Today I visited my brother-in law to congratulate him and his business-partner, a cousin-in-law, on winning the award for Best-tasting Maple syrup in Woolwich Township. It really is The Best. I find myself sneaking a little nip from the jug now and then;-) because it so syrupy and sweet and maple-perfect!
Paul Martin(left) and Dale Martin (middle) own and operate Winding Road Maple Products
Follow link to read more on the details of who-what-where-when and so forth.
Not only is their product top-notch, so is the setting, nestled in among winding roads in rural serenity. Please use the 'how to buy' info to find out how you can taste this healthy Maple Goodness for yourself.
The blue lines you see are the lines through which the sap runs, replacing the traditional method of tapping with buckets(not as nostalgic but far more efficient), allowing producers to increase the number of trees tapped and then the volume of sap gathered to boil into syrup...don't worry! Tapping a healthy tree will not hurt it.
Warmer temperatures turn sap too dark, so the process of boiling it into syrup is over for this year but they are working at 'canning' it now;
... putting it into containers and sealing it, readying it for retail.
Their Store
Some of their product
Down country lane and winding road
Through thawing winter-wood retreat
The first harvest of every year
Is drip-drip-dripping, slow and sweet
Before the dog-tooth violet flaunts
Its dappled leaf in haunts of green
Before Jack takes his pulpit and
Gold prim-rose dots the meadow-stream
A spring-crop gleams, not from the field
Still barely waking from its rest
But from the maple-limb, a hymn
Of drip-drip-dripping harvest best
For every sugar maple-tree
Is like a vault of amber-gold
Within the dark of bark a sea
Of sweetness trembles in its hold
Then, just before the world turns green
After winter eases its grip
In that brief, gladsome in-between
We glean its maple drip-drip-drip
For pancakes, fritters, donuts, toast,
Popcorn and ice-cream, oatmeal,yum
Maple syrup is spring's sweet boast
Come on now, won't you sample some?
© Janet Martin
Love this. "For every sugar maple-tree
ReplyDeleteIs like a vault of amber-gold
Within the dark of bark a sea
Of sweetness trembles in its hold" ... such a marvelous visual feast.
Thank-you:) I remember super-enjoying the creating of this poem!
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