From tree to table: how to make maple syrup

In this video, I share how we make maple syrup in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

[@squirrellyacres]

Hey Karl thanks for the shout-out. We've had some issues this year again, so I may not be able to tap our trees. If the maple trees haven't started to bud out, I might still have a chance after looking at the temperatures. There are lots of people that use that same set-up looks good. I think we still have 6 jars from 2 years ago yet. It's always a fun project and you get a tasty treat at the end.

[@markpro96]

I have a few maples at the cabin. After watching you and MIKS videos I'm going to give it a go next year! Thanks Karl! Enjoyed your production! Have a great week!

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

If you’re serious about collecting maple syrup next year, give me a buzz. I’d love to help get you started if you need help. I can’t wait for retirement. This would be a great hobby to have when I have a little more time on my hands. Have an awesome week Mark.

[@Southpaw210]

I really enjoyed your video this morning Karl! I can see many other uses for the homemade evaporator. Thanks for sharing and enjoy that syrup on some home cooked pancakes. Have a great week!

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Collecting maple syrup is quickly becoming one of my favorite hobbies. It’s a great excuse to spend more time in the woods. Have an awesome week!!

[@jamesshonk565]

Karl I think you have it figured out. Good job. The home made evaporater is a real neat idea. Hope you are having a great week. God bless you and your family.

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

I am amazed how quickly we processed the syrup this year. Next year I am going to share a special filtration system. Have a great week buddy, God bless.

[@49337tm]

Loved this video for a couple reasons. This year I’m helping a friend that’s been making syrup for the past couple years. We spent about $500 on a new evaporator this year and you showed the evaporator that you made that is much cheaper. I’m planning on making the same evaporator on my homestead this year. Another thing that I learned was there are sap collecting bags! I never knew that. Thanks for taking the time to share this!

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment! Good luck with your maple syrup, it’s a great hobby to get into. I’ve got a few improvements that I’m going to show next year, this year has definitely been a year of learning. Have an awesome week.

[@campbenny]

Great video Karl ! Me, Amy and the kids used to make our own from the maples around our house. Watching your video really made me miss those peaceful long days of boiling. We've heard mountain lion while deer hunting in Manitoba. Sounded like a woman screaming in the woods. Kinda chilling 😅

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Thanks, Benny! I had never heard a mountain lion in Wisconsin before, it was a real shock. It started out sounding just like a woman screaming and by the end of its call it was a deep growl. Definitely a chilling call. 🤣😂 almost like a Sasquatch.

[@hubcaps1990]

Looks delicious. Another year I am not able to get upnorth to help my brother-in-law make his maple syrup. hopefully next year.Good seeing you, Karl 👍🏻🇺🇲

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Sorry to hear you’re not going to make it up this year. The temperatures have been so warm. We’ve had absolutely beautiful weather. It’s always great to hear from you. Have an awesome week.

[@FordDude66]

Maple syrup is the best! I have a buddy that gives Tammy and I a few pints every spring. Sometimes I put it on vanilla ice cream with some walnuts. Home made maple nut. Lol. Have a great week. Todd from da U.P.

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Oh that sounds so good! We’re gonna have to try it on ice cream tonight. It feels so good to get back out in the woods, I love this hobby. Send my regards to da wife, have an awesome week brother!!

[@miksretirementadventures9795]

Hey Karl, Man you are exactly where I was about 7 years ago. Chafer Pans and concrete blocks. We've grown so much over that time. I was able to purchase a used evaporator for $50 a few years ago which changed everything. It holds 84 Gallons and boils sap fast. Before this year we did between 1000 and 1500 gallons of sap. This year we only did about 550 gallon due to a 10 day vacation. I find it to be a wonderful hobby right between ice out and Turkey hunting. You did a great job. I'm posting my Maple Syrup video tomorrow evening. Excellent video Keep em Coming Mik

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

I’m looking forward to seeing your video, I have much to learn. This is only my second year but I’m already addicted 😂. I just got done making a vacuum filter. I have had problems in the past with my clarity and hopefully this solves the problem. Thank you so much for watching.

[@miksretirementadventures9795]

We are on the same exact same page. A vacuum filter is next on our list. They look so slick. Not sure where you're at. We may be upgrading to more of a commercial style evaporator. I saw we also have the same RO Bucket System. Mik @@karlsoffthegrid1378

[@lorettaandjasonoffgrid]

Great job Karl. We love maple syrup season. Love seeing how different people have their setups! We have a pretty cool setup too but I guess we are biased. Lol! Come check it out if you have time! ✌️

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Sorry, I didn’t reply earlier. Your comment slipped by. I’ll definitely be over to check out your set up, I’ve learned so much from watching other peoples videos. Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@flyingeagleoutdoors7252]

Well now I’m hungry for some pancakes lol thanks for taking us through the steps!

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

😂it taste even better at an early morning breakfast while ice fishing. Thanks for being here.

[@larrysmith6499]

Thanks for sharing

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Thank you so much for being here!!

[@ErichZachoutdoors]

Thanks again for a great maple syrup video! Hope all is well with you and the family!

[@rangerreno1249]

I’m making pancakes now!!! Love maple syrup. Well done Karl.

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

I was thinking about you this weekend. Do you have any maple trees over by you? I used to enjoy trapping, but my Lyme disease has slowed me down. Making maple syrup is slow pace enough for me to get out in the great outdoors. I’d like to apply for a bobcat harvest permit next couple of years.I may be hitting you up for some of your trapping knowledge. Have a great week.

[@rangerreno1249]

@@karlsoffthegrid1378 I’ve made syrup before. Plenty of trees. Will get back to it sometime but just too darn busy these days.

[@RVFieldTrip]

We can relate we have a Panther that lives in the woods behind our home and yeah it's not a normal meow LOL first time we heard it it freaked us out, I haven't had fresh Maple syrup since I was about 16 years old, great video my friend

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Thanks buddy!! I can totally relate to you guys freaking out when you hear a large cat. Hopefully I can get some video footage of him soon. I wish we lived a little closer. I would love to share some of this maple syrup. Have a great week.

[@whitetailwarriorsdeercamp88]

Man makes me hungry for some flap jacks 🤣🤣 never done it before mainly cause the family doesn’t care for maple syrup. They don’t know what there miss. Nice video always like it when ya go to “camp”. Yes I’ve herd them screams before U.P. at camp. Sends goose bumps down your back i will say that

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

I was thinking of you when I heard that big cat. I remembered the pictures you shared with me earlier this year. It’s kind of scary to think about what we’re sharing the woods with.🤣😂🤣. Have an awesome week brother.

[@munozlittlefarmjourney]

That’s a really neat evaporator! 👍🏻

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

It works so good. Next year if you want to come along, this would be a cool thing to show on your homesteading videos.

[@munozlittlefarmjourney]

@@karlsoffthegrid1378 that would be cool, last year Kelly and I tried some for the first time and it is delicious. It would be awesome to learn how to make it.

[@kevs6592]

Great video, Karl!!! I can almost taste it.

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

It really turned out good. We are so happy with the improvements we made this year. I can’t wait for next year. Have an awesome week!!

[@kevs6592]

@@karlsoffthegrid1378 You also!

[@kbjerke]

Only tapped *ONE* tree this year. (In my back yard.) So far it's produced more than 40 gallons of sap. It's an odd season! Good luck with your maple syrup run!! 👍

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

That’s awesome to hear. It really has been a strange year, I can’t believe how warm the temperatures are already. I’m glad to hear you’re making syrup too, good luck!!

[@kbjerke]

@@karlsoffthegrid1378 You should see my two Majestic Maples, LOL FIFTEEN FEET around!! Pretty sure they're both more than a century old. I'm getting too old myself, to make a major project of syrup making, but I do enjoy the results. Best wishes to you!

[@DebsWay]

Natural maple syrup!! Oh, I bet that's super good!! Hi Margaret! Hi Karl!! Now, Karl, could that bobcat or whatever it was, attack you? Was it wise to go running back out in the woods with your camera to try to catch it on film? I would've high-tailed it back to the cabin and locked the door! LOLOLOL...take care now!

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Hi Deb!! it is possible that those big cats can attack. When I went back into the woods, I brought a spotlight and a gun just to be safe. I sat out there in the dark for about a half an hour, but I never did hear him again. I wish we lived a little closer. I would bring some of that maple syrup over to you guys. Have an awesome week.

[@DebsWay]

Regarding the maple syrup, if it ever should happen, I would gladly make up a batch of pancakes or French toast!!

[@canajian]

Mornin 🖐😎👍🍁

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Good day, sir🍁😎

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Making Maple Syrup......the most under appreciated homesteading or self reliant thing on YT, LOL Thanks for the Video my friends. Interested in if your RO process effected the flavor at all? people on Maple Pages have ixed opinions, thanks

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

You know it brother, I suppose views will be down, but I am addicted to maple syrup🤣. All that the RO system does is remove pure water, it keeps all the good stuff so that you can still have the great taste. I made a new filtration system that I will save for next year. I can’t wait to share it with you.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

@@karlsoffthegrid1378 awesome

[@erikl1886]

Scraping the bottom of the pan with a piece of copper helps get that black soot off.

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

That’s an awesome tip. Thanks for sharing.😊

[@jasonborn867]

Such a pleasure to watch, Karl! Looks like snow is gone and the maple sap is flowing! When do you think ice will be gone from your nearby lake?

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Thank you Jason, I can’t believe we’re making syrup already. The ice is disappearing quickly,The far side of the lake is already starting to open up. It will be nice to get out on the water soon

[@jasonborn867]

​@@karlsoffthegrid1378 That's some great news about ice already coming off the lake. I'm arriving in the U.P. one month earlier this year and hoping to get the boat out asap. Looking forward to that fried fish dinner!

[@bwcok7947]

Awesome! Do you think the Walleye are moving up into the stream there now? Maybe an underwater camera would work to show them spawning.

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Thank you. I’ve been watching for the walleyes they haven’t started moving yet. It’s usually a short window. I’ll try to get some footage.

[@bwcok7947]

@@karlsoffthegrid1378 AWESOME

[@dacabinguy]

Nice batch, wish I had the sugar maples....Ads were 20 in a row😂...bad current streak, up North myself just to check on stuff, and I haven't been here in like 6 weeks. Just bazaar how we had like a 3 week winter.

[@timebythetent3594]

yes the weekends are not fun and cold if everything can switch a few days on the weather to get those temps up

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

I’ve been thinking about you lately. A while back I sent you an email providing some information on the Cabins. I hope you got it. Have a great week my friend.

[@timebythetent3594]

@karlsoffthegrid1378 yes we did receive your email thank you . We are working out a plan for it may not be this year but it will happen

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

@@timebythetent3594 I hope things work out for you. I do have to admit I really enjoy spending time in a tent like yours especially during deer hunting. I love your new tradition with a deer Camp sign. That’s how we started out hunting in the Northwoods years ago

[@Jim-op3kg]

Do you think you can do a fish boil on the evaporator?

[@karlsoffthegrid1378]

Definitely!! we need to hit the water soon