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The Seasons of Maple Spring
- This is the time of the most activity when the
syrup is being made and most of the harvest work is done.
Most sugarhouses in Massachusetts are open to the public
during the boiling season, and many have restaurants
where you can have pancake breakfasts with freshly made
maple syrup. Because sap must be boiled immediately to
make the best syrup, sugarmakers are often boiling late
into the night, and occasionally around the clock. At the
end of the season, everything must be absolutely clean
and in good repair before it is stored for the next
season. Summer -
In the summer, chlorophyll, the green pigment in the
leaves, absorbs energy from the sun; and the roots absorb
water and minerals from the soil. In the process of
photosynthesis, a simple sugar is produced, which is
converted to starch, and is stored within the tree. This
is the maple tree's food and energy reserve. It is also
the basis for the sweet sap to be harvested 9 months
later. For the sugarmaker it is a time to package and
sell his maple syrup. Some producers fertilize their
trees, and many thin out the "weed" trees in
the sugarbush, to allow room for the maples to grow. Autumn -
As fall arrives, the days become cooler and shorter
and the leaves begin to slow down their chlorophyll
production. Sugar remaining in the leaves combines
with other substances, and the leaves show their
spectacular red and gold colors of fall. After the leaves
drop it is a lot easier to work in the woods because
visibility is greater, and the heat and insects of summer
are gone. This is the time of the year for the sugarmaker
to clean up his sugarbush, repair damage by fallen or
dead trees, and to cut firewood for the house or for
burning in the evaporator. Winter - During the winter the trees remain dormant. The starch is stored within the tree, waiting to be converted to sugar in the spring, and to sweeten the sap that the maple producer will gather. For many sugarmakers the Christmas holiday season is a time when they sell much of their product. Maple syrup has become a favorite gift of residents of New England. Massachusetts maple producers ship syrup to gift recipients all over the world. This is also the time to think about the upcoming maple season, to make improvements in the sugarbush, and to dream about new equipment. send email to: info@massmaple.org |