News 12: Maple Sugar Fest Sundays kicks off at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center

Feb 25, 2024
By: Tom Krosnowski and Robyn Karashik
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The Stamford Museum and Nature Center is celebrating one of its sweetest natural exports for the next few weekends.

News 12 Connecticut’s Tom Krosnowski stopped by their first Maple Sugar Fest Sunday of the season, which is sponsored annually by First County Bank as a part of the center’s family fest series.

“It’s a great chance to be able to get out and celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring. And of course, one of our favorite local products, our maple syrup,” said Lisa Monachelli, director of education.

Tree-tapping at the center is a short yet productive season.

“It’s a product that we can only make here in Connecticut for about four to six weeks, depending on the weather,” Monachelli said. “This is the time of year that we do it.”

The team produces between 50 to 100 gallons of pure maple syrup each year through time-tested methods.

“Our firebox here is all woodfired. That’s the way we do it, it’s the most traditional. We just keep testing it with our hydrometer,” said Mark Mogensen, the farm manager.

“When that reads 67% sugar, we can open it up and we can pour off what we know as maple syrup.”

There’s no shortage of options for customers to choose from.

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This syrup is unlike name-brand products people can find at a grocery store or market. There’s no corn syrup or artificial sugars added, which people can test out through “syrup shots.”

“An amazing taste, a nice local product. You really don’t need as much to use it,” Monachelli said. “And just know that you are supporting local farms, which makes everything taste better.”

“The only other place that you usually get 100% pure maple syrup is usually in Vermont or Canada,” said Lexi Klahn, of Heckscher Farm.

The museum said its signature attraction is the Maple Sugar Fest, which gives them the opportunity to educate people about maple syrup.

“One of our main tenets here at the Stamford Museum and Heckscher Farm is to teach kids about where their food is coming from,” Monachelli said. “Just being able to explain that process from tree-to-table is amazing to do every year.”

If you are interested in attending the last two fests, you can stop by over the next two Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are available online.

See original article here