It's easy to forget that hidden inside every maple tree are the beginnings of rich, delicious syrup. This winter, why not make some of your own?
In mid-February, temperature changes within maple trees cause sap to start flowing. Retrieving it requires just a few simple tools, which you'll find in Tap My Trees' starter kit (available with metal buckets or less-expensive plastic).
The basic technique: Drill a hole in the tree, insert the spoutlike spile, and let the liquid drip until the bucket is full. Then, boil down the sap until it reaches a thick consistency. And voila: fresh, delectable maple syrup that will keep for two months in the refrigerator or longer in the freezer. (Download clip art for the bottles here.)
Resources
Starter kit with metal buckets, tapmytrees.com
Glass syrup bottles with cap, specialtybottle.com
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