This moring I had the opportunity to go on a field trip with my four year old, Benjamin. We had the most wonderful time with his class on a trip to the Sugar Bush. For those of you who dont’ know what a sugar bush is….it’s what we call a farm with a forest of Sugar Maple trees that they make Maple Syrup from. We are so lucky to be in one of the only parts of the world where Maple Syrup is made. In fact (LOL I looked it up) 85% of the World’s maple syrup is made in Canada…mostly Ontario and Quebec. The remaining 15% is made in the NE United States.
Maple syrup is made by boring a hole in a Sugar Maple tree, inserting a spigot and harvesting the sap that drips out. Each morning in the spring when the temperture is above freezing, the sap makes it way up to the branches to nourish the buds on the tree. When the temperature falls below freezing at night, the sap falls to the roots and makes it way up the tree again in the morning…this keeps the sap running. The Maple Syrup producers love cold nights and mild spring days to keep their season open as long as possible. Each farmer looks after the trees well for a future generation….it takes the hard slow-growing maples, 40 years before they are able to be tapped. After the sap is collected, it must be boiled down to create maple syrup. For every 40 drops of sap, you end up with one drop of syrup. It is a lot of work….yummmmmm….what could be better on your pancakes!
At the farm, we had a fabulous time….there is a large barn with animals for the kids to enjoy, a hayride back to the bush, lessons on how the maple syrup is made, a look at the huge evaporators and to finish it off….a pancake and sausage brunch. I’m busy trying to twist Dh’s arm to take us back tomorrow morning with the rest of the family!
