Spring Thaw With a Side of Syrup

It’s safe to say that we can finally settle down and enjoy the weather, without having to peer over our shoulders to see if the ghost of winter past is planning a sneak attack. Now that we’ve reached a safe ground of sorts; we can ditch the shovels and salt, and turn our mine towards warmer thoughts.

Apart from purging our houses of remnants of winter past, the advent of nice weather is the ideal time for another act: maple sugaring. During this time, trees are “tapped” to produce the lovely sap that often lathers the plates of pancake lovers. The slow transition from frost to sun is the ideal season for maple sugaring, since excessive frost will freeze the sap, and equally excessive warmth will mobilize the nutrients that make this luscious nectar so tasty. The maple tree is a great example of a sustainable form of life; one that naturally adapts to its climate and makes changes as necessary. Also, it is another example of the way in which we are blessed with an abundance of tasty goods from the earth’s core. There are plenty maple sugaring events happening throughout New Jersey, including a demonstration at the Millbrook Village/Delaware Water Gap Recreation area on Saturday, March 19th between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. You also have the option to attend Maple Syrup Day at the Poricy Park Nature Center in Middletown, NJ on Sunday, March 20th between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.