The Montague Commoners wrapped up their 2025 sugarbush season last week. This year, the group, along with 36 volunteers, produced just below six gallons of syrup. The organization dedicated almost 400 hours to the tapping of maple trees, splitting wood and syrup boils. Wiley Fry, a leader of the Montague Commoners, wanted to inform people in the community who are not used to tapping trees about what not to do during the “offseason.”
Fry said it is very important to not plug the holes that are drilled for tapping in the maple trees.
“Trees are able to heal tapping holes pretty easily over the course of 6-12 months,” Fry said. “The cambium layer of the tree grows over the wound and seals it shut. But when newbie tappers or well-meaning bystanders try to plug a hole, it traps bacteria inside the tree and blocks the cambium layer from closing. It's sort of like giving the tree a splinter, and trees don't have any way to get that splinter out. So while it might seem a little counterintuitive to leave sap leaking out at the end of the season, it's actually what's best for the tree.”
The Commoners will celebrate the end of their season Saturday, April 19. Volunteers and community members can meet at the Trailway Campground pavilion at 1 p.m. Acorn pancakes and syrup produced from this year's season will be provided. Volunteers who helped throughout the season will eat for free, while community members are encouraged to donate $5-10. Volunteers this season will also then receive their own personal share of this year's syrup and a Montague Commoners t-shirt.
