The Hoot Spring 2019 | Page 11

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More of What We Learned:

*Maple syrup can only be produced in late winter when the weather has just begun to warm, but before maple trees bud or produce leaves.

*Students learned that Native Americans called this time the “Sugar Moon”.

*In the past, farmers would hammer small spiles into the maple trees and hang buckets beneath them. We saw examples of how both Native Americans and pioneers would collect sap from Maple Trees using this method as well. Farmers today use intricate

systems of tubing and plastic containers to collect the sap.

*It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup!

*The extensive time and work it takes to make maple syrup is the reason why real maple syrup is more expensive.

*Maple syrup is graded according to its color. We saw examples of different grades of maple syrup.