what a "sweet" day.
we had the opportunity to visit a maple syrup tree "farm".
Why and how a maple tree can take starch stored
in its roots for winter and turn it into a sweet sap is truly something that
has scientists in awe.
Maple syrup is one of God's creative masterpieces!
(throughout this post any information in italics I have borrowed from the Wiki link for details I couldn't remember. ☺)
Did you know that maple syrup production is unique to North-Eastern America?
There are maple trees in other parts of the world, but they do not produce
as the weather never reaches the right temperatures.
the walls in the dining/learning area were covered in these beaUtiful quilts.
we spent time learning how to identify a maple tree by it's branches.
(this was NOT a maple.)
Seasons last for four to eight weeks, depending on the weather.
During the day, starch stored in the roots for the winter rises through the trunk as sugary sap, allowing it to be tapped .
the equipment we used
Which one is a maple?
it snowed off and on through out the day
and was
frEEzing.
measuring in inches to make sure it is a 30-40 year old tree.
The ideal sap producing temps are
20 degrees the night before and up to 40 the day. The weather cooperated :).
success!
we got 23 drips in one minute.
it looks like water
before it is boiled down.
the sugar shack where the long and careful process
of boiling down the sap begins.
a taste of hot syrup.
as delicious as it smells!
yum.
