The Sweet Hobby of Mapling
By
Making maple syrup
It’s maple sugar time in Wisconsin and other northern states. Maple sap begins to flow in the spring, while nights still dip below freezing, but daytime temperatures push into the 40′s.
Maple syrup festivals abound this time of year. Attending one or visiting a local sugar shack provides you an excellent opportunity to satisfy your sweet tooth, learn how maple syrup is made, and spend some quality time outdoors with your family.
Bob and Janet Hansen of Atkinson, New Hampshire, turned an interest in maple syrup production into an old-fashioned, educational hobby. With their property lined by mature Sugar Maple trees, all they needed was instruction and basic maple syruping supplies. Now, with just 10 tapped trees and working out of their garage, they produce enough syrup for friends and family.
Even 10 taps are a lot of work. Consider that it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup. Expect about five weeks of consistent effort, beginning when the sap starts to flow. Janet says, “It’s a small price to pay, though, for the wonderful taste of pure homemade maple syrup.”
For more information about maple syruping in Wisconsin, visit Enviromental Education for Kids! Those Marvelous Maples
Related Off-Site Article: Pat’s Kitchen: The sweet science of maple sugaring
Photo Credit: Mfour on flickr
