Yes. This was of interest to me also. Given the importance of bacteria to the whole biosphere, one cannot help but wonder what effects our indiscriminate tactics of 'search out and destroy all harmful germs' may be having upon ourselves. Our perception of 'harmful' may be alarmingly short-sighted when one looks at the bigger picture. :bugeye: Science has given us some marvelous tools, but we may be finding that many of them are double-edged, like the proverbial sword.
Among that which endures is traditional knowledge of how to harvest the wild bounty that nature has provided. In a few months, as the light returns to the northern hemisphere, the sap will start to rise in the trees and while most are familiar with Maple Syrup, there is another variety of tree in the Boreal forest that also lends itself to the making of syrup. This is a rather well done short video of the process. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
It's not quite as sweet as Maple Syrup but it is very nice and I'm sure you will enjoy it. You'll probably have to look for it in a specialty shop as it's not usually to be found in big box grocery stores, at least not in Canada.
. . . since "most" trees produce sap . . . cannot one make 'syrup' from most of them? . . . .some probably aren't that tasty (as maple or birch).
Not all trees have the right kind of sap and the trees have to be of a significant size to tolerate the tapping and harvesting. According to Mother Earth News, these are the varieties of Pacific Northwest trees that can be used: Perhaps in other parts of the world there are trees that can be utilized for syrup but I have not yet learned of them.
. . . but . . . 'syrupization' (is that a word?) simply involves 'boiling-down' sap, right? . . . so I guess lower sugar content might produce a 'less-tasty' syrup
Yes, but the temperatures required for the sap run are rather narrow and once the tree breaks into leaf, the sap gets bitter according to information at this link. There are some other uses of the sap beyond syrup however. Also, the quantity of sap required for those varieties with a low sugar content is staggering. It's just not viable in some cases. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091104221024AAgh3kT
. . .so . . by "sap run" do you mean that temperature/time frame in which the sap is going down? (e.g., fall to early winter)
. . .guess I had it backwards . . . I've never been into the syrup 'thing' living in New Mexico . . . . but we DO have cacti and green chiles!!
Spring, fall, winter, summer, I guess its all "relative", right? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
ALBUQUERQUE . . . . ."The cultural AND intellectual hub of the universe . . . . anywhere on earth, just put your car in neutral . . . release the brake . . .and gravity will pull you to Albuquerque!!" (tee hee!) (Ref: David Pressley, ca. 1969, verbal comm.) NMSquirrel: Do a fair amount of work in your area . . . . Regards, wlminex
Depending on where you reside, the New Year is nearly here. Celebrating the New Year is an enduring tradition and the song, 'Auld Lang Syne' is one of the most enduring of tunes. Here is a lovely gentle version with some delightful winter scenes. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Click on image... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Happy New Year, everyone!
That which endures, moving pictures! Bombay a tour, in 1932. Love the bird that beads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8n_Aaog58
A delightful tour of Bombay, S.A.M. Thank you for posting it. The population density of 1932 would be considerably less than today, I'm thinking, and this was an interesting glimpse into the past. The little bird was certainly clever indeed! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Among those things which endures is the sport of horse racing. Horse racing is one of the most ancient sports with the nomadic tribesmen of Central Asia racing horses since early domestication and horse racing has long been an organized sport in many countries throughout history. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1JvCEbLUEw&feature=related
