Do you remember the red sap that I think runforestrun had last year from a box elder? That was a sight to see. I think that was caused by a fungus or something. I don't remember if she used it or not but it was also beautiful. Ah, the wonders of natureOriginally Posted by psparr
“A sap-run is the sweet good-bye of winter. It is the fruit of the equal marriage of the sun and frost.”~John Burroughs, "Signs and Seasons", 1886
backyard mapler since 2006 using anything to get the job done from wood stove to camp stove to even crockpots.
2012- moved up to a 2 pan block arch
2013- plan to add another hotel pan and shoot for 5-6 gallons
Thinking small is best for me so probably won't get any bigger.
To follow up on happy thoughts' comments, once of my box elders had bright magenta wood. When I pulled out the drill bit I thought I'd guttted a squirrel. While I expected to see anything from clear to red sap, it only ever gave me crystal clear sap. Apparently the red stained wood is caused by the boxelder bug.
It does this to wood;
box elder.jpg
Pretty cool isn't it?
~ Karen ~
2012 - 10 taps, 1 turkey fryer - 169.5L sap 4.2 L syrup
2013 - 23 taps, 2 turkey fryers - 748.5 L sap 17.56 L syrup
2014 - 22 taps, 509 L sap 12.5 L syrup
2015 - 28 taps, 1093.75 L sap 25.1 L syrup
2016 - 25 taps, 1223.5 L sap 28.25 L syrup
2017 - 21 taps, 518.5 L sap 12.7 L syrup
2018 - 28 taps, 2 turkey fryers & Denali 3 burner propane stove - 798L sap 16.9 L syrup
2019 - 28 taps, 1409.5L sap 40.12L syrup
Sugar, Norway, Manitoba, Silver and Freeman Maples
That is pretty cool for sure!
Karen that wood is beautiful though for some reason I remembered the sap as red, too,. Obviously, I am not a reliable witness lol
Have you thought about having that tree milled? I bet it would bring a good price from wood carvers.
“A sap-run is the sweet good-bye of winter. It is the fruit of the equal marriage of the sun and frost.”~John Burroughs, "Signs and Seasons", 1886
backyard mapler since 2006 using anything to get the job done from wood stove to camp stove to even crockpots.
2012- moved up to a 2 pan block arch
2013- plan to add another hotel pan and shoot for 5-6 gallons
Thinking small is best for me so probably won't get any bigger.
Should I ever decide to remove that tree from the property, you can bet that I'll make sure that the wood goes to good use. For the time being I'm going to be squeezing every drop of sap that it will give.
~ Karen ~
2012 - 10 taps, 1 turkey fryer - 169.5L sap 4.2 L syrup
2013 - 23 taps, 2 turkey fryers - 748.5 L sap 17.56 L syrup
2014 - 22 taps, 509 L sap 12.5 L syrup
2015 - 28 taps, 1093.75 L sap 25.1 L syrup
2016 - 25 taps, 1223.5 L sap 28.25 L syrup
2017 - 21 taps, 518.5 L sap 12.7 L syrup
2018 - 28 taps, 2 turkey fryers & Denali 3 burner propane stove - 798L sap 16.9 L syrup
2019 - 28 taps, 1409.5L sap 40.12L syrup
Sugar, Norway, Manitoba, Silver and Freeman Maples
It was raining quite a bit although the buckets were covered. rainwater on the lids was yellowish. I'm certain some could have found its way into the buckets. given the above advise I will keep an eye on it and separate the yellowish sap and boil down separately. I'm a first timer but don't want to waste efforts. I have 21 taps out and got about 12 gallons in the first 18 hours. Thank you all for the advice!
Im curious also. I am running tubing into 5 gallon water bottles. Checked today and two bottles from the same tree , one crystal clear, the other one looks like urine. see pic. Tree is in good shape, tapped in a good clean area. This is a very large sugar maple. Hope the Doc chimes in.20140222_102703.jpg
2011, 1st time. 8 taps, turkey fryer. 3 quarts syrup
2012, 25? taps, homemade barrel stove, steam pan. hoping 3 to 5 gallons
If you can't attribute it to rain water then there is likely internal damage like a hollow spot near the tap hole.
custom made 2x7 intensofire
With SL pans
250 deer run
300 3/16 (new 2016)
500 sacks around the neighborhood
It must have been the rainwater -- Today's crop was crystal clear!
I checked my trees this am. The one that had the discolored sap was nice and clear like the rest of them.
2011, 1st time. 8 taps, turkey fryer. 3 quarts syrup
2012, 25? taps, homemade barrel stove, steam pan. hoping 3 to 5 gallons
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