March in Michigan means Maplefest-Time!
Have you ever wondered how maple syrup is made? We did. And therefore we joined the Maplefestival of the Tollgate Farm here in our neighborhood. We learned that a specific temperature range is needed to make the maple sap flow (freezing temperatures at night and about 40-50 F (4-10 C) during daytime. Therefore March is the month of maple here in Michigan. The tree tapping part was so interesting to watch and reminded us of blood drawing. Seeing the piping and connections of the different sugar maple tress was such an instructive experience. We got the change to taste the difference between the raw maple sap and the final product the maple syrup – delicious! And we also got the opportunity to get an impression of the processing from maple sap to maple syrup in the Sugar Shack. To wrap this fun day up in the perfect way, we spent some time with the farm animals.