Collecting birch water

[Revolverrodger]

I went back with my friend Alex out in the woods for the day. We found the spot where we had camped last time and cooked up some good food. The time was right to collect some birch water. I managed to get a third of a cup full and I have to say it tasted great

Spring is finally on it's way.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Anyone wanting to tap birch trees should read these two threads. The gist is that the posters have seen a 100% mortality rate in the years following tapping using the auger method in their areas. One of the moderators on the BushcraftUK forum says that up near her in Scotland they tapped trees for years without signs of sickness, so it isn't a clear cut situation. I had never really thought about the tree getting sick as a result of a small hole. Maybe different areas are subject to different diseases or the trees are more or less resilient. Either way, it has given me pause and I don't think I want to risk killing local trees to figure out what they can stand up to in this area.

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/i...ruth-about-birch-tapping.122230/#post-1522087

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/augers.149067/#post-1854953

 

[Phixt]

I went back with my friend Alex out in the woods for the day. We found the spot where we had camped last time and cooked up some good food. The time was right to collect some birch water. I managed to get a third of a cup full and I have to say it tasted great

Spring is finally on it's way.

Now that what I call fresh n cozy brew mmmm hope.you savored that 1/3.

Anyone wanting to tap birch trees should read these two threads. The gist is that the posters have seen a 100% mortality rate in the years following tapping using the auger method in their areas. One of the moderators on the BushcraftUK forum says that up near her in Scotland they tapped trees for years without signs of sickness, so it isn't a clear cut situation. I had never really thought about the tree getting sick as a result of a small hole. Maybe different areas are subject to different diseases or the trees are more or less resilient. Either way, it has given me pause and I don't think I want to risk killing local trees to figure out what they can stand up to in this area.

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/i...ruth-about-birch-tapping.122230/#post-1522087

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/augers.149067/#post-1854953

Sure are some.crazy treehouses around my parts with bolts drilled straight through trees. Apparently theu grow,."Reactionary wood"- treehouse master lol. My steel hoist has grown into my.oak for bout 20 uears. Still takin 30 ft utility poles no.problem. as far as drillin that low in tree for a brew, I dunno if that would pose new problems


Here in Pennsylvania we have invasive motha nd beetles burrowing bark layers, killing ancient ash, hemlocks, ceetain conifera. Sucks. Friends.had to cut down there 100 ft ash trees shadin there house. They need to pack.up.with.the ticks.and.stinkbugs and.get the.F.outta herem.
..
Wtf is.my periodbutton doing?

 

[Revolverrodger]

In my area people have been using augers to tap maple and birch trees for more than hundred years.

Anyone wanting to tap birch trees should read these two threads. The gist is that the posters have seen a 100% mortality rate in the years following tapping using the auger method in their areas. One of the moderators on the BushcraftUK forum says that up near her in Scotland they tapped trees for years without signs of sickness, so it isn't a clear cut situation. I had never really thought about the tree getting sick as a result of a small hole. Maybe different areas are subject to different diseases or the trees are more or less resilient. Either way, it has given me pause and I don't think I want to risk killing local trees to figure out what they can stand up to in this area.

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/i...ruth-about-birch-tapping.122230/#post-1522087

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/augers.149067/#post-1854953

 

[RayseM]

I'm rather fond of Chaga tea - kind of on the subject of birch trees and goodness.

Ray

 

[McFeeli]

Now that what I call fresh n cozy brew mmmm hope.you savored that 1/3.


Sure are some.crazy treehouses around my parts with bolts drilled straight through trees. Apparently theu grow,."Reactionary wood"- treehouse master lol. My steel hoist has grown into my.oak for bout 20 uears. Still takin 30 ft utility poles no.problem. as far as drillin that low in tree for a brew, I dunno if that would pose new problems


Here in Pennsylvania we have invasive motha nd beetles burrowing bark layers, killing ancient ash, hemlocks, ceetain conifera. Sucks. Friends.had to cut down there 100 ft ash trees shadin there house. They need to pack.up.with.the ticks.and.stinkbugs and.get the.F.outta herem.
..
Wtf is.my periodbutton doing?

Those damned stink bugs! Hard to believe that there lived a time before those little buggers. During the warmer months I'm kicking them out of my house by the pound it seems.

Those invasive beetles aren't hitting my area.. Yet. I hope it stays that way. Who doesn't love trees? I planted a few Birch trees off and around my property line just because I really like the looks of them. Never tapped one, though.