Sap's A'rising in Middlefield

So you say it’s not enough to just slather maple syrup on pancakes; you want to learn how the sweet stuff is made? Today you’re in luck, as the Geauga Park District invites the public to its sugarhouse to learn how sap from maple trees is transformed into a yummy treat. The 1983 sugarhouse is part of the 32-acre Swine Creek sugar bush, where guests can wander through the maples and help gather the sap. Afterward, warm up in the lodge where you’ll find woodcarving demos, maple popcorn, and live country and blues tunes from Al Bonis & the Sugarhouse Serenaders. Who knows? It might add up to an attitude adjustment, says naturalist Judy Bradt-Barnhart. “I really didn’t like the month of March because it was dreary and cold. But once I started maple sugaring, it got into my blood and I just love the season now.” It’s happening from noon to 4 p.m. today at the Swine Creek Reservation, 16004 Hayes Rd. in Middlefield/Parkman Townships. It’s free.