tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post4386768419100852569..comments2024-03-28T08:02:44.699-07:00Comments on Perfume Project NW: BIG LEAF MAPLE SYRUPDoc Ellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08376377441504529063noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-23760082190750319452013-02-09T09:15:26.843-08:002013-02-09T09:15:26.843-08:00Yewberry, I'm afraid we missed the window of o...Yewberry, I'm afraid we missed the window of opportunity for sap collecting. We didn't install the taps until well after it had warmed up again after the cold snap. Next year we'll know better!Doc Ellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08376377441504529063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-59969926359425497462013-02-08T15:31:18.845-08:002013-02-08T15:31:18.845-08:00You have to wait for a cold snap (like the one we ...You have to wait for a cold snap (like the one we just had). Our bigleafs aren't producing now, but they were two weeks ago when things started warming up again. We collected over 20 gallons of sap from our three mature trees.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-27772866366056295332013-02-03T09:51:35.276-08:002013-02-03T09:51:35.276-08:00Hi Ellen,
I boiled on top of the stove, but the m...Hi Ellen,<br /><br />I boiled on top of the stove, but the microwave is an "above the stove" unit with a fan. The panel became soaked with condensation. Fortunately I was able to dry everything out, clean it up and get it going again, but no more reduction boiling on top of that stove for me (and I still have a lot of boiling to do). If your microwave is not above the stove you should be fine. My kitchen, though relatively large with a good layout, is not really set up for canning, reducing and the other old fashioned homemaking applications that I like to do.<br /><br />I agree that it would be cheaper and easier to buy prepared syrup , but it is fun to know how to do these things, even with all the work involved.<br /><br />Gail Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-65710941302847480472013-02-02T19:52:23.679-08:002013-02-02T19:52:23.679-08:00Gail, it's good to know that some of your tree...Gail, it's good to know that some of your trees didn't produce right away. Maybe ours will put out a little sap before it gets too warm. Our kitchen fan has been broken for years, and we've never replaced it, so I guess we don't have that to worry about. But the microwave - how could the steam break that?? Did you boil it in the microwave? <br /><br />In any case it would probably be a lot cheaper and easier to buy ready-made maple syrup, but how much fun is that? Doc Ellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08376377441504529063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-69953908062263143342013-02-02T13:56:59.229-08:002013-02-02T13:56:59.229-08:00Ellen,
One of the trees started producing on the...Ellen,<br /> <br />One of the trees started producing on the first day. We didn't see anything from the rest of them until 4 or 5 days after we placed the spiles...so don't despair. At first I was worried there would be almost nothing and now I have too much. By the way, I would advise against boiling in the house. My fan and microwave may have died because of the steam (and I only reduced 5 gallons). It would have been cheaper to replace the broken coleman stove because it looks like I am going to have to do that anyway! Live and learn.<br /><br />Gail Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com