That which endures......

NMSquirrel said:
just read in discover that those bacteria in our guts are so unique to us individually it can be used as a form of identification as no two humans have the same bacterial combinations.
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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.

 
gmilam said:
Never heard of Birch Syrup. I'll have to hunt some down and give it a try.
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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).
 
wlminex said:
. . . since "most" trees produce sap . . . cannot one make 'syrup' from most of them? . . . .some probably aren't that tasty (as maple or birch).
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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:

You see, any species of maple (as well as hickory, birch, alder, butternut, and black walnut trees) will produce sap which-though not so high in sugar content as A. saccharumcan be turned into syrup. The best of these sapmakersat least here in the Northwest-is the broad-leaved maple (Acer macrophyllum), but I've made birch and alder syrup, too ... and the procedures are the same regardless of which tree supplies the raw materials.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real...om-Pacific-Northwest-Trees.aspx#ixzz1htN2jIJr
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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
 
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wlminex said:
. . . but . . . 'syrupization' (is that a word?) simply involves 'boiling-down' sap, right?
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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!!
 
Trooper said:
Spring, fall, winter, summer, I guess its all "relative", right? :D
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Indeed, what is more enduring than the seasons?

wheel-of-the-seasons-doan-art.jpg
 
NMSquirrel said:
howdy neighbor..where abouts?
four corners myself..
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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.



Click on image... :)

Happy New Year, everyone!
 
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! :)
 
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