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Sweet Mother Nature - Part Two

© N. Lou Lyons

Off and on since mid February, Mother Nature has been doing her part to bring warmer days and cold nights to our area. These are the perfect conditions for sap to flow freely within the trunks of sugar maple trees. Nature begins the process of making maple syrup, but man's efforts and contributions determine most of what will be considered pure maple syrup.

Once the sap begins to flow, trees are tapped and sap collected using either the traditional way with buckets attached to spouts on trees, or via the more modern aireal tubing method.

Sap gathered from the trees contains about 2-3 percent sugar and must be boiled down to 66-67 percent sugar for pure maple syrup. Sap and syrup pans are used during the boiling process. A great deal of work goes into the making of edible maple products.

If you thought maple syruping is all work and no play, a closer look at the Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale is sure to set you straight. Meyersdale, located in the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania, is known as Maple City. Other locations throughout the state actively make maple syrup during this time of year, but none have the amount of added planned festivities as those of Meyersdale. The residents there take their syrup making quite seriously.

March 29 - 30 and April 2-6 marks this years festival. No trip to Meyersdale would be complete without stopping by Sugar Camp in Festival Park. Here, the visitor will be treated with a look at the actual boiling off of maple sap. Additional attractions within Festival Park include but are not limited to arts and crafts, story telling, live entertainment and of course a country store where you can purchase some of those good maple products.

Nothing beats a spring event like those activites planned for the Maple Festival. Some of these include an opportunity to treat yourself to a meal at the Meyersdale Lions Pancake House. Yes, you can bet on pure maple syrup to top those cakes.

Suppose your in shape and would like to work up an appetite. Just enter The Maple Run, a 5K walk or 8K run held on April 5th. Active exercise of that degree may not be your sport of choice, so the festival seems to have planned something for everyone. A beauty contest is scheduled, as well as a parade, classic auto show, quilt show, horse pulling contest, live entertainment and so much more.