That's where I'm a viking!
Going to try to make up for last night crap sleep by going to bed 'early'... The time change may allow for this on a technicality.
Day at the museum went well, except I'm tired and my back is sore from standing as much as I did. I bought a pretty beaded barette, and I learned some cool stuff about traditional First Nations maple sap harvesting, and what/how they used it for. I got to see the blessing (really more like asking *for* a blessing) done pre-harvesting. And that the maple is the Man tree - something to do with it bringing the first water, which is a reference I did not get. And I learned that the sap won't flow if there is a north wind blowing, apparently!
The pre-contact/traditional way of harvesting was to make a gash - either single or an 'X' with a stone axe, and use a thin piece of wood to direct the sap into a container (generally birch or elm bark). (I may add a picture I took from the temporary gallery display if I can get it off my phone.) There is some evidence that they would use pitch to close up the gash after the sap stopped running. In addition to making syrup and sugar, they also used the sap directly for cooking and drinking. They tapped other trees as well, but I forget what kinds off the top of my head. I'm pretty sure birch was one, though. Oh also, you can freeze the collected sap and skim off the top ice layers, as the water freezes faster and it helps concentrate it pre-boiling. Hmm, what else did I learn... The sap itself is pretty nutritious, with lots of useful vitamins and minerals. I can't remember which ones though - some of the B ones, and maybe manganese?
Okay, I sleep now, really.
Day at the museum went well, except I'm tired and my back is sore from standing as much as I did. I bought a pretty beaded barette, and I learned some cool stuff about traditional First Nations maple sap harvesting, and what/how they used it for. I got to see the blessing (really more like asking *for* a blessing) done pre-harvesting. And that the maple is the Man tree - something to do with it bringing the first water, which is a reference I did not get. And I learned that the sap won't flow if there is a north wind blowing, apparently!
The pre-contact/traditional way of harvesting was to make a gash - either single or an 'X' with a stone axe, and use a thin piece of wood to direct the sap into a container (generally birch or elm bark). (I may add a picture I took from the temporary gallery display if I can get it off my phone.) There is some evidence that they would use pitch to close up the gash after the sap stopped running. In addition to making syrup and sugar, they also used the sap directly for cooking and drinking. They tapped other trees as well, but I forget what kinds off the top of my head. I'm pretty sure birch was one, though. Oh also, you can freeze the collected sap and skim off the top ice layers, as the water freezes faster and it helps concentrate it pre-boiling. Hmm, what else did I learn... The sap itself is pretty nutritious, with lots of useful vitamins and minerals. I can't remember which ones though - some of the B ones, and maybe manganese?
Okay, I sleep now, really.