Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day from Sterling Valley Maple! Being as we are a business dependent on nature,   the cycles of the Earth, and sustainable practices, we take Earth Day very seriously! Did you know that every year, there is a theme for Earth Day? This year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth,” which focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems.

So, where does Sterling Valley Maple fit in with the “Restore Our Earth” theme? Much of our effort is focused on land stewardship, organic farming, and forest management.  Maple syrup is an inherently sustainable crop because it doesn’t involve cutting and replanting a crop the way other sugar production methods (such as sugar cane or field corn) do.  A maple tree will live for decades or even centuries and continue to remove carbon from the atmosphere while producing maple sap.  We protect our tree health by using the smallest spouts available (under ¼ of an inch) which reduces the impact tapping has on a tree.  We use tubing systems to avoid the necessity of large equipment in the woods (reducing rutting, tree damage, and carbon emissions) and we use Reverse Osmosis to make our boiling more efficient.  While we do have to burn a fuel to heat the syrup to boiling temperatures, we choose to use wood.  We are able to mostly burn trees that have already died and fallen down in our woods (much of our firewood comes from limbs and trees that have been blown over during storms).  This way, we’re releasing carbon that was stored only decades ago instead of releasing carbon stored millions of years ago, which is what using an oil fired evaporator does.

We hope you will join us on Earth Day in seeking to honor and sustain the Earth we live on. Everyone can do a part, little actions add up! If you are looking for ways to participate in Earth Day, here are some ideas:

• Make a bird feeder for your yard
• Build your garden
• Start composting
• Invest in a reusable water bottle
• Start thinking of ways to store food besides in plastic ziplock bags
• Make the most of your recycle bin
• Start shopping at your local Farmer’s Market
• Try Meatless Mondays

Personally, we’re in the process of making bird feeders and are working toward using our compost bin much more. We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!

Happy Spring,

Sterling Valley Maple