Dan Best -- A History of Maple Production in the Western Reserve скачать в хорошем качестве

Dan Best -- A History of Maple Production in the Western Reserve

A History of Maple Production in the Western Reserve Just as rising and falling temperatures in late winter create internal pressures that make sap rise in maple trees, the history of maple production – traditionally referred to as maple sugaring – is one of ups and downs. With its history in Ohio’s Western Reserve no doubt dating back many millennia, maple sugaring in this region is a story of Native American origin, cabin fever breakouts, naval blockades, Abolitionist fervor, revolutionary Industrial Age innovations, pilfering, war-time rationing, labor shortages, sugarbush sell-offs, and other highs and lows. Dan Best presents historical elements of maple sugar and syrup production showing how readily advantage was taken of advancements in tools and equipment for tapping, transporting and turning sap to sugar and syrup. Dan describes how these advancements brought about production of greater quantities of maple syrup of better quality with less labor, that moved maple production from home use to a market economy. Dan became marinated in maple syrup during his 33 years as a naturalist for Geauga Park District. From 1987 until 2019, every March was spent at Swine Creek Reservation’s sugarhouse displaying and demonstrating the history of maple sugaring. He and his park naturalist coworkers developed award-winning maple programs interpreting elements of maple sugaring from tree tapping to sap collection to boiling from prehistoric to modern times. Program participants ranged from preschoolers and grade school classes collecting sap from kid-sized bucket hung on trees to families afoot in the sugarbush gathering sap with a team of horses as a memorable part of the annual Sap’s-a-Risin’! Sundays. Dan underscored the deep-rooted multigenerational tradition of maple sugaring as the basis of Geauga County’s cultural identity. For several years, Dan held Sweet Memories of Maple Sugaring, a series featuring members of Geauga’s maple producing families recalling their sugaring experiences. These panel discussions documented testimonials that gave rise to Geauga County notoriety as “The Maple Sugaring Capital of Ohio”. And, during its 31 year run, Dan put on Tree Tapper’s Ball, an annual celebration reinforcing Geauga County’s maple heritage; an Appalachian-style square dance called to live music by his old-time string band buddies.