Tapping the Maple tree

Our backyard is blessed with several mature Sugar Maple trees. In the spring, when the nights are still freezing and the days are warm is the perfect time to tap your trees. That is when the sap begins to move from the roots back up into the tree.
Tapping the trees and boiling down one batch of sugar water is a wonderful way of showing your family just how much effort goes into a bottle of syrup. But do not count on a huge batch of syrup from these directions. My first batch came to 1 Tablespoon of syrup after 3 hours of boiling.

Here is what you need:
3/8" Nylon Tee

3/8"I.D (interior diameter)
1/2" OD (outer diameter Clear Vinyl Tubing (this is actually approved on the label for potable water)

The tubing is shown attached to the Tee, and inserted through the hole I drilled in the lid (ok, hubby drilled it, but I would have.

 

Also use a clean large bucket, the kind you buy at Menards/Home Depot/Lowes/ etc. I used a clear bucket the first time, or semi-opaque. That would have been better than the one I bought this time because you can see how much fluid is inside.

There is a tiny air hole in the top.

Hubby took me seriously when I said Tiny hole. I ended up enlarging this just a little.

You will need a drill with a 3/8" bit. I used a bit-brace, but if you just have an electric drill, that is fine, too.

 

I was able to drill the hole myself.

 

 

  Drill into the tree higher than the bucket, and go in about the depth of the notches on your Tee.

 

The wood begins to look wet:

 

 

The hole will look wet, and begin to well with sugar water. I prefer to get the tap in there before it drips because I don't want the sugar on the outside of my bucket drawing bugs:

 

Insert tap, and twist and push it in tight, positioning the Tee up for air release.

 

See the water begin to drip?:

 

More drips:

 

The main threat to our tap:

 

Empty your bucket everyday. I'd do a boil down after 2-3 days but refrigerate your water. It will mold.

Cool Sewing trick

I'm not sure where I learned this trick. Have you ever tried using your zig zag movement while using a straight stitch? It is doable on newer models, and I'll explain thoroughly. Many times, when I am working on a tight edge, or a thicker one, it makes more sense to move the needle to where I need it than the presser foot. When the presser foot is placed in a more stable position, your stitch line will be more even.

Another really great result of using the lateral shift is that you can use the inside edge of your presser foot to guide your fabric, which is much more consistent than using the marks on the plate.

 

The zig zag feature set at center.

 

 

The zig zag feature shifted to the right. Depending on which direction I am most comfortable sewing, I either shift it to the right or left. The top photo has the needle shifted to the left.

 

Photo of the needle shifted to the right in position of 6.0. This is really handy for putting zippers in. I blocked out the shaft so you can see the needle better. Give this a try on a couple scraps. I guarantee you will use it from now on!