Maple Sugar From Sap to Syrup The History, Lore, and How-To Behind This Sweet Treat

145 Pages·2011·153.658 MB·English

by  Tim Herd

FROM SAP TO SYRUP
THE HISTORY, LORE, AND HOW-TO
BEHIND THIS SWEET TREAT
★
FROM SAP TO SYRUP
THE HISTORY, LORE, AND HOW-TO
BEHIND THIS SWEET TREAT
★
ß
Storey Publishing
TO WALT JONES AND BOB SHAY,
who hired me as a green (read: totally inexperienced) naturalist; trained me in natural history
and environmental education; encouraged me in my professional career; and for many years have
proven invaluable as mentors, colleagues, and friends.
The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by
publishing practical information that encourages
personal independence in harmony with the environment.
Edited by Lisa H. Hiley and Deborah Burns Inside cover photography by © Plainpicture/
Art direction and book design by Alethea Morrison Glasshouse Images (front and back)
Interior photography credits appear on page 144
Front cover photography by © Colin Erricson/
Illustrations by © Beverly Duncan
StockFood Munich (bottom left), © Paul
Poplis Photography, Inc/StockFood (bottom Indexed by Nancy D. Wood
right and inside front flap)
© 2010 by Tim Herd
Back cover photography by © GAP Photos/Julie
Dansereau (middle), © Stéphane Groleau/ Thanks to South Face Farm, Ashfield,
Alamy (bottom right), © Lonely Planet Massachusetts, for sharing their maple ephemera
Images/Alamy (bottom left), © Vespasian/ collection.
Alamy (top)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced Storey Publishing
without written permission from the publisher, except 210 MASS MoCA Way
by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce North Adams, MA 01247
illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may www.storey.com
any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — Printed in China by Toppan Leefung Printing Ltd.
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
— without written permission from the publisher. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The information in this book is true and complete CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are
made without guarantee on the part of the author or Herd, Tim.
Storey Publishing. The author and publisher disclaim any Maple sugar / by Tim Herd.
liability in connection with the use of this information. p. cm.
Storey books are available for special premium and Includes index.
promotional uses and for customized editions. For further ISBN 978-1-60342-735-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)
information, please call 1-800-793-9396. 1. Maple sugar. I. Title.
TP395.H47 2011
641.3'364—dc22
2010043059
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IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA THRIVES A TREE UNRIVALED in beauty, form,
and function. Its stout trunk and graceful branches produce fine, close-grained
wood that is perfect for tools, furniture, and firewood. Its spreading crown, thickly
draped in hand-shaped leaves, offers a vivid palette of changing colors to the sky
and a sheltering security to numerous woodland creatures. And from its very depth
issues a sweet sap that forms the sole ingredient of one of the world’s most appealing
natural delicacies.
Which tree is this, you may be asking? Why, the magnificent maple! The choice
sweetness of a maple is revealed in the intricate relationship of the tree’s living
systems. This is a sliver of its mystery: that an awesomely complex living network of
woody beings and basic elements, swirling in the eternal cycle of growth and stasis,
offers up such a tasty and tangible product of its majestic spirit.
I invite you to discover more of the remarkable qualities and special gifts of
this family of trees. Follow the footsteps of both bygone and present sugarers — and
discover the easy step-by-step process — as you learn the lore, tap the trees, secure
the sap, separate the sugar, and taste the treat. This is one book with which you can
truly enjoy the fruits of your labor. Now that’s a sweet deal!
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