Lida Rose
Sap buckets
This time of year many people hang buckets on the trees, drill a hole in the trunk,and collect the sap to make Maple Syrup, one of the most important products of our region.
50 gallons of sap and several hours of boiling equal one gallon of syrup. The weather conditions have to be just right for the "sap to run". The night temperatures have to be below freezing, and the day temperatures above freezing. Rain helps. In recent years tent caterpillars have plagued maple forests making the trees less productive, more prone to disease, or killing the trees outright. These reasons are why it is so expensive.
Yesterday I bought a gallon of syrup from my good friend who has a "sugar bush" or forest of maples. It cost $30. American dollars. That is on the lower end of the scale as to cost. But I am sure you can see why it is like liquid gold.
Sap buckets
This time of year many people hang buckets on the trees, drill a hole in the trunk,and collect the sap to make Maple Syrup, one of the most important products of our region.
50 gallons of sap and several hours of boiling equal one gallon of syrup. The weather conditions have to be just right for the "sap to run". The night temperatures have to be below freezing, and the day temperatures above freezing. Rain helps. In recent years tent caterpillars have plagued maple forests making the trees less productive, more prone to disease, or killing the trees outright. These reasons are why it is so expensive.
Yesterday I bought a gallon of syrup from my good friend who has a "sugar bush" or forest of maples. It cost $30. American dollars. That is on the lower end of the scale as to cost. But I am sure you can see why it is like liquid gold.