Urban sugaring a success for one Haligonian, but city not so sweet on idea

Growing up among the concrete and asphalt of New York City, Brian Longo was always fascinated by nature and the idea of using the resources at hand to produce food. His childhood memories of seeing orange trees on the streets of California, where people would stop their cars to pick fruit, left a lasting impression on him. Longo believed in the concept of utilizing public land for the benefit of the community, and when he moved to central Halifax last year and noticed maple trees in front of his home, he knew he wanted to try his hand at producing maple syrup.

With the help of online resources, Longo set up a collection system using plastic buckets and hoses attached to the maple trees. Starting at the end of February, he collected sap from the trees for about a month, amassing a total of 113 liters. Using an outdoor propane tank, Longo boiled down the sap to produce approximately two liters of maple syrup. The process was both challenging and rewarding for Longo, who found joy in creating something he loved from the trees in his own backyard.

Although Longo tapped a municipal tree in front of his house, he was unaware of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s tree bylaw, which prohibits activities like tapping on publicly owned trees. Crispin Wood, the city’s manager of urban forestry, explained that drilling holes in trees can expose them to pathogens and potentially harm the tree. Trees in urban environments already face various stressors, making it essential to protect them from additional damage.

Peter Duinker, the creator of the Halifax Tree Project, suggested that tapping municipal trees may not be the best idea due to potential harm to the trees. However, he proposed the idea of a demonstration project involving knowledgeable individuals tapping trees in designated areas like parks, with proceeds going to charity. Duinker emphasized the importance of planting sugar maples in the city as they are sturdy trees that grow at a slower pace, reducing the risk of interference with power lines.

As someone with a deep love for sugar maples, Duinker believes that planting more of these trees in Halifax would be beneficial for the environment. While he acknowledges the challenges of urban sugaring, he remains hopeful that initiatives like these can contribute to sustainable urban forestry practices. By exploring innovative ways to utilize nature in urban settings, individuals like Brian Longo are paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.