Trees. We’ve climbed them, used them for shade, hung hammocks from them, and even cut them down to keep our houses warm. Have you ever considered drinking from them? Some tap maples to extract syrup from them, but did you know you can tap some trees for drinking water?
Seriously, you can. Check out this EarthSkills, LLC, clip as they show you how.
Some believe drinking fresh tree water is a great way to cleanse the body of winter toxins. While you can’t do this with all trees, it’s nice to know which you can produce potable water from, and how to extract it. Sugar maples, sycamores, birches, and hickories seem to be the best.
Watery sap naturally flows during late winter to early spring when the days are above freezing temperatures and nights drop below 32-degrees. Since the south side of the tree receives the most sunlight, you’ll want to tap it on that side. To perform this task requires a spile (spigot). You can use a piece of PVC pipe, bamboo, copper tubing, or a hollow knotweed stalk. Next, you will need a drill bit the same diameter as your spile. Then, drill a hole about 1 ½ inches deep at an upward angle into the tree. Insert your spile and allow water to flow into a bucket or plastic bag. Keep in mind the water will sour fairly quickly. So you should use it shortly after tapping the tree.
Another tree of interest, with many lesser-known uses, is the willow. Check out why it’s considered the survival tree here.
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