Plastic Bkt Starter Kit

Through my extensive research for maple sugaring equipment for our non-profit, urban education program, where we have a three-tree sugarbush in the middle of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, I found Tap My Trees to not only have the best prices, but they also had kits just for teachers. Philadelphia has a many education centers that teach maple sugaring on a larger scale so I knew the basics of taping a tree, but this would be my first time teaching and creating the finished product. Tap My Trees was quick to respond to all of my questions about sugaring and which products were best for our site. Then, without asking, they sent us everything we needed! Everything was functional, durable, and quality. Although this was my first time buying equipment and making syrup, I have taught maple sugaring for years in Philadelphia and was able to compare Tap My Trees' products to those used by other environmental centers. Tap My Trees' buckets, spiles, hooks, lids, book, filters, and drill bit were better than anything I have used before. The plastic buckets were the best for me because they are larger, but the metal bucket were just as functional. The book is well written, easy to understand and implement. The spiles, hooks, buckets and lids were durable as they filled before I could collect the sap, froze full, and had many children pulling on them to all see what was inside. Without the equipment and support from Tap My Trees, the kids that visit the Wyck Historic House, Garden and Farm for free from neighborhood public schools, would never have had the opportunity to experience identifying a sugar maple, drinking sap from the tree, learning the process of taping and boiling, connecting with the origin of what they were eating and learning the difference between real maple sugar and process pancake syrup. Obesity and behavior issues are a huge concern for my kids resulting from food insecurity and inaccessible fresh foods. At Wyck, we strive to expose them to health, fresh, locally grown foods that is accessible and affordable to their families. They, plant, nurture and harvest on our farm, collect eggs from our chickens, observe the honeybees and now, tap their own trees! In the end, the kids enjoyed every second of their sugaring experience, as did I and I know the equipment from Tap My Trees will last us through many more years and curious children to come.