We have some incredible trees in our watershed. . . including sugar maples! TTF’s Steph Clymer and Earth Force’s Dan Brown joined students and teachers from Bridesburg, Feltonville, Lawncrest, and Roosevelt Recreation Centers for a maple sugaring event at Fox Chase Farm. The event included fun activities and informative demonstrations. Students made leaf rubbings, listened to some great storytelling, sampled delicious maple sugar candy, and helped tap sugar maple trees.
Maple sugaring has been happening at Fox Chase Farm for over 20 years. Sugar maple trees are tapped and the sap is boiled into maple syrup and candy. Each tap (there up to four per tree) yields an average of 10 gallons of sap per season, which in turn yields about one quart of maple syrup. Learn more about the maple sugaring process and see pictures here.
This metal bucket collects sap as it drips from the hole drilled in the trunk of the tree. Each tap yields an average of 10 gallons of sap per season. Warm sunny days (above 40 degrees F) and frosty nights are ideal for sap flow.
