Spring time in MN brings puddles, more daylight hours, birds returning, etc. It also brings freezing temperatures at night and (usually) above freezing during the day....you know what that means....MAPLE SYRUP SEASON!!! The maple is a-running and this year we were able to go check out a local farm that specializes in the maple syrup. We went on a Friday off of school for a fun field trip.
First up we looked at the room and equipment in which they take the water out of the maple water and boil the syrup. Think hot, noisy, smells like carmel corn, lots of people. Isaac, my most sensitive child to all these external factors (noise, smell, temperature) lasted all of 2 minutes in the room before he lost it. Process was interesting to most of us.
But they preferred to wait outside for our group next to the cows.
Next stop was the "sugarbush". One of the forests in which they tap the trees. This place taps over 30,000 trees. They have to retap every year.
4 years ago they got rid of their buckets and started using these hoses and a pumphouse to pump the maple water down to this great big bucket.
And here are my kids on this outdoor field trip. Yep, they listened to the whole bit and then when most of us were out checking on the trees, etc....they found an untapped section to just climb. Those kids are mine!
And a picture of most of the group!
Our very own Maple syrup made just down the street from us. Isaac has asked if we can tap our two maple trees in our yard now.........
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