This interest is for all people who gather things.
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
January 14, 2008 1:06pm CST
You can forage for food, gather materials outdoors, a variety of different kinds of gathering are possible, so if you gather, please add this discussion topic.
Right now is anyone getting ready for Maple Syrup or Birch Syrup season? Did anyone do the season early already? Do you have your own syrup making cabin or an outdoor fire or have you found a way to do it indoors without all the moisture runing your house? How do you know which trees are maple with the leaves off?
2 people like this
1 response
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Jan 08
I do not know anything about maple syrup instead of some guys going out with buckets, putting a nail in the tree at the time the sap runs, and attaching a bucket to it, and pouring the syrup on the snow. It was a very romantic view and I doubt it is like that. I do not know what the difference between a sugar maple then a regular maple. I can only give you a link:http://www.massmaple.org/treeID.html
All I know is that when we buy maple syrup, it costs an arm and a leg.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Jan 08
I'll have to check out that site. The maple must be drilled and a spout put in for the sap to come out. Only happens with warm days and cold nights in the spring. Everything else is pretty good, there are lots of technical things like temperature, sugar content, etc. but you have the basics.
Yes it costs a lot, many gallons of sap must be cooked down in order to get the sugar to be syruppy. Most people chop wood and spend hours with an evaporator and thermometer waiting for it to thicken up.
Because of the cost there are back yard maple producers now. Have you ever been to a Maple Sugar Shack? The smells are great! Take care and thanks for the response.
