Thursday, March 10, 2016

Happy Groans of Defrost

The earth is wet and warm. Rivulets of cool spring thaw run into rivers. The whole earth near us is groaning as it shakes off its frosty coat of ice and takes on the lighter jacket of late winter.



Inside their cells, the trees themselves are trading off their high sugar antifreeze concentration for greater cell balance, as they allow the defrosting water stored outside their cells all winter to permeate-- meanwhile, the sugar concentration which kept the live cells from freezing solid (thus, preventing death) is let go, and the natural balance of homeostasis via osmosis takes place.

This high sugar content now present outside the cells (as sap begins to flow in spring) is exactly what the sugar makers are after: maples are already tapped, and people are ready and waiting to collect and boil this once-a-year bounty. These maple tree farmers collect a precious commodity which only certain places in the world can produce. Once a year.

Inside the trees the birds are hopping about...their happy spring songs began about two weeks ago, announcing the break in the weather before we even felt it.



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