Sap, Syrup, and Spring!

Feb. 25, 2023

We might have a dozen more huge temperature swings in our future, but the sap tappers have already been out and about as we approach the true start to maple syrup season Up North. (The rule of thumb is you need daytime temps above freezing and nighttime temps below freezing.) If you’re new to the game or want to brush up on your skills, Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire offers a virtual Maple Sugaring 101 on March 1 at 12pm to learn about selecting trees, using the right equipment, and the sap-to-syrup process. For in-person instruction, they team up with Northwestern Michigan College on March 2 from 1-3pm for “The Science of Making Maple Syrup” class. For more maple fun, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore hosts its first-ever Maple Sugaring Days March 4-5, featuring the history of maple sugaring and live demonstrations, and BrixStone Farms in Bear Lake has an open house March 18…just to name a few. Talk about a good way to make the end of winter that much sweeter!