Chatham Township -
If the idea of a steaming stack of pancakes swimming in real golden maple syrup makes your mouth water, visit the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center. New England is not the only place sweet
syrup can be made. With a few lessons at the center, an available maple tree, some simple tools, and lots of time, you can make your own syrup. If you are looking to make a gallon of syrup it will
take 40+ gallons of sap. (top right) Sap Buckets hang from maple trees as visitors take a walk along the nature trails . (above)
Suzzanne Mahoney, explains the process of tapping the maple tree. (right)
A few basic tools that are needed are sap bucket; spile (sap spout); brace and bit. The program will continue every Saturday in January and every Sunday in February at 2pm.
Photos By Joe Gigli
The
Sweet Taste of Maple Sugaring
Weekends
of maple sugaring at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, during January and February
Chatham Twp. -
Maple Sugaring comes to life at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center. Where Suzzanne Mahoney teaches you the process of making maple syrup. (top left)
Suzzanne hangs a sap bucket on a maple tree along one of the center's trails. (top right)
The first step is finding a maple tree that is at least 10 inches in diameter. This small maple needs more time to grow. (left)
Nicholas Lemere, of Florham Park watches his mom work the brace and bit 2.5 inches into the tree.
(far left) The bit works its way into the maple tree. (left) The tapping of the maple tree. (below left)
Suzzanne Mahoney, lets the visitors taste the water like sap. (below right) Nicholas Lemere, of Florham Park stands ready to hang the sap bucket.
Chatham Twp. - (above right)
Suzzanne Mahoney, pours the sap into the evaporator. It takes about 40 gallons of this clear liquid to boil down to 1 gallon of syrup. (left)
(l-r) Nicholas Caoazza, of Montville and Caroline Ellwood, of Cranford take the ultimate taste test. Which one is better? (l-r) C) Vermont Maple Syrup; B) Great Swamp Maple Syrup; or A) off the shelf pancake syrup, which is mostly corn syrup. The Kids picked B and C.
(below left) The Lemere family of Florham Park (l-r) Nicholas; Kevin; mom Maryann and grandma Grace Mullen. (below right) Suzzanne Mahoney, teaches the history and process before going afield.
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