Comments on: Ashley & Liberty

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:36:46 +0000

Fascinating. This is of interest to me because I once did a study (using Usenet as my data-gathering mechanism) that included eliciting terms for exactly that strip. I found several (parking, extension, boulevard, city property, etc.) that were used by lots of people, but out of several hundred responses, “hellstrip” appeared in the data exactly zero times. This was in about 1991, I think, so it seems to be a new term that has gained a lot of currency very rapidly. (Sorry for getting off-topic.)

By: Spooner

Spooner — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:22:03 +0000

If you gather the sap, from the previous day, in the early morning, there may be ice in the bucket. This ice can be thrown away. The sap at the bottom will be liquid and will contain the sugar. This will save a lot of boiling.

By: Cosmonican

Cosmonican — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:28:30 +0000

Hellstrip: the area between the sidewalk and the street. So-called because it's like hell to grow anything on that strip. Example: [link]

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:56:59 +0000

“hellstrip”?

By: Linda Diane Feldt

Linda Diane Feldt — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:06:40 +0000

Two other options. The plastic taps are easy to fit with the flexible plastic tube. But the right size and jam it into the tap. It stays. You can set a plastic milk jug on the ground and use tape or plastic wrap or aluminum foil to secure the tube going into the jug. Or, either buy plastic bags designed for the task or use zip lock bags secured with duct tape or some other fastener. Again, the bag is on the ground. And any tampering by people or animals would be obvious.

By: Cosmonican

Cosmonican — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:59:50 +0000

I have neighbors (won’t say who or where) who tap into city trees on their hellstrip. They have flexible plastic tubes leading from the tap to covered 5-gal. buckets: squirrel proof.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:52:24 +0000

How do you keep the squirrels out? Ours are curious about everything and think they own the place.

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:28:34 +0000

RE [1]: Try Washtenaw County Farm to see if you can use their trees. Details from a Chronicle story last spring: [link]

By: Linda Diane Feldt

Linda Diane Feldt — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:02:45 +0000

I spoke with a city forester, and they do not allow people to tap city trees. Sugar maples are already too stressed she said, and while all other maples can be tapped they are concerned about people who don’t know what they are doing putting in too many taps, or someone being injured by the taps, or a pail being adulterated by a passerby.

While you can apply for a permit to do something to a city tree,I was told that everyone asking for permission for maple syruping will be denied.

Find a friend with a tree, and share a bit of syrup with them. It doesn’t have to be a sugar maple, and even birch and sycamores can be tapped. Although I haven’t tasted the syrup from non-maples, and Euell Gibbons says sycamore isn’t worth the effort. But I did all my syruping from what I think is a silver maple last year and it was excellent.

40 gallons of sap makes one gallon of syrup. Boil it outside. Or use the raw sap for cooking – makes great oatmeal if you boil your cereal in sap rather than water! Also great bread, other baked goods.

This early thaw may cause a bit of decrease in the flow next month, but we should be OK. Meanwhile – tonight and tomorrow there may be maple sap icicles on the trees. A tasty surprise treat! Be sure to try them if you see them.

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:44:18 +0000

Linda Diane (or anyone)–is it possible to tap trees somewhere in the city? I don’t have my own maple tree and would kind of like to adopt some.