Birch Sapping in Appalachia

[@forestgreenman]

I've heard of people making syrup from birch sap but I don't know anyone that does. Here in Central Wisconsin it's all about the maple syrup in the early spring. We had a short season this year so I imagine prices are going to go up if you don't make your own. I know a number of people that tap the maples in their yard so they can make enough for themselves for the year. I also know many people with woodlands that features a lot of maple who cook syrup and sell to a wholesaler for a little added cash. My brother-in-law did sapping for a number of years and that was always great fun as it was a signal that winter's grip had been broken and the warm weather was soon to be returning. He has since stopped cooking and know sells the sap to a mutual friend of ours, who is wheel chair bound, and he cooks and sells to wholesale to supplement his income. Another great video! Thanks!

[@ironworker5792]

I see why folks were drawn to those steep hills, peace and quiet, knowing your family is safe. The sound of running water is so peaceful... This is my news channel now. God Bless

[@RHODOAN]

We have a river birch in our front yard and I have watched a squirrel lie on a branch with all four legs hanging down, drinking birch sap from a small spot and then apparently falling asleep on that branch, lying motionless for a long time, all four legs dangling below.

[@victorbunch7725]

For those that don't know what a river birch is, It is a tree that looks like it has a dreaded disease w/its bark peeling off in big slabs, lol

[@judytullos9889]

They do not live long, fifteen to twenty years, they have shallow roots, and brittle, soft wood. The bark peels for a good fire- starter.

[@13c11a]

I wish you had taken a picture of that! The same is true of fruit that is not picked and becomes a little fermented on the trees. The birds and bats actually get drunk on the fruit. Hey, no flying while drunk!

[@rsmith6909]

I noticed all the beautiful bird sounds in the background.

[@lorchid23]

What a strange coincidence that just today, I was doing a little shopping at a small, local produce market and they had Birch soda pop... I commented to my husband that it was the first time I’d ever seen it, and I’ve lived in the Appalachian mountains (foothills) all my life. Thank you so much for providing this knowledge‼️ 🇺🇸❣️God bless❣️

[@ndnpony]

I have been a big fan of yours and your family for quite a while. I usually don't write much on the internet, but I wanted to thank you for being so genuine. Your videos and Fluty Lick Homestead's remind me of my childhood. I'm Native American and was born and raised in Oklahoma. I come from a large family that was very close when I was a child. We'd all go to the woods and dig up wild onions, morels and maybe fish, but Gramps would tap the Birch trees with a spile that he had used as a child. He used to cool his coffee in his saucer. Unfortunately, they have all passed but your videos give me that same 'safe' and 'warm family' feeling I remember having when Gramps would have Sunday Dinner at his home. All the kids would take turns on the ice cream maker handle, Grandma would make apple pie from the tree in the back. I got some Greasy Beans from Jared at Fluty Lick. Those are the best tasting pole beans I have ever eaten. And I have eaten my share. On Sundays the kids would also sit around a #10 galvanized tub and snap beans and/or shuck corn saving the shucks for Gramps. He rolled Bull Durham or Prince Albert in the carefully trimmed shucks. When season was right we'd spread corn on screens to dry, help Grandma render lard. I have always thought Heaven was like that. Thank you for taking me back to the best times in my life. God Bless you, Matt & The Pressley Girls.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you so much! It makes me so happy to know we remind you of your family 😀

[@rosedwight4861]

My cousin in Huntington,WV & I just giggled over something I want to share. We realize we had been raised on bacon grease!!! Our Mom& all r Grandmas always poured all the bacon grease into a crock that was kept to the right of the stove. So when something needed a little grease to get started a big spoon full of bacon grease would get dipped out. So green beans, fried potatoes, pork chops started the same. I was 25 years old before I tasted green beans cooked with a bit of olive oil & garlic.

[@rhondajo3]

In the 70s, I fried everything in bacon grease also. :)

[@misscindy3414]

That was pretty kool! "What did you do last weekend." " We went to the woods and drank from a tree." You folks don't get bored much, do you? I love how you all are always studying on things. That's my family and I love it!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you Miss Cindy 😀

[@aliciamott8972]

Studying ?!?!?!! That’s what GRANNY WOULD SAY if you asked her what she was doing , I’m 65 and she was my great grandmother, I admit, I still love to use that , a BEAUTIFUL SCRIPTURE SAYS MARY PONDERED , same thing , YALL reckon

[@selenahadlow9700]

Awesome

[@n8vmc469]

Had Birch shine! Made in Maggie Valley NC. My son found it in a log while Bear hunting.

[@MsLighthorse]

We used to chew on birch twigs as kids. It always reminded me of the flavor of tea berry gum.

[@deepsleep7822]

I used to do something similar when I was a kid. I was fortunate to have access to a very large wooded area. Although I didn't know it was a birch tree, for some reason I took a twig off of it and chewed on it. I was quite surprised at the flavor, as in that it had any flavor, let alone a spearmint flavor. I know I took a few twigs with me as I continued my hike. Chewed on them for a while and then discarded.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

But did you do the teaberry shuffle?

[@13c11a]

​@@Marcel_Audubon What is the teaberry shuffle?

[@Marcel_Audubon]

@@13c11a kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHOUhqqXmMiGiKs

[@Lilybet1316]

Here in Maine we have commercially made birch beer as an alternative to root beer although it’s non-alcoholic. Very refreshing!

[@Mattinvent3]

Root beer is alcoholic?

[@lainyrudloff9015]

The sounds of the dried leaves, birds singing and the running water was like being right there with you.

[@independentthinker8930]

It was sassafras here in Alabama, I remember digging the roots up and "the old folks" would cook it and make rootbeer. It was great for digestive problems. I keep some roots in my pack to this day

[@pamelalancaster8642]

Wonderful to try different things! Alas, all we have to make from our trees would be turpentine. Pine trees are prolific in our mountains as are Douglas fir and Larch. The Larch are great for wood stoves. The Larch are beautiful in the fall as their leaves turn bright gold! We don’t have the reds you have back there. Lived in Virginia and the fall colors were breathtaking. God gives a glimpse of heaven in the fall.

[@happymack6605]

We tap our birch the same as our sugar maples; place the spile below the largest limbs of the tree. When sugaring off, we have to be extra careful with the birch as it tends to burn quicker than maple. No fixing burnt. Thank you so much for your thoughtful videos 🌸

[@dr.froghopper6711]

I studied survival in the military and since then. I’ve read about this and several varieties of wild beverages. I really appreciate you sharing this because watching is better than reading. When I was 14 we spent the summer just outside of Fairbanks, AK, surrounded by birch trees. I wish I had known this back then. We made birch bark Christmas Cards hand painted. I sure would have tried doing this had I known. Thanks so much for sharing this! You have a beautiful family!

[@johnsmalldridge6356]

You can plug the hole in the tree with clean fresh whittled plug made from a birch branch.

[@deepsleep7822]

Yeah, in fact you should or the tree could "bleed" out. At least that's what I was told by some older people.

[@elizabethbowen7094]

Thank you for including us as part of your family experiment. We grew up in the northeast, NY and PA and tapped our maple trees right on our paved streets with sidewalks, different, but still a connection with nature. I wonder if you could boil down birch sap and make a syrup as we did with our maple sap... if you keep going you get a sugary candy. This is a lovely connection to extend and brings our American family into a shared reality so far away from the angry, burning cities we're enduring. "It's in the dew of little things that the heart finds it's morning and is refreshed." God bless you.

[@michaelgardner7124]

Yes, you can make syrup with birch and you can also make syrup with the sap from black walnut trees. There are other trees you can use to make syrup.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Would love to try black walnut too!

[@gregjohnston9287]

@@michaelgardner7124 do you handle the Walnut sap like Maple? I’ve noticed when pruning my Walnuts in Late winter that they seem to run sap earlier than other trees.

[@michaelgardner7124]

@@gregjohnston9287 There are a number of video on KZbin on "How to make black walnut syrup". I hope this helps.

[@JLamstudio]

Wow, imagine tapping your own maple 🍁 syrup!!! 😋

[@roddmatsui3554]

The stereo ambient sound alone is incredible; worth the price of admission.

[@NickiSixx1]

Here in Sweden they make juice, cordial and syrup from birch trees. Never done it myself but I’v tasted it and it’s really nice

[@mishalea]

That is so awesome!! Growing up in the Appalachian mountains of PA and around Amish and Mennonite country drinking birch beer soda was a commonality! Every time I go home to visit I go to one of my favorite pizza/sub restaurants and get the white birch beer, or at the Amish stores. Certainly blessed!!💖🌸🌼

[@mishalea]

Ordered the book used on Amazon. Cant wait to look thru it!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Oh I know you'll love the book!

[@bsteele5287]

What a beautiful place. You are lucky to live there. Your family seems so content and at peace with life. Thanks for sharing.

[@naomitracy5684]

looks like a fun experiment and Matt provided more proof of my theory on the genius of Appalachian people . Most people would see the rain and call that a failed experiment . the Appalachian genius kicked in and he made a rain cover for the birch tree syrup. Outstanding!! 😁💥💯👍

[@StevePdue]

I was amazed the first time I chewed on birch bark. I thought it was wintergreen flavored. We called it Cherry Birch. From the western mountains of Va. Love your Channel! Thanks.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

It does have a good taste 😀 So glad you enjoy our videos!

[@0Hillbilly]

I'm enjoying your videos, this one reminds of some of Townsends videos. If you're not familiar with Townsends they do 18 century cooking, drinks, and life. They have several drinks like this. Nice seeing all the Rhododendron.

[@nj1639]

Red bird singing "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty".

[@scottblack3381]

This takes me back to my time in Bybee, Tennessee. A mountain backed right up to the house and each spring we would climb up and tap a big ol' birch and get a couple of gallons of the sweet sap. We plugged the hole with a Beech plug and far as I can tell we never hurt the tree and we used the same tree every spring. Thanks for sharing y'all!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Scott-thank you for sharing your experience with tapping birch trees!! We did plug the hole 😀 Nice to know it didn't harm the one you all used!

[@bigjake55555]

Thank you for sharing this. It reminds me of my family from Tennessee.

[@Lisa-cj6vx]

My friend and I were just talking about birch sapping in the Catskill Mountains in NY! Her family has a maple sapping operation there but there are others that tap birch trees!! Thanks for sharing!! I enjoy your videos!!♡

[@tomgriffiths68]

I've never done any birch sapping but I've made a lot of sassafras tea when I was a kid.

[@waydwnbama-way3089]

Funny my Dad was talking about this the other day, they chewed the inner bark for a treat.

[@michael7423]

i remember my mamma talking about birch beer long ago, I never knew what she was referring to but i think this video explains it! i'm glad to see Corrie again!!

[@jeffpruitt963]

I like this idea. I tried birch syrup more than once in Alaska..but my heart goes back to Maple Syrup. Great adventure video!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thanks for watching! 😀

[@KarenInTx]

Watched this again. And yes, you can buy bottles of Birchbeer (non alcoholic) just like you can Gingerbeer and Rootbeer, But to make your own would be so interesting and for kids a treat. Yall are so much fun to watch. God Bless

[@retroblue4748]

Watching your videos has lowered my blood Pressure 😂. Thank you 🙏 for your videos

[@leighflorkevich9916]

The woods and mountains are so soothing.

[@joanndeland7969]

Ive never heard of this Sounds good

[@Prepping_mimi]

This makes sense. Gramma always made “birch beer” (soda). Of course no carbonation. I never knew how and I bet this was what she did. Loved it as a kid. We weren’t allowed to have soda growing up so it was always a treat for us.

[@annmariesands3270]

I enjoy birch beer (non-alcoholic) when I find it in a store.

[@larrycounce4509]

Birch bark makes a nice fly rod handle also is rot resident, good stuff. Makes tasty smoked chicken. Interesting it makes a drink , think look into this, thanks. I forgot its makes a good fire starter.

[@larrycounce4509]

Beware of the tanic acid in the bark.

[@marikafranke5046]

Depending where you live timing for collecting the sap differs. You have to do it around time when still snow on the ground. I know where I live there is no snow at all, I do it in early February (TN). Birch sap is supposed to ferment. Add sugar to taste, and one of your choice raisins, little branch of black currant or crast or black rye bread. And let it sit for couple of weeks in cool place. It becomes a best beverage of hot summer, carbonated. My Great Grandparents had a barrel of it in root cellar for every summer. One barrel of fermented birch sap and one barrel of souerkraut. Now I am a great grandmom.

[@ShawnPlusOne]

This video is so calming and those woods are beautiful the Birch trees omg I can just imagine what they smell like I also love the sounds those birds make they are so melodic and I like the sounds as you all crunch the leaves when you walk on the ground.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it Shawn 😀

[@phillipgreene2564]

Way back I used to hide under the tall bed in the back room that smelled like an antique shop; I'd squeeze in-between old wooden fruit crates that were used to keep old canning jars. Every one of em had lids just like the lid on your sap jar. Crazy...how that lid was able to dust off them ol' memories. The more I watch your videos the more they just open me right.

[@keeptrying5962]

I like how this (at least) gives us inspiration to think about how different life was so long (or not so long, in grand scope) ago. The small things we take for granted, almost can't fully appreciate. Thanks for another interesting video!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

[@grannianni6229]

Just stopped by to say Howdy, coming atcha from good ole East TN. That's just how we roll! Blessings

[@kathycox7392]

I enjoyed this video, my family never did this that I know of. The cadence of your voice sounds like home to me. 👍

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thanks so much 😀

[@suecastillo4056]

Never heard of birch syrup! See? I’m learning so much being a subscriber to my Appalachian roots!! SO grateful!! Thank you from my heart♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙋‍♀️🙏🏻❣️

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thanks for watching Sue 😀

[@montimitchellsr]

Thank you for sharing your life and family with us

[@janicehanson3263]

All I can say is WOW.

[@rickcooper6817]

When I was a little feller I would go cut birch twigs for Granny to use as snuff brushes. I would chew on me one on the way back to the house. More good memories. Thanks y'all!

[@clarencegreen3071]

One of my earliest memories is that the ladies of the holler would use birch twigs as snuff brushes. Chew one end until it makes a brush, then stick the brush into the snuff box to load it up. I thought that process was "very interesting."

[@RobTurgeon]

Not sure how I found your channel. But your videos are interesting. Cheers from Canada.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Glad you like them! Thank you!

[@everycoLor_312]

My new favorite channel. Thankyou, I adore everything about this!☺❤

[@christopherbeckerdite4273]

I remember a restaurant i went to as a child and would order Birch beer. Which is similar to Root beer. So when you ordered it they'd bring you a small birch twig so you could chew the bark.

[@buddyharris5515]

The birch sap tastes like water because that's what most of it is. To make maple syrup from maple sap, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. I'm sure it would be about the same for birch.

[@scooterdogg7580]

takes much more birch sap it contains less sugar

[@jedidiah5131]

Its 100/1 for Birch. Its just not worth the effort but something many people will try to make once.

[@deepsleep7822]

@BH: that's what I was thinking. Maybe process it like Maple syrup is processed.

[@naturesmagik]

17:05, it`s so clear and beautiful looking! Wow!

[@bigfootrealencounters1882]

Black Birch contains Methyl salicylate which is also found in the wintergreen plant and is responsible for the unique minty flavor.

[@mybuttitches6450]

Always, been a sap sucker, for new tree drinks. Will try this ASAP! Matt, your drill performance, riveting!

[@AnotherWittyUsername.]

We make birch syrup from birch sap. It's not as sweet as maple syrup, but still very tasty on pancakes. We don't have sugar maples where I live in Western Canada, but you can make syrup from the sap of any maple tree with varying degrees of sweetness. We just take what the forest gives us and are thankful for it.

[@KatInTheNorth]

Wow! You’ve got quite a bit of liquid from the Birches. We have a lot of Birch here but ours are not as big as yours. Thanks for sharing.

[@robinhaupt9119]

This was so interesting! Thank you. All I want to do is come live in Appalachia.

[@OldWaysGardeningandPrepping]

Have always wanted to go birch sapping. Have not tried the birch sap, but have had a birch beer. It is a wonderful drink. Thank you for taking us along on another adventure. Looking forward to the next video already. 🍀

[@karenhayek8901]

If someone was stranded in the woods, and knew what a Birch tree looked like,they could have water!!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Karen-birch is listed as a survival food on some sites 😀 Thank you for watching!

[@terryfinley7760]

It is a source of clean drinking water. No filtering or purification needed.

[@aliciamott8972]

Y’all’s land is very beautiful!!!!!! So here in north mississippi we call them RIVER BIRCHES , same thing right ? They like water , beautiful bark , split trunks ?

[@aliciamott8972]

This should be in the scout handbook , about surviving

[@oldgoat1890]

@@aliciamott8972 Hard to say. Local terms are sometimes different for trees. Around here river birch is not the same.

[@KyDove8]

Love the experience. Also love the light above your sink. 😊

[@donnaelkins186]

Very interesting. Never have heard of this sapping . Thank you for sharing .. God bless.

[@buzsalmon]

I've heard of it but ya'll have done something I never have. Very nice to see all three of you together today learning more and teaching us more about birch trees.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@tiatamara11]

There's gold in them thar hills. Appalachia has fine resources to go with the people. Blessings family. This is so much fun. The camera work is unequalled...great angles etc. Thank you family ...you really are the epitome of what the legendary appalachians are to us here in Australia NZ...our cuzzies from Gt Britain and we love it. I'm sharing these with everyone I know and they are blown away....some of the comments are "They even look like us" haha. Good stuff.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you John 😀

[@RevDenyse]

Birch beer... Childhood favorite. It is still bottled and sold.

[@graceandglory1948]

This was very interesting. If I could do this, I surely would. Walking is very difficult now. Thanks for sharing. Looked like a fun family day.

[@clarencegreen3071]

I recognize the ole-timey one piece lid for the jar. Haven't seen one in many years. Remember playing with the rubber seals as a kid.

[@pamelamusante5343]

Hi Tipper. I grew up with Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer Soda. You still can buy it in certain places. It's very unique taste. Like root beer, just very unique. I still get it here in Indiana. I love your videos, and family. TY for all your work. Beautiful Place. God Bless 💯

[@wandainlouisville6398]

The first time I have ever heard of birch sapping. How interesting!

[@UnKnown-zy1km]

I live in east Tennessee Gatlinburg area. I have never heads of birch sap or tapping the birch trees. I have lots of birch trees around more house So I will be trying this... I enjoyed this video Thank you...

[@michaelsnow5229]

Thank you Tipper for the Birch sap water video. Moving to East Tennessee soon and will go and locate a birch tree and try some tonic water. In the woods were I currently live I would locate Sassafrass plants and make a root beer like tonic water from the roots.

[@dustyblackbird6811]

I live in south dakota and the black hills are steep like that also ... a great cardio workout when you go hiking. So beautiful there where you are

[@samfinn487]

Thanks for teaching us about "woods water". ;-)

[@deevargas4780]

What a fun video. Your location is just so lovely. I wish I were there.

[@jaenmartens5697]

Simpson Springs In Maine made birch beer and it was my absolute favorite soda ever ❤️👍

[@southwife]

Really enjoyed that. Thanks.

[@Scotchvalley7777]

My Dad would dig up sassafras roots and make us drink the water

[@CraigerAce]

My grandma Georgia made sassafras tea. I liked it.

[@oldgoat1890]

@@CraigerAce I still make the tea, but buy the extract now.

[@jasonbone5121]

We did that when I was. a kid as well. Boiled the roots and make tea.

[@richardschmitt9479]

Sassafras is considered a carcinogenic. Just saying.

[@sstills951]

@@richardschmitt9479 Yeah I stopped making sassafras tea once I heard that. The extract that you purchase doesn't have the carcinogen in it but its kind of expensive.

[@tjs805]

I wonder if the birch water needs to be boiled down like we do with maple syrup here in New England. The maple sap is very much like water until it is concentrated down to syrup by boiling off the water. I enjoy your channel very much. Thank you for sharing

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thomas-lots of folks have said that's how it works-the same as maple syrup. So glad you enjoy our videos!!

[@kennygentry1151]

I really like this video. I remember my grandaddy talking about making birch oil and making homemade chewing tobacco. And I'm 62 years old. Thanks. I really appreciate and enjoyed this .

[@Oldmandad007]

I love your videos.... Reminds me of back home in murphy

[@christierella]

I’d love a knot tying series...please! 😬

[@colinratford416]

Loved this posting thank you

[@gregknight293]

Great video . Nice to have such a resource growing freely on your land .

[@eugenefried5609]

FUN to watch & instructional !!!

[@shirleyhall1924]

I enjoyed this video so much. Thank you.

[@SugarBeeFarm]

Very interesting. Thanks for taking the time to show us. 💕✌️🌱

[@mrdfoutz]

Almost wish I hadn't watched this one. Those woods and mountains are so lovely! Wish I could climb through the Internet and spend some time there with y'all!

[@billiefloyd7106]

I seen a video from Canada where they boiled the sap down and made syrup, like you do with maple sap.

[@rlsingle00]

Birch trees tastes like wintergreen. My dad would cut twigs for us to chew on. However Spring always reminds me of digging sassafras roots to make tea. We also made maple syrup in the spring, as soon as the sap starts to flow. Can’t for get about ramps, we are digging them now. They are a required taste, you either like them or you hate them.

[@dianatennant4346]

This was very interesting thank you

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@aliceklahn]

Just goes to show ya, your never to old to learn new things. I knew about maple but not birch.WOW i have a birch tree in my yard, I'm going to try this.Thanks for sharing

[@curiousandcreativewithwand8515]

Enjoying your video as I sip on my birch beer.

[@ejay2844]

Love your videos will try Birch sapping someday.

[@davidroberson7811]

If you are in the woods in the spring and thirsty it is a very refreshing drink!

[@gradymizell494]

Thank You for sharing.

[@jeffstrong4311]

So where I live in southern Oregon on the coast there weren't any Birch trees. Of any kind. I like the weeping birch best. So I had to drive to a nursery on the other side of the state and bought about a 1/2 dozen of each. (So using Appalachian terms, I went and bought me Mess of Birch Trees lol) Now I started my own forest of birch trees. Maybe in another year they'll be big enough to get some birch juice out of them.

[@gettinsumsunmld]

Cool video. I love the scenery and that Cardinal singing😊

[@remushaynes2693]

greetings ladies; i was raised in the flat lands and therefore did not do any of this but we did do things pursuant to where we were raised. thank you for sharing your culture with us as it is very enjoyable........................g

[@globalcolor4080]

Luved this video and so many of your other vids too. Now I'm going to have to do a search of your other vids I want to watch! I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains now, but grew up on L.I. I can tell my experience with Birch, which is a bit different. First, I knew what the soda was. Birch soda was not something we had in our house, but I did try the soda a couple of times as a kid, it was an exotic soft drink we maybe got while on vacation. Tasted like Root Beer! That's what we thought at the time. Then, when I was a teenager and started camping/hiking upstate NY, NJ, there were always birch trees, lovely smell and taste. Love seeing them here!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

So glad you're enjoying our videos 😀