yet I like to make between 100-200 gallons of syrup per day.
So the first question is what size wood fire evaporator to I require?
What modifications do I have to do to it, if any? (I know some do)
Is anyone interest in possibly coming to Newfoundland and working this April/May producing Birch Syrup?
www.sapworld.ca
Craig )