7:00 p.m.  Refreshments & Networking

7:30 p.m.  Project Announcements

8:00 p.m.  Educational Presentation on Early Maple Sugaring in Michigan

Learn about the history, process, tools and uses of maple sugar by Native Americans, European colonists and early Americans in Michigan. An avid historical re-enactor, Jeff Pavlik will showcase his reproduction tools and maybe provide a taste of traditionally made maple sugar. The discussion will cover why the presentation is about maple sugar, rather than maple syrup.   For centuries, this time of year, people in Michigan have headed into forests of maple trees, also called sugar bushes, to collect sap to make sugar. Native Americans introduced colonists to this tradition. Colonists introduced tools to make the process simpler. Learn how these two cultures interchanged ideas and technology to maximize this natural resource. 

Jeff Pavlik has a degree in history from the University of Missouri. He is the author of Common Questions about Maple Sugaring; Answered using Documentation from the Colonial Era, a guide used by many museums and nature centers across the country, http://colonialbaker.net/Common%20questions%20about%20maple%20sugaring.pdf.   Jeff has been teaching colonial-style maple sugaring for many years, most recently at Tollgate Farm during the Maple Tapping and Pancake Feast. When not studying and reenacting Michigan history, Jeff spends his time as the owner and baker at the Sunflour Bakehaus in downtown Farmington, http://www.sunflourbakehaus.com/.

To encourage gardeners to sign up for an annual membership ($15 US a year, October 1-September 30), the board is testing a $5 guest fee for non-members attending individual MGAWC programs. The non-member guest fee does not apply to current U of M-Dearborn students.