The Geauga County Maple Festival takes place in Chardon, Ohio which borders Lake County. This neighboring town is home to the oldest maple festival in the country and one of the largest as well.

Syrup in our area is typically made from sugar, red or black maple tree sap. Trees are traditionally tapped on Tappin’ Sunday, the second Sunday in March.

At Lake Metroparks Farmpark they have Sugaring Events including ‘Adopt a Tap’ which promotes the conservation of 27 acres of maple woodland.

If you want to try tapping and maple syrup production at home check we suggest you check out the tapmytrees.com website. You may also want to read our friend and author Kylee Baumlee’s first experience in tapping her maple trees on the ourlittleacre.com blog.

We recommend Highland Park Maple as a sugar bush choice.

This grandidentatum x saccharum cross has a 3.2brix count which is higher than other maple choices. This means you can make more syrup with less sap.

I’m very pleased to introduce you to our newest UpShoot team member,
 Jenny Koester!

Jenny has been working behind the scenes since December as our Communications Coordinator currently focusing on website maintenance and copy writing.

With certificates in Landscape Design and Horticulture, Jenny has earned her green boots working at Ault Park and in her own garden. She detailed her personal gardening experiences in ‘The Adventures of a Landless Gardener’ blog for Horticulture Magazine.

Ault Park

While maintaining her three blogs – The Garden Life, A Year in the Park and Blue Blazing Ohio, Jenny also finds time to contribute to the Shine Yoga Blog and is working on authoring her first book!

If that isn’t enough, she maintains four FaceBook groups, one for each of her blogs, Blue Blazing Ohio, The Garden Life, A Year in the Park as well as The Journey is Happiness.

I’m so pleased to have such a young, enthusiastic and passionate plant person as Jenny join UpShoot!

My peas may not be planted by St. Patty’s day but there will be green beer and my unique corned beef sandwich to enjoy!

Maria’s Sweet St. Patty’s Day Sandwich

Ingredients:
Fresh baked Rye bread
Swiss Cheese
Rothschild’s Horseradish Sauce or Thousand Island Dressing
Butter
Sweet Sauerkraut

Sweet Sauerkraut:
1 stick butter
2 jars sauerkraut – rinsed and juices squeezed out
1 or 2 apples diced with skins on
Light brown sugar
Caraway seed
Apple cider vinegar

Melt butter, fluff sauerkraut as added to the butter, sauté for a few minutes. Add about 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and enough brown sugar (¼ cup at a time) until the sauerkraut is medium brown in color; it should be sweet, not tart so add more of either ingredient to adjust. Sauté for a few more minutes and add diced apple along with a generous amount of caraway. Sauté until apple is soft.

Butter bread as if it’s a grilled cheese sandwich. On opposite side, spread the sauce. Layer cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut and top with bread. Grill until toasted.
 
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