Grow Your Own Magazine

just a gentle reminder if any of the Forum Alchofrolics want to make Birch Sap Wine the sap will be risinig any time now and you only have 2 weeks to catch it jacob

Not experienced enough to have a crack at that yet, JM - but I have the CJJ recipe for next year..........

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/03/2008...parsnips a-plenty...

Need to find a birch tree

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

We've got a silver birch in the back garden, but I think I'd be a bit scaredy to try & tap it...

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Sarah

http://wixypixies.blogspot.com/

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

there is no problem with taping the tree if you have a thin plastic pipe find a drill bit just a bit smaller diameter and drill in to the tree about just past the bark about half a inch push the pipe into the tree an the other end into a demijon or some thing similar and stuff some coton wool around the pipe and this stops debree falling into container and when you have enough plug the hole in the tree and this will stop it bleeding to death enjoy it it is nice but it is a long time since i had any hope this helps jacob

Mmm, this was one of the first wines I tried, and it's one of the best too - gives a delicious wine not unlike a Chardonnay. Don't tap trees under about 9" in diameter and use the sap within 24hours of collecting - this might mean tapping more than one tree to get your gallon of sap. Tapping is easier than you think - I use a 10mm bit with a brace type drill because the plastic pipe I've got fits that size snugly. Watch for when the buds on the tree are really swelling, that means the sap is rising. Drill slightly upwards so the sap runs better, about a couple of inches into the tree is fine. Put your plastic pipe in and marvel (hopefully) at how much sap runs out! Afterwards, be sure to plug the tree up again with a wooden plug.

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Dwell simply ~ love richly

Hmmmm, might give it a miss this year then, our tree is still quite young probably borderline whether it's big enough, & I'm not sure where there are any more locally... I'll definately be keeping my eye open for them now though!

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Sarah

http://wixypixies.blogspot.com/

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”