Words to Know

• Alkaline - refers to the basicity of the pH level of the soil. These soils contain sodium, calcium, and magnesium and are unable to filter water.
• Brix - is a value used to express the number of grams of sucrose (sugar) present in a liquid.
• Evaporator - a set of large shallow metal pans used to boil sap into syrup.
• Perennial - a plant that has lived/grown in the same locations for many years. Cacti, shrubs and trees are examples of perennial plants.
• Photosynthesis - the process where sunlight energy is trapped by chlorophyll in the leaves and is converted in chemical energy (such as the sap) that is used throughout the tree.
• Sugar Shack - also known as a sap house, is a small group of cabins where sap collected from maple trees is boiled into maple syrup.
• Tap - a hole put in a tree to extract sap.