Gorgeous photos, and so interesting! The article makes maple syrup sound equal parts intricate and accessible to learn—and the intricate pastimes are often the best ones. Thank you, as always, for writing.
Thank you! It's so true, pastimes that you can pretty easily get started on, and spend a lifetime learning more about. Homestead life is certainly full of those, and I find it very rich in that way - although I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms until you so eloquently captured it! Thanks for reading :)
This is wonderful, and inspiring, Sydney. I love that I've learned so much. Thank you for sharing this. And of course it goes without saying that the photos are amazing. x
Thanks, Roselle, isn't it fascinating?! I know you must experience this, too - anytime you produce a food yourself, you discover the most amazing things in the journey of its life cycle!💕
Thank you, Neil! It's true, one of my favorite things about homestead life is drawing near to things I used to only buy in the store. I think any time we can engage in the life cycle of our food, it just changes our perspective in such a valuable way :)
Beautiful photos! My grandmother used to say the last syrup (if you collected longer than you should) was "buddy." Not like a good friend; like syrup that isn't any good lol. I forgot to mention that in my post so here I am commenting it haha. Have you tried birch syrup? It takes, I think, roughly twice as much sap and it isn't even half as good as maple, haha!
That makes so much sense! Because the sap composition changes when the buds are about to pop - it's one of my favorite things when those kind of old country sayings are actually extremely science-y 🤣 We keep saying we're going to try birch, but we never get around to it, because maple is just so good 🤣
This is fascinating, Sydney! I doubt I'll ever have occasion to tap a tree, but I will remember your story every time I drizzle real maple syrup on my pancakes!
Thank you! And than you for letting me know about about listening as well - I wasn't certain if that would be of interest since my work is so photography-centered, so I appreciate the feedback :)
Having only ever lived in Quebec and Ontario, I am very familiar with maple syrup. I pity the poor people who put corn syrup on their pancakes and don't know the difference. For me, the darker the colour, the better, the more intense the flavour. I like homemade maple syrup far above the commercially produced product which is too clean for my liking. Homemade, especially if it is done outside in an open pan over a wood fire so the smoke curls around and flavours the mix. Mmmm, my mouth is watering. That's a beautiful shot you have of the red maple buds. To my way of thinking, maples are the perfect tree. Aside from their syrup, they are the best shade trees with the most colourful autumn leaves, they are long growing and their hardwood provides the best fuel for the wood stove or fireplace. Their wood is among the hardest of the hardwoods. Maples have the most beautiful grain and furniture made with burled maple wood is among the most exquisite creations there are. In 1964, Canada adopted the maple leaf as our national flag as we broke out from the shadow of our colonial past. Today, that flag is welcomed wherever we go, as if the maple leaf represents something beautiful within the Canadian character which is in itself welcoming and proud.
Thanks so much for sharing your enthusiasm for all-things-maple! I completely relate. Maples are incredibly special in such a wide variety of ways that they remind me very much of Shel Silverstein's Giving Tree - I think all the facts are on your side in proposing that they're the perfect tree :) 🍁
I looked up red maples in my great big book of trees and found out that reds, among the most common trees in Eastern North America, are also known as curled, scarlet, soft, swamp or water maples. Although not as hard as sugar maples, they are used in the production of pulpwood and making boxes and crates. The colonists of Pennsylvania boiled the bark of the red maple to make dark red ink and dye. It can still be used for creating dyes and will produce red, brown or black dyes with the addition of alum, cream of tartar, vinegar or potassium dichromate. We have a large old red in our side yard which we have watched for the past 35 years slowly crumbling to the ground. Most of the tree is now dead, the victim of having soil piled up around its base many years ago, but one branch hangs on and has grown into its own majestic self. One day the weight on this branch will become too much for it to bear and it will tumble into our pond. The red buds are already full to bursting on this first day of Spring.
Sydney What a wonderful tradition. Thanks you for sharing your life. D
Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by :)
Gorgeous photos, and so interesting! The article makes maple syrup sound equal parts intricate and accessible to learn—and the intricate pastimes are often the best ones. Thank you, as always, for writing.
Thank you! It's so true, pastimes that you can pretty easily get started on, and spend a lifetime learning more about. Homestead life is certainly full of those, and I find it very rich in that way - although I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms until you so eloquently captured it! Thanks for reading :)
This is wonderful, and inspiring, Sydney. I love that I've learned so much. Thank you for sharing this. And of course it goes without saying that the photos are amazing. x
Thanks, Roselle, isn't it fascinating?! I know you must experience this, too - anytime you produce a food yourself, you discover the most amazing things in the journey of its life cycle!💕
Very interesting lesson on maple syrup and nice photos.
Thank you!
Excellent and informative explanation Sydney. That's such a treat to be able to make your own maple syrup. I love the photos as well!
Thank you, Neil! It's true, one of my favorite things about homestead life is drawing near to things I used to only buy in the store. I think any time we can engage in the life cycle of our food, it just changes our perspective in such a valuable way :)
Beautiful photos! My grandmother used to say the last syrup (if you collected longer than you should) was "buddy." Not like a good friend; like syrup that isn't any good lol. I forgot to mention that in my post so here I am commenting it haha. Have you tried birch syrup? It takes, I think, roughly twice as much sap and it isn't even half as good as maple, haha!
That makes so much sense! Because the sap composition changes when the buds are about to pop - it's one of my favorite things when those kind of old country sayings are actually extremely science-y 🤣 We keep saying we're going to try birch, but we never get around to it, because maple is just so good 🤣
Yeah, I wouldn't bother with birch.
Wow, thank you for this fun and informative read. I had no idea you could make syrup from other types of maples.
Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Glad to give the Red Maples a little positive PR 🤣
I've got a beautiful ancient one outside my door that I love. I'll look for another one for syrup making :)
It’s not much of a stretch to think of you as a pioneer woman. And this fine essay glimmered with photos and facts and poetry.
Thank you so much! That’s a good point, there are some pioneer-ish type aspects of life here. So much to learn!
Thank you for this, Sydney! I’m enlightened and have more appreciation for the process behind maple syrup.
Thanks, Stella! I always think it's so fun to learn the life stories behind some of the things we eat - they can be quite full of surprises! :)
This is fascinating, Sydney! I doubt I'll ever have occasion to tap a tree, but I will remember your story every time I drizzle real maple syrup on my pancakes!
Yay! I think it's so fun to learn more about the stories behind our food, they're always so interesting :)
Very interesting! I love Maple Syrup! Thank you for sharing! Btw. I enjoyed listening to it…
Thank you! And than you for letting me know about about listening as well - I wasn't certain if that would be of interest since my work is so photography-centered, so I appreciate the feedback :)
I love maple tapping season and the syrup that is cooked down from the sap is the best. Such smoky deliciousness!
Yes, so good! Nothing compares :)
Gorgeous, as always! Thank you.
Thank you! 🍁💕
I love this! We have two sugar maples in our yard, both still fairly young. They offer glorious shade and quite a show of reds and golds in the fall.
Thank you! They're so beautiful, and with a sunny yard location, they get such a nice, full canopy!
Having only ever lived in Quebec and Ontario, I am very familiar with maple syrup. I pity the poor people who put corn syrup on their pancakes and don't know the difference. For me, the darker the colour, the better, the more intense the flavour. I like homemade maple syrup far above the commercially produced product which is too clean for my liking. Homemade, especially if it is done outside in an open pan over a wood fire so the smoke curls around and flavours the mix. Mmmm, my mouth is watering. That's a beautiful shot you have of the red maple buds. To my way of thinking, maples are the perfect tree. Aside from their syrup, they are the best shade trees with the most colourful autumn leaves, they are long growing and their hardwood provides the best fuel for the wood stove or fireplace. Their wood is among the hardest of the hardwoods. Maples have the most beautiful grain and furniture made with burled maple wood is among the most exquisite creations there are. In 1964, Canada adopted the maple leaf as our national flag as we broke out from the shadow of our colonial past. Today, that flag is welcomed wherever we go, as if the maple leaf represents something beautiful within the Canadian character which is in itself welcoming and proud.
Thanks so much for sharing your enthusiasm for all-things-maple! I completely relate. Maples are incredibly special in such a wide variety of ways that they remind me very much of Shel Silverstein's Giving Tree - I think all the facts are on your side in proposing that they're the perfect tree :) 🍁
I looked up red maples in my great big book of trees and found out that reds, among the most common trees in Eastern North America, are also known as curled, scarlet, soft, swamp or water maples. Although not as hard as sugar maples, they are used in the production of pulpwood and making boxes and crates. The colonists of Pennsylvania boiled the bark of the red maple to make dark red ink and dye. It can still be used for creating dyes and will produce red, brown or black dyes with the addition of alum, cream of tartar, vinegar or potassium dichromate. We have a large old red in our side yard which we have watched for the past 35 years slowly crumbling to the ground. Most of the tree is now dead, the victim of having soil piled up around its base many years ago, but one branch hangs on and has grown into its own majestic self. One day the weight on this branch will become too much for it to bear and it will tumble into our pond. The red buds are already full to bursting on this first day of Spring.
I’m happy I got to be your first cup of coffee! 😊 Looking forward to learning more from you.