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" Monroe family carrying on Sugar Bush tradition for six generations For Ray Munro, his son Ross and grandson Daniel, the maple syrup season is more than just tapping trees and boiling sap to make the delicious topping for pan- cake breakfasts. When the Munros began working their sugar bush last week, they maintained a family tradition on their Reach farm which goes back to 1854. That was the year when Ray's great grandfather John, first tapped the sugar maples about a half a mile from the family farm house on Concession 8, west of Highway 12. Young Daniel, who's just five, is now the sixth genera- tion of Munros to work the sugar bush. Even though Daniel is too young to do any real work around the bush, he spends a lot of time there with his dad and grandfather once the sap starts to run in the tall maples. The Munro sugar bush operations today is pretty much as it was 128 years ago. In fact, Ray says the large fire pit where the sap is boiled off is in exactly the same spot, and one of the four cast iron kettles used in the boiling is probably an original. There is no fancy equip- ment, no plastic pipeline to carry the sap. About the only thing that has changed over the years is the chain saw used to cut the firewood, and a skidoo to carry the pails of sap from the trees to the fire. This is just the way Ray likes it. '"There's no way there will ever be a pipeline on these trees, at least as long as I'm around here," he told the Star last week. With 80 trees tapped this year, Ross says he expects they will end up with about 30 gallons of syrup. A little of it will be sold to cover expenses and the rest given away to close friends and kept for use by the family. "It is really just a hobby for us now," said Ray. But it is obvious from talking to this ruddy-faced farmer with clear eyes of pale blue that keeping the time honoured family tradition alive is the real reason why they spend the hours each spring tapping the trees, stoking the fire, and pouring off the dark sweet syrup. "I look forward to it each year, and I'd really like to see it continue for another six generations," said Ray as he watched young Daniel playing happily on the wood- pile. Years ago, of course, the sugar bush had a very practical purpose as it supplied the farm family with their sugar for the entire year. Ray says now they could probably tap twice as many trees as they do, if they had more time to do the work. But he still farms actively so there are the routine chores that must be done, and Ross has a jeb driving transport from Oshawa to Windsor. Still, when the sugar season arrives near the end of the March, they make the time to keep the tradition alive. Once, the sap has been boiled off into the pure syrup over the open fire (Ray can tell when it's ready just by looking at it and tasting) it is screened into milk cans, and then "finished" on the stove at home. This process involves . Fk 2 FEN LLU Fret PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed. April 7, 1982 -- 11 of Lf N i A ) 4 AL Keeping alive a family tradition that goes back to 1854 are Ross [left] Daniel, bringing it up to about 218 and Ray Munro. The equipment and methods used in the sugaring each year have degrees, adding milk or eggs remained almost unchanged over the past 128 years. For the Muss; the sugar as a purifyer. The milk or pysh is more than just maple syrup, much more. eggs are then skimmed from the top of the syrup, and it is 4 J ready for bottling. EE a : It is all part of the process that has been carried on by Five year old Daniel [left] is the sixth generation one generation of Munros of Munros to work the family sugar bush, although after another without break he's still too young to actually do any of the real work. since that first spring in 1854. With Daniel, is his buddy Matthew Brown. | AIT ry -- AL NTEWS Easter Special Rs 0K 0$l. THINKING OUTSIDE 1390Uspa Put Perry _HOME lps © i. Ee ves Se rae betore spring are, 0 N E . Your Choice of Fixings: ia for.allyour *STUFFING J GENERAL NEEDS! CRANBERRIES Muse sus *LETTUCE " TOMATOES WED., APRIL 7th thru *SALAD DRESSING SUN., APRIL 11th 'KLEAN SWEEP CHIMNEY SERVICE 9 I'm your local *Chimney Cleaning Alcan Authorized Dealer. *Repairs + ran Q Call me for a free quote Cimney Building 75 Wg on installing Alcan *Fireplaces Thats a aluminum Sing *Stove Installations "N . J LAKEVIEW 25 Years Experience NW 4 ND SUBMARINE PLAZA inChimney Maintenance 7 Co CHRIS ALLEN ALUMINUM and Building. lie key "JK Corner 7A & Wafer St. Call 985-7131 985-3747 VINYL SIDING ALSO AVAILABLE \ IM i): Al 985-3111 LER oni)