BROOKINGS – Extension Horticulture Specialist David Graper will present a Prairie Maple Syrup Production Workshop starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center, 631 22nd Ave.
Registration for the free class is encouraged by visiting www.mccrorygardens.com. For more information, call 688-6707.
“The workshop is intended for people with a few sugar or silver maple trees and/or boxelder trees who are interested in hobby or backyard maple syrup production, as well as those considering small commercial production,” Graper said.
The workshop will consist of an indoor presentation discussing the sugaring process, equipment needs, etc., and then the group will go out and tap some trees and put the equipment to use.
With luck, there will even be some sap flowing the day of the workshop.
In addition, participants will also assist with a research project dealing with awareness of prairie maple syrup production and a taste panel.
There is no cost to attend the workshop, thanks to funding through the South Dakota Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crops Block Grant Program.
McCrory Gardens has a wood-fired evaporator on site, which will be in operation periodically to boil the sap down to syrup this spring.
Once the sap starts flowing, generally in mid-March, McCrory Gardens will post an announcement on the McCrory Gardens website, www.mccrorygardens.com and Facebook pages.
