Saturday, March 5, 2011

Sap's Runnin!... "Sugarin' off " time! - Part One











Sugaring off is a Spring time expression very common to rural people across Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States... but is scarcely known ... if at all even understood in other parts of the world. It marks an annual ritual that has been part of rural culture dating back to earliest settlement in New France (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario)... and even before European contact by the First Nations tribes in these areas.

Sugaring off refers to the spring time cycle of sap being released from the safety from winter cold in the root system of the Sugar Maple. Other maple species also follow this cycle, but the sap of the Sugar Maple offers the highest sugar content. The flow of sap usually begins in late February... reaching its apex by mid March. This flow is brought on by the increasingly warmer sun and longer days of light which signals the trees to begin releasing the sap back up into the trunk of the tree. It is at this point that the tree is "tapped" by means of boring a hole with an auger or drill and a metal "spigot" is driven into the hole to act as a tap to carry the clear sap to a galvanized metal pail which is hung on a hook on the spigot.

In earliest times First Canadian Peoples simply hacked a wedge-shaped v on one of the root arms and set a birch bark container in this wedge to collect the precious spring nectar. The first settlers had augers and often whittled wooden spigots out of Stag Horn Sumac and forced a metal rod down through the soft pith core to hollow out a channel in the shaft of the spigot. They simply flattened the one side and notched the spigot end to hang wooden pails on each tree.

Maple stands existed in primary growth forests and were added to by early settlers. Many large Sugar Maples aged between 100 to 250 years can be found and along Line Roads which run north to south here in the Oro-Medonte region. These hardwood ancients were planted for their sap-bearing potential... but as well they serve as markers for these roads and were planted because of their longevity and resistance to insect infestation.

Early operations were small and limited to a few hundred trees depending upon the land grant size of each farm and of course the availability of labour to carry out the hours of hard labour in less than ideal deep snow or muddy spring conditions. Today, operations involve several thousands of trees all joined by plastic tubing and linked directly to the sugar house where the boiling takes place. In short, Maple syrup production has become big business and distribution of maple syrup and maple sugar candy now reaches out to all parts of the world.

I have been a part of this annual ritual for nearly forty years and have painted in many bushes.... many of them now vanished... as are the homesteads they sat on. Small family operations still carry on... many in the old tradition of pails... spigots... and horse-drawn sleds and wagons to gather. I am very fortunate to have several of these nearby... a couple of them friends who always welcome me ... and hundreds of annual buyers who also have befriended them and look forward to their spring return.

Over the next few posts and weeks... I will report my travels so that you too... can enjoy "Maple Magic".... as we here in Ontario are blessed to enjoy. I might even take in one of the many church pancake breakfasts that are prevalent as well. In nearby Elmvale... and in Warkworth to the east.... they have Maple Syrup Festivals which draw tens of thousands of visitors over a two day span to enjoy music... maple products and a farmers' market atmosphere!
Stay tuned... as the "flow" continues! HAHA!!

Spring... is indeed in the air!!



Good Painting to All !




16 comments:

  1. One of the things I miss about living in New England is all the talk of sugaring, and seeing the little sugar shacks steaming...

    I have to say, the more of your work I see, the more impressed I am; as always, I love your color choices.

    From this series, I'm particularly drawn to the simplicity of the 3 Bucket Maple...perhaps because (upon close inspection, of course) it's a watercolor! :)

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  2. Hi Bruce

    As always I love all of your paintings, but I also like the 3 Bucket Maple what a wonderful post. Once again thank you for a glimpse into other parts of the world the different way of life. Spring and maple syrup. GREAT!

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  3. Hi Bridget!... Thank "You" for visiting and for the gracious comments!

    Art and Music are both "Universals". They cross political and cultural borders at will... and enjoin people as is the case with "Us."

    It is indeed wonderful to share what we think are our unique experiences and thoughts... only to pleasantly discover... that "We" are indeed connected. The more we share of our Selves it seems... the more we find others who think and feel as we do... and despite the fact that we "live under different flags".... "We" are indeed brothers and sisters!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Hi there Joan!... Good to hear from "You"!

    Glad that you enjoyed "Three Bucket Maple" as much as I still do! It was a pivotal piece in my own growth and development early on in my search for a style and for reconition as an emerging young artist

    Ironically... it was rejected by the jury on its first outing... and that REALLY discouraged "Me" greatly. However it put me in contact witha well known Canadian portrait artist Grant McDonald. On his advice and encouragement I took courage and resubmitted it to a better show, where it won "Best of Show" in watercolour and was exhibited at the Ontario Legislature Gallery in Toronto... and then was sent off to Germany as a part of of a Canadian Artists Exhibition.

    I am sharing this story... not to be vain... but rather to impress upon all artists who share this blog forum the fact that a jury's opinion... is only that! If one wishes to exhibit publically... and most especially in art magazine contests where the field is great.... AND TALENTED... then one must expect rejection as a risk and certain possibility and reality.

    If one's ego is so fragile or expectation too inflated... it is not a ring to throw one's hat into! Better to exhibit more locally where you can feel your way into a place that's comfortable. Just my thoughts!

    You share your part of the world eloquently yourself Joan! I always enjoy my visits... and our "conversations" and sharings!

    Good Painting!
    Warmeast regards,
    Bruce

    PS "Three Bucket Maple" is with "Me" ... and will belong to my children... when I no longer can look at it... and remember the vital lesson learned from the experience of making and displaying it!

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  5. Hi Bruce,

    What an interesting post. I can see now the importance of the maple leaf on your national flag. We will be thinking of you when we have pancakes and maple syrup on Shrove Tuesday.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  6. Hi there Keith!.... Snowing... again as I write! Winter sure is hanging on... as it always tends to through the month of March!

    Glad that the post proved interesting! I'll follow up with more jpegs that reveal more facts and real life scenes! Glad to share them!

    There surely is good reason to have the maple leaf on our national flag. We also have a favourite song... sung on festive occasions aptly called "The Maple Leaf Forever."

    We observe Shrove Tuesday here in Canada as well in all Christian church halls.... serving good ol' Canadian Liquid Gold... pancakes and sausages! A real Spring treat for many folk!!!

    Always wonderful to share the unique visual and historical heritage.... EH Keith! HAHA!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. Gosh Bruce! My favorite post ever! I've always been intrigued by the maple runs and harvests (though I cringe that the trees are getting an IV). Just yesterday I had my first tastes ever of maple sugar candy (Michael brought some home for me from his NY trip). If I had the money I'd be begging to buy this whole series of 4 pieces from you for over my couch. I just love the old barns, the horses and the trees and the history and process of the tapping. I am reminded of that old song, "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go..." For some reason, that song has always brought to mind horse drawn sleighs, warmth, good food, love, and "traditions of years..." just as these pieces remind me...

    Awesome work and I can't wait to see your next post on this subject!

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  8. Hi there Sherry!... Thanks for stopping by and for the very kind and generous compliments!

    As you can plainly see... we share a great love for things rural... horses, barns and a more quiet ... less hectic way of living.

    The only sweeter treat than the maple sugar candy... is the maple taffy that we enjoy at Ken and Rene Mc Cutcheon's Sugar Bush every Spring... snow permitting! It has always been a sugar bush tradition to treat the family children by drizzling hot finished syrup on cold... clean snow. The result is a piece soft... maleable sweet taffy... that fairly melts in your mouth instantly. Now that's real living... Canadian-style! EH??? HAHA!!

    Glad that you have enjoyed the post and rate it highest! I'll do my best not to let you down in the Part Two post!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. that reminds me,pancake day here in the uk tomorrow!
    love the tree with the buckets,such an unique recording
    enjoy your syrup bruce!

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  10. Ooh, thanks Bruce. I'd heard of pouring the hot maple sap/syrup into snow before but I'd forgotten about that until you mentioned it. I always thought it would result in a clear, hard, maple flavored candy. Now I am intrigued to know it results in a taffy!

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  11. A very interesting post Bruce, looking forward to the future posts on your pancake and painting adventures!

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  12. Hi there Rob!... Thanks for visiting... and for the vote of confidence regarding " Three Bucket Maple"!

    Visited a still empty sugar bush nearby earlier this morning. I'll post the result later! I always enjoy this special time of change in our cycle from Winter into spring! Uplifting... and Sweet!!!

    Enjoy your Shrove Tuesday pancakes! I will!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    PS Loved your recent GREEN (with envy) plein air piece! A gem!

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  13. Hi again Sherry!.... Yesiree! That snow turns the Canadian "liquid gold" into chewy... delectably delicious taffy! Aghreat treat for young and old alike!

    I'll think of "You"... when I go for seconds... in your honour of course! HAHA!!!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  14. Hi there Highland Lass!... Thanks for visiting! Glad that "You" enjoyed the sugaring off post! I visited a still empty bush nearby this morning!

    The -10C temperature... with a windchill of -21C certainly discourages the trees in their attempts to push sap upward from their roots. Certainly discourages/punishes the outdoor artist as well. The wind was in my teeth! Brrrr-utal!

    Good Painting! Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  15. Great timely post Bruce and a wonderfull group of paintings.

    As a youngster not far from your area our rural school always made a spring field trip to the local sugar bush which was part of a Quaker settlement that was one of the first farms in the area. I think it is still there all these many years hence.

    Jeffrey

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  16. Hi Jeffrey!... Good to hear from "You"!

    It's surprising how many of the old shanties are still about around the countryside. However... many are in very bad condition after being "decommissioned"..."retired"... abandoned to the elements is a better phrase!

    I visited three over the past three days and saw that at least two were very AY looking... witht their swayback roofs. The weight of the ventilators cupolas on the roof will bring about their inevitable collapse.

    We have some big syrup-producing operations locally... and I will be out to them when the "first run" gets underway... soon... we all hope! More snow on the way tonight and tomorrow.

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    PS I used my pochade box yesterday... -12C with a a -25C windchill... so in the confines... like yourself... I managed two nice 5x7 panels... to appear next!

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