2009 Tapped in Agawam!

[David531]

Hi BC,

Yes, there is something about eating from the wild, and it's sometimes a bit gamie, but with patience, we can often tame it. We don't sell the syrup, it costs too much to sell. We think of the sugarhouse as an extension of the kitchen. Our kitchen is physically small, but extends to the woods for maple and mushrooms, and to the pasture with sheep and bees.

I'm afraid I've got the bug now to get the birch syrup down. I think we've chanced upon the begining of the birch flow here and it's a great opportunity to "experiment and try something new".! I like your suggestion that it keeps us young, as it's my birthday Saturday. Oh, not again.

We do our finishing on a propane burner too. So I should be able to do a slow "steam" for the last mile.

Thanks for all the suggestions, there's not a whole lot out there on birch.
Would you have some ideas on getting started with birch beer.?

I'll have to hunt around and see what's available. I saw that someone on the forum had mentioned birch beer, I'll have to retrace my steps.

Thanks, David

[BC Birch Tapper]

Hey David.....People have been drinking the sap for centuries and it has been raved as a cure for a multitude of things including unirary tract infections & even as a hair tonic. Some even thought it had made some impact on cancer treatments but I don't know anything about that.

For us it's a diversification option & a chance to spend time outdoors & make something that people enjoy. Sugaring of has been apart of traditions for well over 100 years. People have been enjoying the experience as well & it helps us diversify our farm & allow people to experience that as well. Familes have been going to sugarbushes for the last 40 years. For us....nobody else can offer that kind of experience, & its fun too!

Birch has been classed as a weed in several foresty documents I've seen ( I'm a forester & work for the Provincial gov't) I've also got a list 3/4 of a page long what birch has been used for thru history.....& this is a weed???

We do sell a birch manual which includes a bunch of recipies. Check out our website if you're interested.

I've made wine but no beer as of yet. The wine took a full year to mature. I kept sampling it but it took the full year to become palatable.
There are 2 commercial wineries in Canada, one in Newfoundland & the other in Manitoba.

We call it nature's gatorade. What is gatorade.....water, micrfonutients & sugar. What is sap composed of.....water, micronutreints & sugar.
They sell bottled sap in Scandinavia & Europe....how do you spell opportunity.....?

[David531]

Hi BC,

Well, I think I burned it, got it too hot at the finishing. Tastes terrible.

I've got another batch we'll probably finish Sunday, just have to keep a sharp eye on the temp.

It's been flowing steady, might put a few more taps in, we're getting just enough to keep the evaporator in operation at a low fire with about 16 taps.

Cheers, David

[BC Birch Tapper]

Dont toss it David, unless you've done so already. We use some we've burnt for marinades & sauces.

[David531]

Hi BC,

Will do, thanks.

Still pretty strong, maybe burnt, it's been hard to find the time to watch it, with lambs coming and burning brush etc... trying to beat the bugs, they'll be here any minute.

Thanks -David