Tree Tap App

By: GoggleFox

Abstract: Learn how to correctly tap various species of maple trees in order to maximize your sap intake. By maximizing your sap intake, you will be able to make the most syrup out of your sap collection. Without having the essential information found within the Android app, Tree Tap, a successful tree tap would be difficult to achieve.

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Table of Contents

Maple Syrup Tapping Probs……………………….……………….................................3-4

Story of a Tapper………………………………………………..…………………………………………………4-5

Where to start……………….……………………………………………....................................5

Weary with this technology?…………………………………………..................................6

Solution in your fingertips……………………………………………...................................7

Personalized solution……………………………………………………...................................8

Conclusion……………………………………………………………….……....................................9

References………………………………………………………...……….....................................9

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#MapleSyrupTappingProbs

Imagine walking through the woods among families of Maple Trees, with their large leaves

reaching out towards you. The beauty

of these species cannot be understood

on paper, but maple syrup tappers truly

understand the rewards of this beautiful

tree. Maple Syrup tappers understand

qualities of nature that many have not

experienced. Being a maple syrup

tapper can be easily learned, but there

are few resources at your disposable to

explain the duties necessary for tree

tapping while helping you stay on track

as an authentic Maple Tree Tapper.

Imagine you are walking in the woods,

looking for a tree to tap, now try to

describe what you have in your hands,

pockets or backpack. If you feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of supplies to keep

track of, do not worry. In this technologically modern world, most people carry smartphones

with them everywhere. They are multipurpose objects that can also help maple syrup

enthusiasts. What better way to solve your problems than with a tool that you can have with

you most of the time?

As Maple Syrup Tappers, it is important to keep track of things such as when the best time

to tap is and knowing what supplies are necessary to tap as they are crucial in having a

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successful tap. These organizational problems can cause headaches for many people.

How are you going to find a solution to these problems?

Story of a Tapper

As I walked into the woods in search of a nice full Sugar Tree to tap, I thought through the

procedure of tapping sap from the maple tree. On this brisk day, the movement of the cool

breeze caused a whistle through the air that played a rhythm for the thoughts moving in my

head. I thought, this is perfect weather for tapping a tree with a 40 degree temperature

during the day, as the sun goes down the temperature reaches freezing. The sap will

smoothly flow from it’s home inside the tree into my bucket then later a jar labeled

“Homemade Maple Syrup.” I needed to be confident that the time and temperature was

right or else it could cause me to start tapping too soon, in which case, the hole tapped

could seal, and I could cause damage to the tree and skew my production.

I walked past a vastly beautiful Sugar Tree that looked like it could burst with sap. I made

sure to find the sunniest side of the tree before measuring for my tap. I measured the

circumference of the tree. Finally I measured about 3 feet from the ground, or waist high in

my terms, and drilled a hole angled slightly upward roughly 1­2 inches deep for a steady

flow of sap. I then tapped the spile into the hole and hung my bucket. As I stood back to

admire my handiwork, I wrote in my little pad of paper roughly the area for the tapped tree,

the circumference of the tree, and the date. My data would be documented, so I could go

through my pages of data to make sure I collect the sap at the right time.

As I walked back to my house, I went through my mental checklist of all the equipment that I

carried, so I made sure not to leave anything behind. Little did I know, that my tiny pad of

paper fell out of my pocket. I knew that it was not the end of the world, and my day would

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go on. The previous week I forgot a writing utensil. I am not a careless person, but it is

difficult to remember all of the supplies like the spile, drill, bucket, measuring tape, and my

hammer for tapping. Once I arrived home, I checked my calendar to record the data from

today’s taps, I also went ahead to write when I should check the bucket for sap production.

Out of pure curiosity, I went through last years dates to view my progress from the two

years. I see that I am not doing as well, I really wish I had explored more today, so I could

have gotten more taps. As I put my belongings away, I am positive that I put the pad of

paper in the drawer next to the refrigerator because if anything happened to it; my records

would be gone. Maple Syrup Tapping is important as a hobby, but I use it for a little money

on the side or gifts to loved ones.

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How to tap a tree

The first step to tap a tree is to get familiarized on the tree types, there are four types: Sugar

Maple, Black Maple, Red Maple and Silver Maple.

Tools to Tap a tree

It is important that you have all your equipment with when the sap is flowing.

Primary tools:

Buckets:Used to collect the sap as it drips from the spile.

Lids: Attached to the top of the bucket to prevent rain, snow, and foreign material

from entering the bucket.

Drill Bit: Depending upon the type of spile used, either a 5/16 or 7/16 drill bit is used

to drill the tap hole into your maple tree.

Tap: ( spile) is inserted into the drilled hole to transfer sap into the bucket.

Hooks: Hooks are attached to the spile and used to hang the bucket.

Cheesecloth: Used to filter any solids (such as pieces of bark) when transferring

sap from the collection bucket to a storage container.

Secondary tools:

Hammer: Used to gently tap the spile into the tap hole.

Pliers: Used to remove the tap from the tree once the sap season is over.

Storage Containers: Food grade storage containers are used to store your collected

sap. Clean plastic milk jugs or juice containers may be used. You can also use food

grade 5 gallon buckets. Your local deli or donut shop may provide these free of

charge as they often receive their ingredients in such containers.

Tapping trees

The time for tree tapping depends on where you live and the temperatures. Sap flows when

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temperatures are above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and at night temperatures are below freezing. It

is important that temperatures are between this range so make sure you have an outdoors

thermometer. The pressure caused when the temperature changes keeps the sap flowing.

The diameter of the tree is important, select trees that are at least 12 inches in diameter.

Additionally, select trees with the greatest exposure to sunlight.You can tap a particular tree two

or three times, depending upon its size. The measurement must be taken at a height of four feet

above ground level, there are three different ways you can use to measure a tree:

1. For an estimate, hold a metre stick up. One end of the metre stick should be placed

approximately at the edge of the tree trunk. Hold the stick steady and read the number at the

other edge of the tree trunk to approximate the diameter of the tree.

2. Use a measuring tape around the trunk of the tree, four feet above ground level. Determine the

circumference of the tree (To convert the circumference to diameter,divide the circumference

by 3.1416.)

3. Get a rope of 35­45 inches long. Tight a knot at 12 inches, other at 21inches and another at

inches. Wrap it around the tree and this will give you a rough estimate of how many taps you can

do per tree.

Diameter Number of Taps

12­20 inches 1

21­27 inches 2

27 or more inches 3

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next:

Drill the tap hole: the size of the whole depends on the size of the spile you are going

use to tap the tree. Drill into the sunniest side of the tree trunk.

If the sap is flowing, the turnings will appear damp. This is a good sign... Drill the hole

about 2 inches deep.

Clean the hole and then insert the spile.

With a hammer Tap the spile firmly into the hole.

Hang the bucket (3 to 5 gallons) to the spile.

Cover the bucket.

Check the bucket every day.

Select a wide shallow pan to boil the sap in. Boil it in high. The syrup is nearly done when

it boils with an oily appearance.

How much Syrup, sugar did you produced?

After the boiling process (evaporation) of sap out of 30­50 gallons of sap you will make

one gallon of maple syrup.

One gallon of syrup produces eight pounds of sugar.

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Where to Start

As a new and upcoming maple syrup tapper, you have many questions about what it takes to

become a professional tapper or how to even get started. Even as an experienced tapper of

maple trees, there are areas within the practice that could be made easier for you.

Are you a busy person? You might be a family man, or you may have a demanding job with odd

hours. These personal problems can interfere with your favorite hobbies. The Tree Tap app can

help you keep your Maple Syrup taps organized. It will keep track of the amount of taps, when

you tapped them, and when there is sufficient sap. These are the most important areas of tree

tapping; however, the application can aide with production as well.

Are you unfamiliar in the kitchen? If you need help understanding how to produce Maple Sugar or

Maple Syrup, this application can provide a basic procedure that will break down the necessary

actions. It can even help estimate the amount of syrup or sugar you can expect based on the

amount of sap produced.

Do you know how many people tap trees in your area? Maybe you do, but with the Tree Tap

application, you can easily connect with others and form a community. This can help you find

solutions to common issues in the area that you typically tap.

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Weary with this Technology?

If you have not been fully engulfed into the technological world, do not worry. This app is very

simple. There is a centralized homepage that sets up the user for success.

From the homepage, you can navigate to many areas like “Tapping a Tree” where you input a

single tap, “Tapping Many Trees” where you can input data for numerous trees, or “Calculations”

that helps calculate an estimate of syrup or sugar based on the sap produced.

It does not matter if you tap trees for extra income or just for fun it is important that you know

how much syrup is being produced. To get a rough estimate you need: ropes, calculators,

thermometers and more, the application will cut down the amount of time needed in order to

estimate syrup production.

Did it come to your mind that you might not have internet service in the woods? Do not worry

about that. The Tree Tap App has an offline mode which will allow you to record all the important

information you need. As soon as you reach internet access you can SignUp or Login to your

account and synchronize all your data.

Are you interested in how much syrup your friends have produced? With this app you can share

all your information with them. You also can share syrup recipes and other basic information.

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A Solution at Your Fingertips

Let’s make it simple and use the tools

that you have in your hands on a daily

basis­­ your smartphone. Wouldn’t it be

great to count on a mobile application

that would make your tree tapping

experience a little easier?

There are applications already out there

that can help maple syrup enthusiasts

such as yourself; however, you need an

application that is easily accessible,

usable under many conditions, and

overall helpful.

As a tree tapper, you need one tool that

teaches you the most effective way to

tap trees, record important information,

and produce sugar or syrup. With this

application, you would not need to carry around supplies or worry about losing them. The app

allows you the opportunity to concentrate on your hobby.

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A Personalized Solution

By downloading Tree Tap, you can not only decipher whether conditions are ideal for tree tapping

but you can also gather data and store it for later reference (figure 3). Aside from those two

benefits of Tree Tap, you can also share your records with fellow maple syrup enthusiasts as

well as view tap records that have been shared with you. You can also access a calculator that

helps you calculate aspects of syrup yield and sugar content according to a selection of taps.

Aren’t convinced yet? How about the benefit of having your own calendar which you can refer

back when you want to know when you had the best tap in a selected week.

figure 3: Data Calendar

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Conclusion

By using the Tree Tapping App, you will be able to record all the data you need. As well as allow

you to enjoy your Tree Tapping experience, without the need of carrying notepads, pens or

pencils, and worry about them. These mobile app is a simple way to have all your data in one

spot and share it with your friends.

Because you will also count with a online data you will be able to access your information in

other mobiles, so no need to worry if your phone gets lost or broken.

If you have any questions about how to use the app, do not forget to go back to the tutorial under

the “Help” tab. You can access that tutorial as many times you want and learn more on how to

use the app.

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References

Smallidge, Cornell University. Cornell Sugar Maple, Research and Extension Program.

http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/

Vermont University, NESARE Maple Producers, Proctor Maple Research Center

http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/

Michigan Maple Syrup Association,When someone refers to “maple,” do you know what

they are talking about? http://www.mi­maplesyrup.com/education/education.htm

Fankhauser David, Making Maple Syrup, University of Cincinnati, March 2011

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Buds_and_Bark/tapping_sugar_maple_index.html

Written and Designed by Team GoggleFox.

GoggleFox website.

Presentation on WEdnesday:

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