Chocorua Lake Conservancy host Backyard Sugaring Tour

TAMWORTH — With our abundance of maple trees, have you ever thought of having your own sugaring operation? Are you not sure how to tell a red from a sugar maple, or what the difference is in sugar production?

Join the Chocorua Lake Conservancy for a Backyard Sugaring Tour on Great Hill Road on Saturday, March 12 from 9-10:30 a.m. New Hampshire’s Maple Weekend, when many sugaring operations open their doors to the public, is coming up soon. But on March 12, you can have a sneak preview and see for yourself what’s involved in “backyard” sugaring.

Join Bob Jolley and Kit Morgan to see what a small-scale, low-tech sugaring operation looks like. You’ll be able to check on the taps, gather sap (assuming it’s running), and learn about the boiling process. This will be a short snowshoe walk to the sugar shack and out into the woods nearby, with some tree ID and discussion of forest management thrown in. If mud season comes early, boots will take the place of snowshoes.

This tour will begin at 9 a.m. and last an hour or two. The sugar shack is small, so the group size is limited. Register in advance at bit.ly/CLC-maple. You’ll receive directions to the location on Great Hill Road in Tamworth when you register. Bring a mask to wear inside the sugar shack.

Bob Jolley has been sugaring in the woods off Great Hill Road in Tamworth since the 1980s, producing syrup for enjoyment and to give to friends and family. In addition to sugaring, Bob has managed family-owned woodlots and is actively managing his property for forest health and wildlife. His neighbor Kit Morgan joined him in sugaring a few years ago to share the labor (and the delicious product).

To learn about upcoming events, visit www.chocorualake.org.