Tapping the Trees

Dear Diary,

With our recent mild days the sap is running so many in my area are out tapping the trees for the sweet gift.  Maple syrup is a stand-by here in Maine and only pure syrup will do.

Many have gone to the more modern forms of collection with plastic buckets and tubing running from tree to tree but some, like my neighbor down the road a piece, do it the old fashioned way.  This necessitates that they wade out in nearly knee deep snow to collect the sap and haul it back on sleds.  Hard work but so worth it in the end.

It takes 30-40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of the amber syrup we all covet on pancakes and waffles.  It is a New England tradition that many around here keep up even if they only get a pint or two.  Here, the person is nurturing two young maple trees next to the one he is tapping.  He won't see them produce in 40 or 50 years...they are for the next generation.  

In a couple of weeks we will have our Maple Syrup Weekend and we will celebrate this New England tradition with Maple Syrup snow cones and pancake breakfasts.  Mmmm, can't wait!