Got a maple tree? Get your drill, the kids, the neighbors and go outside and tap it.

There are windows of opportunity in nature, and one of my annual favorites is “sugaring time.” In late winter, tree sap begins to flow, and from the right trees, this sap can be collected and ...

The tap should be installed on the south-facing side of the tree. If unsure of which way is south-facing, use a smartphone's compass (or a good old-fashioned one).

The News-Leader spoke with Rachael West, founder of Eating the Ozarks, about tree tapping, a process that should be started before the end of January.