It’s that sweet time of year again, so join the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as they unlock the mysteries of maple sugaring! Throughout the month of March, DCR will host activities in state parks across the Commonwealth that will show visitors how sap is collected from trees and boiled down to produce pure maple syrup.
Originally an early Native American tradition, the craft of maple sugaring was adopted by early Puritan settlers and continues to be a strong part of New England heritage today. This tasty delight is produced during a four to six week period that lasts from early March into April.
Traditionally, maple syrup is made by allowing to sap fall into buckets, which are then collected and brought to a sugar house, an outdoor shack containing a cauldron in which the sap is simmered for hours, reducing moisture and condensing the sap into pure syrup. More modern farms are coming up with advanced techniques that use plastic piping that runs from the grove of the sugar maples tress to the sugar house.
Be a part of DCR’s winter maple sugaring activities and experience this process first hand, from start to finish. Come learn, taste, and explore the natural sweetness of New England.
For all maple sugaring programs please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing. These activities are open to participants of all ages. Most programs are free, unless otherwise noted. For details on events go to http://www.mass.gov/dcr/DCRMapleSugaring.htm.
Hope to see you there!
2014 DAR Agricultural Calendar: September posted on Sep 12
September’s photo contest winner was Gary Kamen, who photographed Mount Warner Vineyard in Hadley. Mount Warner Vineyards is a farm-winery located in Hadley, a small town in the beautiful Pioneer Valley. Operated by Gary and Bobbie Kamen, their philosophy is to recognize the unique characteristics of …Continue Reading 2014 DAR Agricultural Calendar: September
Calling All Shuckers! posted on Sep 3
Do you know where the oysters you ate at the raw bar last night were grown? Do you know how oysters are grown? Oysters naturally inhabited the eastern coast dating back to the 1700s, but due to over-harvesting, disease, and habitat loss, wild oysters have …Continue Reading Calling All Shuckers!
The Turtles are Coming posted on Aug 29
With a migration pattern that stretches thousands of miles, it is no surprise that Massachusetts is home to four types of turtles during the summer, all of them protected by local and international law. And while you probably know that sea turtles often frequent the Massachusetts beaches, can you identify them?