By Tom Bannister

On March 12, celebrate Somerville’s annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival. Community members of all ages are invited to the Community Growing Center at 22 Vinal Avenue between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to watch and learn for free as sap from local sugar maple trees is boiled down into pure maple syrup over a warm fire. Attendees can expect syrup tasting, kids’ activities, demonstrations, and more. Waffles, hot drinks, and Maple Syrup Project T-shirts and posters will be on sale.

The Somerville Maple Syrup Project coordinated by Groundwork Somerville in partnership with the Somerville Community Growing Center, Somerville Public Schools, Tufts University, and each dedicated Maple Syrup Project volunteer.

What began 12 years ago as the small-scale tapping of a few trees on Tufts campus has now grown into a fully-fledged educational project that involves organizations and individuals throughout the Somerville community.

Throughout the season, Groundwork Somerville staff trains and supports community volunteers as they teach a 4-week arts and science curriculum to 2nd graders in all of Somerville’s public schools and lead educational activities at the boil-down event. At the end of each winter, local maple trees are tapped, and the collected sap is stored for this public boil-down event.

This year’s tapping will occur on Saturday, January 30. Check the Groundwork Somerville Facebook page and website for updates on this year’s tapping and maple-themed events throughout February.

For information about The Maple Syrup Boil Down 2016, the education series, or syrup production contact Sarah Lindsay: sarah@groundworksomerville.org  or call 617-628-9988.