Taking part in an Ohio tradition: maple sugaring
3/22/2014On the first day of spring, Erika Buri, interim director of Olander Park System, and I tapped the only maple sugar tree at Olander Park.
When the first settlers came to Ohio the area was covered with the maple sugar trees, she said. And as a result, the area has been the epicenter of maple sugaring innovation. However, most of the trees have been chopped down because of development.
On Thursday, I was in charge of holding the steel spiles, or spout, that is placed inside the bark of the tree to direct the tap flow.