Sunday, March 6, 2016

MS Green Ambassadors Tap trees for Maple Syrup


The middle school green ambassadors got another sweet treat when Pepper Pizzino showed them how to tap sugar maples.  In the spring, when the weather conditions are right, the sugar maple sap starts running up and down the tree.  We learned to identify the trees by looking for the holes made by a bird called the yellow bellied sap sucker.  Then students were able to assist as Pepper drilled a hole into the bark of the tree, inserted a hollow reed, connected a hose and ran the hose into a bucket.  So far almost 20 gallons of sap have been collected which, once boiled down, will make one quart of maple syrup.  The student plan on inviting Pepper back for a pancake celebration as long as he brings the syrup.