not far from the tree

With the beautiful, spring-like weather we’ve been experiencing lately, there’s no mistake that maple syrup season is upon us. It takes warm days and cold nights like this to get the sap flowing. The warmth of the sun helps draw the sap up the trunk, invigorating the tree with new energy for bud growth and leaf development. The sap is full of sugar (remember that Biology class on photosynthesis?) and so if the tree is willing to share some of its sweet sap we can enjoy a very tasty and local source of sugar – from right here in the city!

A couple of weeks ago, the Toronto Star and Toronto Life reported that the City had some concerns with what we are doing. It has since been made clear that what we are doing has been approved by the City. (Hooray!) We have shown that our plans are thoughtful, well-researched, and are being executed out of respect for the particular circumstances of urban trees.

[What the City has expressed concern with, it should be noted, is of tapping trees that are on City property (including many front yards) and that are sugar maples (a species of maple that does not fare well under urban stresses, as opposed to Norway maples which we are tapping). There is also concern that people with no previous experience or training in how to properly tap trees would do so and damage trees in the process.]

So in case you were asking, the answer is: Yes, we’d tap that! In fact, we’ve already tapped a number of trees! Our pilot syrup in the city program is fully underway. More on that soon, stay tuned to the blog over the next week for updates. We’ll also soon be releasing info on the maple syrup tasting that will result from our sap collection. (You don’t have to wait to celebrate, though, you can get your own We’d Tap That t-shirt now!)

While you’re patiently waiting for an update, why not try out one of Foodland Ontario’s maple syrup recipes? Or share a maple syrup story that you have in the comments. Or go for a walk outside and think of the intricate workings of the trees around you, flowing with sap and preparing to bust out their summer fashions!