Lazy Mountain- not too lazy this spring!

We decided to try our hand at tapping birch trees.  The idea? It had lingered in our minds, growing over the years. But what really brought it to the forefront was the tapping done by our daughter's family, Cokes, and by our neighbors at Lazy Mountain, the Watts. We gathered up the materials and marched out the back door to tap a tree or two.

Right outside our door!  

Simple.  But the season is short. Too soon, and nothing drips (We know this from experience now.) But once the soil is warmed by the midnight sun, it flows freely.  Sound like a goldmine? Well, it depends on how many trees you tap for the season only lasts until the tree sends forth leaves.  Then you are done!

Steve, switching containers.  We each spent about an hour a day emptying containers, or condensing it down.  Our small trial was not time-consuming, but fun.

Once we had enough to work with, we began the condensing process.  Wonder how much sap it actually takes to get syrup? It takes about 100 gallons of birch sap to make 1 gallon of birch syrup.  100/1 is the ratio.  Maple syrup?  A much "better" ratio of 40/1.   

Well, away we went.  Anna came to help me finish the processing.  We canned small jars, only about 10 minutes in a water bath.  Quick and maybe these will even sell at the Friday Fling in Palmer.

So what does it taste like, you wonder?  Well, so did we.  So I purchased a small bottle (9 oz) at the local kitchen store. $8.00 for this little bottle. We opened it up and gave it a taste.  SWEET!  THICK! Hm.  Ours was not this sweet, nor was it thick.  Darn, we thought we would have to condense it further.  Then, we got to thinking.  Look at the LABEL.  Sure enough- it was loaded with "organic cane sugar syrup."  Good old fashioned way to sweeten, thicken, AND stretch your precious syrup.

Well, at that point we made a decision to leave ours just as it is. The flavor was the same. But we didn't want to dilute ours with sugar. It is 100% natural, Lazy Mountain Birch Syrup.
And now you see why life on Lazy Mountain is.....NOT so very lazy!