In this week's Good Growing episode we chat with Illinois Extension forestry specialist Chris Evans about maple syrup and how you can make maple syrup in your own backyard. Chris also answers listener-submitted questions on forestry.

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/j8MmgCrfVeM

Maple syrup questions:

Did the prolonged cold-snap affect maple syrup production?

Does being in Southern Illinois affect maple sap?

Can you use other species besides sugar maple?

How was maple syrup harvested historically?

What kind of investment are we talking for a homeowner wanting to harvest sap for syrup?

Is this like canning where we have to keep things sterile?

Is climate change at play here? Will we lose the sugar maple in Illinois?

Forestry questions:

If someone would like to begin a profitable timber investment for their kids where do they start?

A landowner has cleared out a black walnut patch from his woods and would like to plant edible walnuts. What does he need to know about planting edible walnuts?

A vegetable grower has some old Austrian pines that are dying and need to rebuild their windbreak. They would like to include plants that may also contribute to their farm with edible crops for harvest.

How can you determine the value of trees?

How do you find someone local to harvest the trees?

Lots of great resources can be found at Illinois Extension's forestry webpage https://extension.illinois.edu/forestry