Big Leaf Maple Syrup
Bigleaf maple, like other "soft" maples often grow in clumps. At one time this tree was cut. When a Bigleaf Maple three is cut, it regrows in what they call a coppice, that is, a bunch of stems come up where there was just one.
You may be familiar with Maple Syrup from a sugar bush in Southern Ontario, the Eastern Townships of Quebec, or the New England States, but did you know there is a budding maple syrup industry in coastal British Columbia? There are now a good number of producers on Vancouver Island including two commercial ones in the Alberni Valley, Louis Swan, and Anne and Bob Collins at Arrowvale Farm. Louie recently won the Judge’s Choice Award at the 5th Annual West Coast Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival in Duncan. And there are about eight other hobbyists in the valley as well.
You can have a number of taps in a maple tree, depending on it's diameter.
I went to see Bob Collins one day when he was minding the evaporator. He says the pastime is in its infancy in western Canada. In contrast to the eastern industry, there are not generations of knowledge on techniques. The experience of the eastern producers allows them to anticipate changes in sap flow, character, and ways of producing maple syrup that the west cannot match.
There are other differences too. First, the tree species is different. And the climate is different. Unlike eastern maple syrup the sap starts flowing earlier, as early as November. This means that the sap flows over a longer period of time. And it does not seem to flow consistently. You can get quite a poor flow if there has been a prolonged mild spell. But when a cold snap comes along, followed by some daytime warming, the flow increases substantially. They say that the sugar content is a little lower, and the flavour is also a little different.
From experience, the eastern producers know when the sap will flow much more accurately, and the season is more concentrated. It lasts from 3 to 6 weeks while here it can be around 12 weeks or more. Still as a minor producer, Bob has been able to see revenue of up to $4000 last year. It’s a great way to get a little cash flow when the bulk of your income is from a camp ground that is only busy in the warmest months.
I just like this scene. On the left is a big ol' maple tree.