Here’s a low-fi way to collect sap from your own backyard!
Our family attended, with baby in tow-- a tree tapping demo at MOCAD years ago-- but my dreams were dashed because it seemed so involved + technical that I gave up all hope of collecting sap at home.
Earlier this month, my daughter attended a field trip at an Environmental Center. They showed the kids how to collect sap IRL. So, armed with this newfound knowledge, my daughter told me how we could make a DIY Tree Tapping set-up in the backyard.
With the help of our newly-minted "Resident Tree Tap Expert" we got to work. I ordered the hook & spire from a place online, bought some buckets that the girls decorated with stickers (to make them ultra-festive). And that's about it! I knew I wanted to try the huge Black Walnut tree in our yard- so that’s where we headed.
First things First. Find a tree on your property to tap. And we’re not just talking’ Maples! Although the most popular, sugar maples aren’t the only trees that produce syrup. Sycamores, Birch and Walnut are great contenders for syrup. Any tree you tap must be healthy, with a diameter of 12” or greater.
Ingredients:
Buckets
Hammer
Drill + 7/16 Drill Bit
Spiles + Hooks
Stickers (optional- but highly recommended)
Now you're ready for some tappin’ action!
The best time to tap trees depends upon where you live. Generally speaking, that time is from late February to the beginning of April. You’ll want to start when temps during the day are above freezing and night temps are still below freezing. The sweet spot here is usually sometime in March, but again- it varies by region.
Grab that drill and drill a 2” hole into the trunk at waist level. Our Expert Advisor made me reposition the drill before I dug in because she said I was doing it wrong. It was up too high. That's why we have experts, y'all-- to prevent us regular people from committing a grave mistake. Place the drill at an upwards angle to facilitate the flow of sap.
Our family attended, with baby in tow-- a tree tapping demo at MOCAD years ago-- but my dreams were dashed because it seemed so involved + technical that I gave up all hope of collecting sap at home.
Earlier this month, my daughter attended a field trip at an Environmental Center. They showed the kids how to collect sap IRL. So, armed with this newfound knowledge, my daughter told me how we could make a DIY Tree Tapping set-up in the backyard.
With the help of our newly-minted "Resident Tree Tap Expert" we got to work. I ordered the hook & spire from a place online, bought some buckets that the girls decorated with stickers (to make them ultra-festive). And that's about it! I knew I wanted to try the huge Black Walnut tree in our yard- so that’s where we headed.
First things First. Find a tree on your property to tap. And we’re not just talking’ Maples! Although the most popular, sugar maples aren’t the only trees that produce syrup. Sycamores, Birch and Walnut are great contenders for syrup. Any tree you tap must be healthy, with a diameter of 12” or greater.
Ingredients:
Buckets
Hammer
Drill + 7/16 Drill Bit
Spiles + Hooks
Stickers (optional- but highly recommended)
Now you're ready for some tappin’ action!
The best time to tap trees depends upon where you live. Generally speaking, that time is from late February to the beginning of April. You’ll want to start when temps during the day are above freezing and night temps are still below freezing. The sweet spot here is usually sometime in March, but again- it varies by region.
Grab that drill and drill a 2” hole into the trunk at waist level. Our Expert Advisor made me reposition the drill before I dug in because she said I was doing it wrong. It was up too high. That's why we have experts, y'all-- to prevent us regular people from committing a grave mistake. Place the drill at an upwards angle to facilitate the flow of sap.
Tappin’ time. Tap the spile into the trunk using a slight, gentle tap with the hammer. That’s why its called “Tapping a Tree.” If you pound it in there Paul Bunyan-style, you’re gonna have a problem. The tree may split, bringing with it hardcore damage to the tree.
Attach the bucket (you can also use a clean milk jug) to the hook. Put the hook through the spike and you’re off to the races. Kinda. (this is more of a Slow & Steady wins the Race event) It will produce more of a drip-drip-drop than a free-flowing vibe.
The Aftermath. After you’ve collected a bucket filled to the brim with sap— it’s time to spin that sap into gold. (aka: syrup) To transform sap into syrup, check back with us at a later date— because we haven’t gotten that far yet, hahahahaha.
Attach the bucket (you can also use a clean milk jug) to the hook. Put the hook through the spike and you’re off to the races. Kinda. (this is more of a Slow & Steady wins the Race event) It will produce more of a drip-drip-drop than a free-flowing vibe.
The Aftermath. After you’ve collected a bucket filled to the brim with sap— it’s time to spin that sap into gold. (aka: syrup) To transform sap into syrup, check back with us at a later date— because we haven’t gotten that far yet, hahahahaha.
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