As I write this, spring is thinking about making its way north to New Hampshire. Yes, we’re still in the thinking stage up here; the temperature dipped down to 0°F a couple of nights ago, though today it’s climbed into the 40s–perfect weather for maple sugaring. The sugarhouses are billowing white steam as maple farmers boil down bucket after bucket of sap to create one perfect gallon of sweet amber maple syrup.

The sun rises higher in the sky each day, turning the frozen earth to a...