Maple Syrup

Much to our surprise our maple trees here on Quadra can be tapped and we can make maple syrup. Our neighbor down the road, Helene Le Page, (from Quebec) is an expert and gave a group of us a lesson at David Brown's place, also down the street. It is actually very simple and we plan to do it next winter.
Here is a bucket set up with a stile and tube ready to collect maple water (sap) which is clear and slighty sweet.

Helene's truck..wish I had one!

Helene is drilling holes in the buckets she gave us so we too can collect sap.

Discussing the equipment we will need and how to set it all up. Don't you love her hat and coat?

Buck is skimming the boiling syrup. It takes 40 liters of sap to make one liter of syrup which means lots of boiling.

Helene is watching to make sure things don't boil over and the pot is taken off the stove at the right moment.

Pouring the syrup into jars. It tasted delicious! Look at the lovely color. Remember, the sap started off clear.

Celebrating the syrup with a glass of wine.