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Preparations
begin for Maple Sugarin’ at the Prairie
This week the maple sap has started to run, and many Darke County
Parks’ volunteers have fired up the sugar shack for the maple sugaring
season! Freezing nights and thawing days cause the sap to move,
bringing the sweetness one step closer to the table. For some
volunteers it will be just another February, for others it’s an
opportunity to learn a new skill and help out the park district at the
same time.
The Maple Sugarin’ at the Prairie Festival will be held on Saturday,
March 2nd, beginning at 8am. This late winter day at Shawnee Prairie
offers guided tours through history and science, learning the process
of turning sap into syrup. After the tour through the woods, visit the
sugar shack, and warm up in the steam-filled evaporator room as the sap
spends countless hours on a boil to reduce it down to syrup. Then head
out to the log house and blacksmith shop to visit with the early
settlers and discuss life on the frontier. Finally, complete the day at
the Nature Center where the gift shop and bake sale will be full of
maple goodies fit for any sweet tooth!
The Friends of the Parks will once again be serving up a hearty
breakfast of waffles, sausage, juice, coffee, and of course pure Ohio
maple syrup! Adults tickets are $6 and children 3-12 are $3. Carry-out
is available, and extra sausage can be purchased for $1 more. Breakfast
will be served from 8:00am-12:00pm. Tickets will be available at the
door on the day of the breakfast or presale tickets may be purchased at
the Nature Center. Call (937) 548-0165 for more information!
Photo: Smoke rises from the sugar shack as volunteers begin
to boil sap.
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