Tapping Sugar Maple Trees

Two things have reminded me that I never shared these photos in the blog. The first was writing the post on Foraging. The second was writing the post on Homemade Calendars.

Our 2024 calendar theme is Local Foods, so we are doing Sugar Maple artwork for February.

Sugaring Time
by Kathryn Lasky

Maple Syrup Season
by Ann Purmell

Here are some photos from February when Zac and I learned how to do this!

https://amzn.to/3Q2nhl8

straining the new sap that is being added

40 gallons of sap equals one gallon of syrup

special food-grade buckets are used for the collecting

the sap is flowing so much that the buckets must be emptied each day

Nick said that you start on Feb 1 and stop when the trees begin budding

we visited on Feb 12

the trees are marked during the summer when they are easier to identify

the tree must be measured to see if it is big enough to tap

A tree should be at least 10 inches in diameter, measured at 4 1/2 feet above the ground, before tapping.
"How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup"
University of Maine Cooperative Extension (PDF)

checking to see if the tree is healthy, and seeing which side to put the tap on

big root, big branch, south facing side (more sunshine)

drill an inch and a half straight in

it is just amazing to see it immediately start to flow out...
and the steady dripping sound into the bucket is mesmerizing

thank you to Megan and Nick for this incredible lesson!

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