View Full Version : Birch tapping weekend at Swyn's in April.
This is something that was discussed at the New year meet with various interested parties.
I thought that I would post now to see If anyone had thoughts regarding the dates. Also the numbers of folks who would like to come. I would probably cap numbers at 20 bods (not children)
Everything, plantwise, usually happens 10 days later owing to the fact that we are on the 700ft contour here in the Chilterns.
I would like to try old and young trees to see how the sap tastes, also if it flows differently.
I would like to do a pit roast for the foodies (myself included) and other simple things such as making a fresh shoots salad this will be for the Saturday evening meal. Birch sap pudding recipies gratefully received!
By April the weather is usually benevolent so those less hardy may like to camp.
The site will be as per usual. The costs will be £10 pppd (adults)
Swyn.
Toadflax
16-02-2008, 14:06
I'm potentially interested in this. Just to check, this is a meet organised by you, not a Bucks Group meet? :)
Geoff
This is going to be organised by me. I'm sure that some members of the bucks group will kindly get involved though!
Swyn.
litefoot
16-02-2008, 21:52
Yes I`m interested and look forward to it.Litefoot.:)
Swyn Id like some of that if I may
Cheers
Nick
I have been looking in the diary and the most favorable dates look like 19th & 20th April.
Swyn.
What a great opportunity, you're a star Swyn :D I just wish I could get down, there's not a whole lot of accessible Birch around here.
Great opportunity for people to have a great experience, it's fun, and rewarding as well as educational.
:You_Rock_
Thanks Tony for the kind words.
It would be good to see you and your even larger family!
We could get our insurers to leave in the original spelling mistake and call the event a BUSHHOOT again!........... Perhaps name this would stick in the future.
Cheers from Swyn.
Sorry to say I cant make that date .its work work work for me at the mo
I'm sorry to hear that Jason mate. Please don't end up completely worn out with all this work! :eek:
Can I be cheeky and ask to borrow the parachute please, in case the weather turns against us. If you can let me know I will collect it (and bring it back) in good time.:D
Cheers from Swyn.
Whilst on the subject of things to get hold of.....
I will try to get hold of some drill bits and will have a selection of new clear pipe to use for the sap collection. I will also remember to save plastic water bottles to do the collecting in.
If I can get hold of these bits and bobs I will try to make kits to use over the tapping week end.
Things like fitting steel rings onto the drill bits I will do in the meantime. My idea is that one can make a wooden handle to fit into the ring on the drill bit and then turn it in the tree, drilling the sap hole!:D
Swyn.
Bootstrap Bob
06-03-2008, 14:04
Swyn
Would love to come to this but I can't make it as I will be on honeymoon in Scotland.
Never mind at least I'm taking the canoe and I suppose I could take the auger bit and find a birch tree up there :D
Toadflax
06-03-2008, 14:57
Would have been interested, but we are having an Oxfordshire meet-up in April and SWMBO won't let me out twice in a month!
Geoff
Swyn,
Depending on final dates, I would be interested in this.
Andy
19th and 20th April are firm dates.
I hope all those who have expressed an interest can make it as this should be a fun weekend.
I have been asking questions on methods to extract sap easily and kindly and there seems to be no general rule. The best advice that I have been given is to try all methods as the trees vary so much too. Like all things in nature there are ways to 'do' that suit best at the time!
Swyn.
OK now. Here's an update on this weekend.
I put the venison, that was bagged yesterday, in the freezer ready for the pit roast. I would like to try vegetables in the pit along with the meat. There some vegetarians coming so please do not worry if you are not a meat eater, there will be alternatives.
The firewood has been cut and is quite dry now (a bit better than in the winter anyway!) I will get on with splitting and hopefully finish most of it by next weekend.
There seems to be a large group of children coming this time so those who are not used to this please beware as they will certainly be as noisy as ever!
I am trying to encourage the 'FAMILY' theme here so those with doubts, please try to come along. You should be pleasantly surprised.
I am not planning anything too serious over these two days apart from trying all methods to extract sap from our Birch trees. It will also be interesting to see the results of our endeavours over the next twelve months.
The location of these trees is still a mystery to me! I am considering making a different route through the woodland to each individual tree. This may prove interesting!
The numbers stand at 18 at the moment.
If you are intending to come please can you let me know as soon as possible. Thanks.
Swyn.
abushcrafter
05-04-2008, 10:52
will try and come.
Make sure that you get loads of pictures :D
Variant 13
05-04-2008, 12:08
I'd love to come, if there's space available.
Cheers, Graham
cant make it that weekend. was down the woods last weekend and again to night and got a reading meet next weekend.:sadwavey:
Hi Variant 13.
You'd be very welcome. I did send a couple of PM's too.
Similar welcome to you if you can make it, abushcrafter!
Swyn.
litefoot
07-04-2008, 15:20
Sorry it looks like I won`t be able to make it this time.
Litefoot.:(
I have a request to any one of those who are coming this week end.....
It would be nice to get the whole weekend on camera, and as I seem to have completely failed in my attempts to post pictures, I am asking for someone to photograph those things happening at this event with a view to posting the pictures.
Thank you in advance!
Swyn.
Swyn, if you need me to i'll post up the pics for you.
I have a request to any one of those who are coming this week end.....
It would be nice to get the whole weekend on camera, and as I seem to have completely failed in my attempts to post pictures, I am asking for someone to photograph those things happening at this event with a view to posting the pictures.
Thank you in advance!
Swyn.
I can bring a camera and post on photobucket if nobody better can oblige - Ill be there anyway
Cheers
Nickg
Swyn
Last minute I know but I'll be bringing my daughter along - its a bit like inviting the entire St Trinians with me - hope thats OK
Cheers
Nick
Excellent Nick, it will be good to see you AND your daughter!
Tony. Thanks for the kind offer.
Cheers from Swyn.
As per the Fast Show "Today oi be makin' sappin' stuff".
I have assembled some bits and bobs; A large collection of plastic containers. Three different sizes of clear plastic pipe, 16mm, 13mm & 9mm. I have made four hand augers to try, two at 16mm and two at 13mm. I have also made some16mm hollow punches using stainless steel tube, these should work in a similar way to material/leather cutting, with the little ring of bark perhaps being pressed back into its hole (I hope!) These tools will be available for sale at cost at the end (providing they are successful!)
I have found a Silver Birch tree that has fallen over a ride and consequently will be logged soon. This should be a good practice tree as it is still attatched to its root system. This will enable folks to have a go and practice with all the tools in the box including knives, etc.
There are quite a few other trees to be investigated including some young ones. Hopefully the practice will ensure efficient and clean operating procedures resulting in minimal damage, not forgetting to collect a good amount of sap to taste and use!
There is plenty of firewood as ever and the venison, bagged and dressed last week, is now thawing.:D :D :D
George... your poles are stored in the other barn, please don't forget them!:o
Looking forward to seeing all of you and hoping the weather will be kind!
Cheers,
Swyn.
abushcrafter
17-04-2008, 23:53
Just to confirm: Abushcrafter and his Dad hope to come, but probably not till Saturday morning.
Gwhtbushcraft
18-04-2008, 09:57
Morning Swyn,
Georgie would like to bring his friend Will - if this is ok with you?
best,
George's daddy AKA David
Here is a BIG thank you to all who came and made the weekend most enjoyable. Thanks!
Swyn.
Thank you everybody for a great weekend.
It was great to catch up with you all.
Andy
Matt Weir
20-04-2008, 22:21
Hope it worked out fine Swyn. Did you get much success? Round here the birch have just started popping buds so it looks like the seasons over.
I think everyone learned something over the weekend. For me it was the fact that a subtle approach seemed to be the best overall way. We are always a couple of weeks behind so no problems with tapping the trees.
I certainly made the job interesting with our assorted tools, all sharp and pointy!
Jason kindly demonstrated the stick and knife method and George demonstrated the best place to drill......,which was near the ground. This meant that the receptacle had support and could be hidden, although perhaps vulnerable to dirt and interested creatures.
The result in amounts of sap collected from these two different trees was equal, one pint each. This was over a 16 hour period. The four other trees tried resulted in experience but not volume! We healed them with plugs and clay. I will observe the results over the summer.
In consequence I would prefer using the stick and knife method and would recommend a much deeper hole if drilling as this allows better purchase for the plug.
George and his friend Will reduced the other sap that was collected by boiling over the fire. The remaining liquid was sweet and pleasant, although more careful boiling would have resulted in a finer taste. We all agreed that a ratio of 50:1 would be a good guide in amounts required.
I will put the pics that I took on a disk and send them up to Tony ASAP so that folks can see what we were up to.
I hope that the other photographers will post too.
Cheers from Swyn.
Gwhtbushcraft
21-04-2008, 11:41
Thanks for a great weekend Swyn. I had a really great time and i think will enjoyed it too. Thankyou for orginizing the poles and letting me raid your scrap metal pile. The ducks hatch in 9 days and they will have a great enclosure to look forward too.
Cheers
George
:)
abushcrafter
21-04-2008, 16:39
letting me raid your scrap metal pile.
He isn't the only one :p I nicked 1 good cooking oil drum,for a wood burning stove :rolleyes:.As well as a large catering can for a mini one. ;)
I will post the results on the forum and a link here. When I get around to it.
tat tar :)
Thanks muchly :You_Rock_
Alexander
Perhaps, in the future, I should hold a scrap metal challenge week-end?!:rolleyes: :D
Swyn.