Tapping Birch Trees | Spring In Alaska

With the snow melting and rivers beginning to show open water again it's the perfect time to tap a Birch tree!
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[@ahlushko]

you can actually add citric acid, sugar, bring it to a boil and preserve it in jars. One of my favorite childhood drinks, birch "juice" is very common in Eastern Europe

[@liamfleming2070]

To you both- I am a 66y/o subscriber. Can’t recall how I found your channel, but I am in my early years of my retirement, so KZbin is a great comfort, and new found interest to me. I wanted you both to know that I just recently figured out how to make public comment- well, I had a little help- and I just want to say, that the two of you are living the life that I always wanted to live as a young man. I spent my early 20’s pouring over the FoxFire series. And building a cabin. Since I joined as a subscriber probably 8 months ago, I have enjoyed every one of your videos, and I so much appreciate the knowledge you are imparting, and most of all the tremendous effort in your series - even to me at the later stage of life, who probably will never be able to implement it. It’s wonderful. I wish, had I had your channel back in 1977, because maybe you would be learning from me! Haha...just kidding, you know. In all appreciation, I truly enjoy watching how you doing, and I appreciate the effort to impart knowledge. Keep up the good work. The video on the bees was so interesting! I had no idea, at all. So interesting. And thank you for all you are doing for all of us.

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Liam Fleming we are both so glad you are enjoying our videos :) we truly are having the time of our lives! thanks for watching and your very nice comment -Eric and Arielle

[@devinlauwerier404]

Heyyy Mr Fleming! Have a great day!! Thank YOU

[@beebob1279]

This is a wonderful comment. And I agree with you. I've tapped maple but we just don't have big white birch around here like Alaska

[@GS-st9ns]

Liam, you are not too old start living life Off the Grid.

[@beckyumphrey2626]

I am a 60 year old also. My husband and I love this channel and also love the Foxfire series.

[@DJ2CM]

Hi guys , thanks for posting 👍😀! years ago I had birch trees in my yard .and one year I was on my deck and it sounded like water was running. Looking around I found a hole in one of the tree's and it was pouring out like a tap was open . Once I plugged the hole with a peace of branch you could put you ear on the tree and hand and feel and hear the sap moving up the tree. When I had them removed the tree guy said that it would be hollow in the core . He was correct and said that is the volume of water/sap that a birch pulls from the ground. It was pretty cool and strange at the same time. Thanks for sharing your beautiful environment. Stay safe and happy 😷 🇨🇦 Craig

[@wirinaholstein4076]

Here in Northern Scandinavia, we consider this a treat. We do however always plug the hole we dig in the tree with a birch branch before leaving. Its to care for the tree and make sure it doesn't lose more nutrients than the ones we already take from it. Birch beer is a process that require more sap from more trees (make sure to use trees with a larger distance to each other) and a longer process, but is so worth it in the end. As long as you do it manually you spend so much energy tapping trees that you know you will never be able to tap enough trees of enough nutrients to really make a negative impact on the trees in your area. Although we have a LOT of birch trees where I live, they sure can be threatened if tapped too often. Id say once in every 5 years is acceptable.

[@emppulina]

"Neighbour" here from Finland. My mother used to tap trees every year. She stored sap in the freezer, because othervice it goes bad soon. Highly valued stuff here. It is considered very nutritious, as it has a lot of minerals.

[@fosben]

@rzomgShe didn't say many people do it, she said they do it... Also more people are actually doing it now because of home brewing.

[@eastraversupplies7843]

Vladivostok, Russian Far East here, I remember my dad took me out to the woods to harvest birch sap every spring when I was a kid and we used pruning paste to plug holes. We had sap fresh or used it as a base for fermenting either kvass or kombucha. Not sure if people still do that but there's commercial birch sap at stores

[@wirinaholstein4076]

@rzomg Northern Scandinavia, us living the rural lives. Im well aware it doesnt happen in central Oslo or Stockholm ...

[@wirinaholstein4076]

@rzomg Also the reason we consider it a treat is because its not an industrialized mainstream practice that is generelly done by everybody.

[@johnbower5732]

In Germany our old tribes called it "Drinking marrow back into your bones" used to be like a new year for us because we knew the seasons were changing. We survived the winter....yeahhhhhhh

[@winterstorm3578]

Same with Norway. My grandfather called it life water.

[@prayagrajvlogs3350]

I watch your all videos are very nice 👍

[@jillswan9654]

My grandmother always taught me to plug the hole with a carved plug made from the tree's own wood once you're done tapping it. It will take quite a while for the hole to fully close, especially if you have to hammer in the spile. And in the meantime it's open to insects and infection. We normally just use an old plastic straw so we don't have to traumatize the tree too much.

[@MM-oc3sb]

There are differing opinions about hole plugging. Maple syrup food science folks say it can trap bad bacteria in the hole and cause disease... they say a tree heals better on its own. I'm sure your grandparents did what was best known from their experience. Sadly, today most "experts" are not necessarily our best resources. 😉👍

[@RockMonger]

You 2 have inspired me. I bought some land and was on a slow.plan to start my homestead. But now I have shifted all my plans to fast track it. In the sense of not waiting like 5 years. Thanks for your videos!

[@badlittlemonkey73]

It helps having a good woman behind you with a big whip that would get ya moving faster 👍👍

[@ruralsquirrel5158]

May I ask where you will be homesteading? Also in Alaska?

[@zoozercattacrezooz4646]

Always happy to see this channels posts!

[@bradpolmateer4965]

Lol I've just done a marathon of old videos This is a very good channel

[@vxnova1]

I have seen this done with the tap connected to a pipe that goes to a 5 Gallon Home Depot bucket that has a lid with a hole drilled in it the size of the pipe, That keeps the sap clean, no leaves and other stuff falling into the SAP,

[@danepotchka2237]

You'll nothing but love, thank u

[@MrAwsomeshot]

we switched our production from spials and half gallon pails to tubes and 5 gallon buckets. it was so much better, only required collection every few days and it was certainly cleaner.

[@MrAwsomeshot]

@ShinRaPresident yes and no. hdpe '2' can be food grade. I probably wouldn't store lose food long term in it but I doubt they is going to be much leeching here.

[@hope6605]

These people are blessed. I feel they're living the life.

[@chadallison9585]

with birch tapping you should plug the hole with a peeled branch from a birch

[@davidmc8110]

The University of Alaska (I think it was) said they found the tree heals faster if you don't plug the hole. Provided of course you clean and disinfect what you're using.

[@teresaweaver1012]

My Appalachian grandparents grew up using birch toothbrushes they made by splaying a narrow strip of birch wood on one end, dipping it into baking soda, and polishing their teeth with it.

[@lindajeanfrancis2958]

I'm 70 and from nfld .love your video

[@chelseabarney3134]

We're tapping and making syrup here in the Interior. I scrolled through the comments and didn't see too many about what birch syrup tastes like but honestly it's kind of a burnt caramel flavor. That's the best way I can describe it. We have friends that make a salmon glaze from it. 😉Love your videos! Thanks for sharing your lives. I am hoping my garden looks half as amazing as yours last year and tried our first jar of cowboy candy per your videos ( the 31 day challenge makes me excited to try more food processing this year.) Keep up the great work!

[@Zg_1357]

So cute... Makes fun for learning.

[@sunflowervalleyhomestead1098]

I have to say I actually happened upon you guys by accident from a recommended video off the channel Roots & Refuge Farms. I' I've been periodically watching your videos over the last 5 or 6 months and I am finding myself falling in love with your channel. It has actually become part of mine and my sons bedtime video listings. Thank you for sharing your incredible life with us!

[@terrafirma75]

I tapped birch last year and made it into syrup. I find it tastes like blackstrap molasses. I use it in salad dressings and with venison savoury dishes. I also fermented birch water similar to kombucha. I did a lemon ginger zinger and a Saskatoon (service berry) flavour. Plus lots of fresh drinking!

[@Neon-Kyle]

You guys are such an inspiration, wish we we’re neighbors ♥️♥️♥️

[@susanapplegate9758]

Birch syrup now, and spruce tip tea coming soon - both very helpful with allergies and both delicious (especially with local honey in the tea). My friend in Willow made a birch syrup a couple years ago and gifted me a quart. Still my favorite syrup by far. Nice video, well done

[@DiT555]

We always had Birch juice while growing up. In huge glass bottles nice and sweet fermented fizzy drink with raisins inside (that made juice to ferment).

[@patmike3406]

So lovely to see the water running with the warmer weather! I understand birch sap has some healthful qualities. It is amazing that trees (the ones that experience winter) act like big pumps providing sap when it is warmer in the day and resting when it is freezing at night.

[@davidck1]

Glad you mentioned the cover. Too close to Russia not to cover it. Lol.

[@zahre_mar]

🤣 it's closer to Russia than you think

[@BrLambert]

The scenery is breathtaking. I've always loved the look of birch trees, there were some in Ohio, where I was from but not many. This is a first I didn't know you could tap them.

[@danielblanchard6487]

Thank you

[@sylviareynolds8463]

Love watching

[@MuhammadAhmad-ys6go]

You both are really great.

[@alisonoxholm9315]

I’m Scandinavian and we were taught to only take a little from the tree and to plug the hole when finished it is the blood of the tree and you must not let the tree bleed out, so you must never take to much or you can kill the tree treat the tree with respect

[@timlarsson3634]

little tip, when you are done tapping, take a little piece of stick, branch or just some type of wood and plug the hole so i can heal more affective. Also resuce the chance of bacteria get in there an hurt the tree. Maby you said it in the video, sorry if that was the case.

[@amykimball5953]

Wow! I’m going to do this next spring!

[@Onubense-zu4ei]

Hola. Vaya comienzo de video que paisajes. Eso es vivir con los recursos que teneis a mano, seguid así.....

[@tomkeltescheverythingoutdo2379]

I cant believe how fast the was running! Thats interesting about the relief from allergies with drinking that. Beats the alternative to over the counter stuff. I like learning about the things you all do.

[@alane6555]

I had heard that eating local honey will help with allergies as well.

[@ladyofthemasque]

@@alane6555 Yeah, I was just about to post that! Eating local honey helps your body recognize pollens, because most local honey is still a bit raw, and contains microscopic traces of local pollens. Some beekeepers also sell pollen grains collected from their hives that you can eat in tiny quantities to help build up your allergen resistances. As with everything, start with very small amounts (sap, honey, pollen, whatever), and increase it slowly, and remember to check in with how your body is feeling a couple times a day as you do so.

[@alane6555]

Thank you ladyofthemasque, I did not know about getting pollen grains from the bee keeper. I may have to give it a try or just go to the source of the problem. In the Transmitter buildings on the Mountain near us the Pine pollen will build up a noticeable amount daily. It was a pain when I worked as a station engineer.

[@alane6555]

Alan, I would probably have to start out slow as some pollen really gets to me. But i will look at trying it come the end of May.

[@goingcagey5991]

A spoonful of local honey each morning has "cured" my husband's horrible seasonal allergies. (We live in Indiana.)

[@bradpolmateer4965]

Wow it's a quick snow melt

[@Mrvl1234]

Birch sap is big in rural Ukraine and Russia. For people who grew up without Coca Cola and Pepsi(and most did) it was great, not too sweet water basically. Great to re-hydrate yourself after a day of riding your bike or running around with friends.

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Local honey is good for allergies too. I almost have no seasonal allergies since we moved here. I love it.

[@johnwayne4072]

I remember going to a maple tree/syrup farm once when I was a kid. We watched them cook it down into syrup and got to drink some of it while it was fresh and warm. It was pretty good. But I did not know you could tap birch trees like that. I wish I would have known that when I was young and lived around some birch trees. I've learned something new. Just found your channel today and am binge watching it all day. You all do a great job with your videos.

[@MrJshsedgwick]

Made walnut syrup a few years ago. Took a couple days to boil it all down, probably 40 gallons went to a pint or something but I misread the candy thermometer and brought it to 217 instead of 207 or something like that. Basically burned it :( smelled wonderful before I burned it.

[@jameshesa2132]

Great video... Keep posting them... It's amazing to see everything you guys do...

[@bertchapeau7702]

LOVED THE SHORT VIDEO! VERY INFORMATIVE MY DAD MADE MAPLE SYRUP WHERE HE LIVED IN U.P. MI. AROUND 1920'S OR SO THAT'S WHEN THERE LIVELY HOOD DEPENDED ON IT. IT WAS FUN. THANKS.

[@PNW_Homesteader]

Awesome! I tap the Big Leaf Maple here in Washington State. It is amazing how there are trees all throughout the US that can provide for you.

[@TheSweetKarmaBar]

gosh how i love your videos

[@chugachpowder]

Tapped our birch trees for the first time down on the Kenai Peninsula yesterday. We’re a bit late in the season but it’s fun! I think we are going to ferment some of it.

[@rosea830]

Thank you so much! You've just shown me how to tap our Black Walnuts next February.

[@JamesCouch777]

😁👍

[@raptorkravmaga9977]

I think the sap from the black walnut tree is going to be little bit bitter if I do remember well. My granny she was using it to make a sweet stuff but I don't remember well, it is over 40 years ago.

[@mzh22003]

Wow... didn't expect to see snow now...

[@markh2005]

Excellent, I never knew you could do that. Love watching Bandit bounding around, its joyous!

[@susanrohrlach2660]

How exquisitely beautiful is that birch sap!!!

[@loraineleuschke4186]

So wow, thanks for sipping it for us and describing it to us.

[@fozzieprepper6923]

Awesome. Be away for awhile. As usual good stuff

[@vincentgolden5352]

I love birch sap just like those pink candies i grew up on homemade birchbeer absolutely delicious stuff. Takecare and keep safe thanks for sharing guy's

[@koreancountrysidelife7071]

Wow ~ I was surprised that the birch tree was very large. There is a birch forest in front of my house in South Korea. After all, nature can't face Alaska, thank you for the good video !! ^^

[@408Magenta]

A verygood tutorial.

[@jeffbee6090]

never heard of tapping birch trees.... so unanswered questions- what do you do with it beyond drinking it fresh? do you put it in your root cellar? How many gallons do you collect? how long can you keep it? very interesting video today!

[@bradpolmateer4965]

I've recently been looking into wild edibles and theres tons of plant and fungi that can bee eaten Although I'm leary of going on my own for wild mushrooms The only ones we ever looked for are morels and they are delicious

[@EnlightenedEndeavor]

@@toomaskotkas4467 how do you know that, spy? 😂😂😂 You are absolutely right...and please, dont get offended, its just all Americans (or almost all), think that every Russian is a spy🙊. Its not true though... people so stressed out lately ... stress is no good✌

[@saticharlie]

you make birch sirup, it's like balsamic vinegar, best for salade dressing.

[@ytreece]

@@bradpolmateer4965 I joined the mycological society in my city to learn about foraging for mushrooms and ho on group hikes at first. Now I go on my own. It’s a great way to learn.

[@tnwhitley]

There’s my favorite couple. I love your videos. I’ve always wanted to live in Alaska. I take the Alaska magazine because of the stories of people there. Thanks for all your videos!

[@ladyofthemasque]

Finns & Saami peoples in Finland have a saying about drinking birch sap in the springtime (straight sap, not boiled syrup). They call it "drinking the marrow into the bones," because they do know it's full of nutrients & minerals their bodies need after a long hard winter. Birch sap has been an important cultural springtime tonic for countless generations.

[@torceridaho]

the video of the ice flow is magical

[@lynfaharris6727]

Love watching your updates. Very different to life in New Zealand.

[@Crosbhealach]

You can also get the say by cutting a branch and bending it to a bucket or attaching a bag. Healthier for the tree cause if the cut gets infected it can drop the branch. Course, for larger trees there won't be branches near the ground, then the trunks the only way.

[@eugene_m_]

Love you guys! Stay strong, you're doing a right thing!

[@vnbestfood1267]

This method works very well, so amazing.

[@karnivorgirl]

this is so awesome. thank you so much for sharing this. can't wait to try it myself.

[@amandadobbs8637]

I bet the sap would be delicious as a simple syrup substitute in cocktails.

[@terrafirma75]

Amanda Dobbs I made the syrup and put a tablespoon in the bottom of a glass, 1 ounce of gin and used birch water as mix. It goes by two names- Pancake remover or sticky panties. We could decide which name we liked better. It was delicious and not sweet like a drink with soda

[@boringopr4369]

Wow When you poured the sap in to the bucket it look like the cleanest clear as water if not better

[@ashleyhavoc1940]

Beautiful production with a touch of education. Thank you.

[@kingrafa3938]

Wow! That drone footage at the beginning of the video was super amazing 😍

[@antionettefernandez9316]

you two are so fun to watch I love all the cool things that you do to keep busy and do things that benefit your life. I wanted to ask if you are close to palmer ? we are moving there next year and are watching you often to get ideas on things we can do. You are our favorite. God bless

[@bethbaker5166]

Hello. I used Arizona Green Tea or Gallon milk jugs with zip ties you can put hole in side with drill,fit over spoke and no bugs.Plus you can pour from spout

[@naydenaschlecht8572]

Wow that is so cool

[@ruralsquirrel5158]

I"m learning so much from your channel.

[@bradwalsh9122]

I've had Alaskan birch syrup several times. Its bitter. I've gotten it from several different people and it's the same bitterness. I do enjoy the sap water.

[@danamama6766]

Wonderful drone pics and very awesome about the birch sap relieving allergy symptoms. :)

[@BADEB58]

In France we do it to clean our body and I guess in all Europe. Now we are at the end of the season of tapping birch trees

[@JamesJones-pt9cz]

Great job on utilizing the things in your surroundings, good job on the Bitch tree Tapping.

[@patronklful]

We preserve not sterilized birch sap for many months on a cellar. Sweet turns to sour. Best refreshing drink during hot summer days. Sometimes adding some lemon or raisins.

[@jeremymetcalf2502]

Love me some birch beer.

[@joharmon2148]

WOW you tapped that one at the right time. It sure was running fast. Take care stay well

[@tiffanybeck7551]

Looks so tasty I learn something new every time I watch your videos

[@awesomesauce7535]

Cool, never knew about tapping Birch trees. Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@deannaroth2081]

We made birch syrup this year on our wood stove, about 3-4 cups of it. It is very sweet and has a strong flavor. I wouldn't say it is not like maple syrup but a whole new taste of it's own. We really like it and I am excited to try baked goods with the rich birch favor. Thinking molasses cookies mmmm

[@bkodra]

Birch syrup candy is the best stuff! I miss that from Alaska.

[@bubblegumsnaps997]

Birch sap is very healthy and good for you! Thrilled your able to reap the benefits! Be safe!😀✌🏻✨

[@esmeraldaalcantara4785]

Love watching your videos,thanks for sharing

[@serenitywoods9752]

Nice! I love learning new natural ways of helping with allergies! That is the main reason i want bees. Thanks guys for another great video!

[@stephaniehartmann250]

That’s so cool!!!

[@densamme1752]

Makes me miss making birch cider as a youth, taking a girl out for a picnic with the apple tree's in full bloom and sharing it

[@coloradopackratprepper]

Thats pretty cool and alot. Never heard of tapping birch before!!!💞💞💞💞

[@PangiValley]

Thanks for this. We will be trying in Pangi Valley ,District Chamba , state Himachal Pradesh , India , which is in Himalayas. We have never explored the natural bounties like you .

[@michaelbuchanan2662]

Wow never seen this before cool

[@hollyandleah]

Such incredible views. Wow!

[@johnsmith9270]

put a cap above your tap and bucket, so it would protect your birch sap in the bucket from getting mixed with water or whatever else. also you can use young birch branches with fully developed leaves to make birch bath broom. you'd need a russian both to use that birch bath broom at. really good for cold climates.

[@408Magenta]

The Birch has to be our most wonderful neighbour.

[@mannyochoa3041]

Yall are living the life I wish I did, I live threw yall! Great video!

[@tobynoyes9270]

I live in maine. I do tap maple trees and have in the passed tap white and yellow birtch the syrup is dark and thick and has a minty flavor. It is a lot of work but you will like it try making 1/2 gallon it's good.

[@tgg8267]

You can do the same thing with maple tree too maple tree juice is sweeter as birch tree taste like fresh water after couple of weeks storage it's develops sweet and sour refreshing flavour for better fermentation and storage lasting time you should add some sugar

[@nicolasbertin8552]

Careful that's a myth that nutrients go into the roots of a deciduous tree in winter =) The trees are not fully dormant, just very slow. There is no cell division, but there is still slow circulation in the trunk, branches etc... That's why you need to wait Spring, because in winter, sap circulation is just too slow to collect it (also it might freeze once it's out). The trees are busy making antifreeze, but there still is movement of fluid inside. They do take the nutrients from the leaves in autumn, but it doesn't go just into the roots, it goes everywhere, the whole tree is still working.

[@mbchudno]

In eastern Europe, Birch juice (thats what it was called in Russia) is available in most of the stores. Of cause when its natural from the tree is MUCH more healthy, but i am surprized its not more available here in North America as its as you said super delicious and healthy.

[@PatriciainOz]

That is so cool ! Thanks for sharing ...also doggy tail so happy ! great intro

[@misfitz4040]

Great video!! We just moved to Alaska in July last year. We are learning about all things Alaska and my kids and I just made a video of tapping the trees on our property with straws!

[@MeBeingAble]

A few trees can be tapped. In NZ there is a moss that grows on the birch & when you gently run your finger across the tips you pick up a sweet syrup.

[@Judy.LoveandLightAlways]

Adore this channel. Best on KZbin. Hug's from Australia xx

[@jeep4ron]

That’s was awesome. I didn’t realize you could do that with a Butch tree. Have a wonderful night you two..!!😊