Maple Syruping

Learn:

In southern Wisconsin, February usually brings days that are above freezing and nights that dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. These are the conditions needed for maple sap to start flowing in maple trees!

These changing temperatures cause a pressure change in the tree and sap moves accordingly. And much like when you cut your finger, if there is a cut in the tree, sap will flow out. Humans take advantage of this by tapping a hole in a tree (hence, “tapping” for maple syrup) and inserting a spile to catch the sweet sap.

Sugar maple trees have the highest sugar content in their sap, but other trees can be tapped just as easily. Boxelders, walnuts, and birch trees have a decent amount of sugar in their sap as well.

It takes 40 gallons of maple sap to create 1 gallon of maple syrup. That, and a lot of TIME to boil the sap down to the right sugar concentration. But it sure is worth it!

Read:

There are a number of nature centers (and private individuals) that tap maple trees in late winter. Find one near you to visit, and bring along the book At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush by Margaret Carney and illustrated by Janet Wilson. All of the steps in traditional maple sugaring come through easily in this intergenerational book.

Do:

Want to try maple sugaring? On a warm winter day, find a tree that’s at least 12” in diameter. Use a drill to tap a hole around 2” deep. You can then either insert a spile (found at stores like Farm & Fleet or online) and hang a clean bucket over it. It’s handy to have a cover too, to keep out bark and bugs. Once you have a good amount, boil it down for a LONG time to get to your desired consistency.

One shortcut that’s fun for kids is to just drill your hole and let kids taste the sap! It’s sweet right from the tree!