Welcome to Fulton's

Sugar Bush Gazette

August 2018 News

NOTE Our Off-Season Hours

After a fantastic 2018 maple season, the Pancake House Restaurant is now closed. The Maple Gift Shoppe remains open by appointment or chance.  Planning ahead? Call 613-256-3867 or email us at info@fultons.ca to set up a shopping date - we're always  happy to open the shoppe and help you find what you are looking for. 

Scribbles by Shirley

Once again a big THANKS to all of our regular retail and wholesale customers who have called ahead to purchase our products or ordered online. We meet many visiting friends and family from near and far in the off season.

As you know July and August are our 'holiday' months. RaeAnn and Deanna both enjoyed vacations 'down east' so the "B" Team Awesome (Brenda and I) held the office together for them. Of course they left detailed written instructions for every possible scenario!

Often people wonder what affects our spring sap run. The weather throughout the year affects the sap. The sunshine (we had loads of it in early July) produces the sugar with the chlorophyll of the green summer leaves. The rain hydrates the tree and produces the liquid 'water' part of the sap. So early July produced the sap sweetness and the rain in late July will ensure a good volume of sap. The third required factor is the alternative freezing at night (to approximately -5C) and thawing during the day (to approximately 5C)  during our sap season in February, March and April.

The rain we have experienced is celebrated by every farmer, including by Pamela and Grant at Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm. Your family's next Christmas tree is enjoying wet roots.

July is my Birthday Month and the highlight was a fantastic family party (with a few added wannabes) on July 21. We missed Todd, eldest grandson, as he was doing hay at the farm he works at. You make hay when the sun shines, even if it's your Nana's Birthday!

I am so thankful to have time to catch up with friends, festivals, reading, dentist appointments (really?), sitting by the pool and hosting a never ending stream of Grands, family, friends and neighbours to our pool. It's a great summer to celebrate all things water.

Al and I are loving our CSA share from Indian Creek Orchard Gardens.  Loads of greens to enjoy my maple balsamic vinaigrette on and many other interesting fresh vegetables, all grown locally. 

July is our year-end so there were a fun couple of days to count everything, then to empty the main restaurant in preparation for carpenters coming in August to do their magic on the ceiling of our pancake house. 

Scott, Triple Trouble and helpers are working on a big sugar bush project. More to report  in August on this endeavour. 

 

Sweet maple wishes to you,

Shirley Fulton-Deugo

4th Generation Owner

Remembering Uncle Johnny

As remembered by Shirley Fulton Deugo.

Uncle Johnny (one half of Fulton Bros.) was born in 1900, the eldest of four children, John, Mary, Annie and Leonard (my dad, and the other half of Fulton Bros.). Below is a family photo, taken in about 1908.

At nine years of age Johnny was stricken by polio. He was left paralyzed from the hips down with his right arm partly paralyzed. But more importantly he was left with a joy for life, an amazing sense of humour, love of practical jokes, ability to knit (he knit everyone's socks & mitts)  and to play guitar, banjo and mouth organ. He also was the original candy maker for Fulton's. I got my first lessons from him.

Because of the paralysis of his legs his upper body was super strong. I remember 'helping' him make maple butter in a kitchen pot. He stirred it by hand! It took almost an hour and as the sweet goodness 'set up' it got thicker and harder to stir. Our first machine was an electric drill with a mix master beater, then a commercial maple butter machine. It's still a very concise science to making the perfect maple butter but we now have machines to help with the manual part. 

Uncle Johnny was a full contributor to the family farm,  using a horse and cart, helping to wash sap buckets, and to haul logs and sap.  The photos below are of Johnny and his horse Larry in the early 1940s.

When tractors were first used, my Dad Len customized the barrow (bucket) of a wheelbarrow to replace the regular tractor seat for Johnny to sit in. Then foam and blankets were added to make it comfortable enough for Uncle Johnny to spend the whole day working, cutting, raking and baling hay, working in the sugar bush or gravel pit, etc.

It was decided that a new backhoe tractor could supplement the farm income so the family applied to the March of Dimes to buy one. The photo and italicized text below are from the March of Dimes:

Polio Victim Makes Good

Use of Backhoe

     Although completely paralyzed from the hips down and having his right arm paralyzed approximately 25%, John Fulton, of Pakenham, Ontario, enjoys a profitable and contented work life as he earns a good living operating a Henry Backhoe and Shovel Combination. Living on a farm with his married brother, his tractor has been adapted for his use by the construction of a special bucket seat and re-arrangement of controls so that they can be handled conveniently with his good left hand. 

Lifted onto his tractor  seat each morning ('He's not heavy; he's my brother'), John remains there all day whenever weather permits, doing his share of the work around the Fulton farm. However, this was not enough for this rugged individual with a compelling urge to be as independent as possible, despite his great handicap. The March of Dimes purchased the Henry Backhoe for him, on an interest-free loan. This machine, used for excavating and filling operations, was purchased at a special rate from Falcon Equipment Company Limited, of Toronto. 

     Having become skilled in the use of his backhoe, John Fulton now works steadily at excavating and ditching under contract in a wide area around the home farm. When not engaged in these operations he is earning money by working a gravel and sand pit on the family property or, with the backhoe dismounted, helping with the farm work. 

     Today John Fulton makes his full contribution to the welfare and prosperity of the Fulton family. He is extremely proud of his ability to operate his tractor and its equipment, which will earn his independence for many years to come. 

The custom work on the newly acquired backhoe was done from Constance Bay to Fitzroy Harbour, Arnprior and Carleton Place. The business was so successful the backhoe was paid off in two years. He was an amazing man but behind him was a dedicated team. My Dad (Uncles Johnny's brother) lifted and carried him into carts, tractors, cars, trucks, houses, church and up the stairs and into bed. Dad drove him to job sites. My Mom made sure his clothes were soft and clean, his moccasins fresh and that he had good lunches and huge suppers with lots of water, milk and juices to keep him hydrated. But mostly my Mom as a newlywed and throughout the years, shared my Dad as he was the primary caregiver to my Uncle. She even sat in the backseat of the car so he could be more comfortable in the front seat. 

As a child growing up with a physically challenged Uncle (I was 17 when he died) the lessons of caring, sharing and love were a moment by moment reminder of what is really important in our lives. 

He brought such joy to our family and enriched all our lives with his Hope, Faith, Love and Charity. Uncle Johnny passed away in 1969. 

Office Goat

When Cocoa the office goat comes to visit, it's hard to get work done! Now close to six weeks old, she loves to help with sending emails and shipping orders. 

On the road this summer?

Look for Fulton's Products!

Here are some locations you can find Fulton's products. If you visit any of these locations, please take a photo of yourself onsite and send it to us at marketing@fultons.ca so we can publish it on our social media or in a future newsletter. 

 

Immerse yourself in Fulton's Maple Luscious Bath and Body Products at one of these fine spas!

Spa Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Montebello QC

Ste. Anne's Spa, Grafton ON

Holtz Spa, Ottawa, ON

 

Shop for Fulton's Maple Syrup, Gourmet Products & Maple Luscious Bath & Body Products at these fine locations! 

Equator Coffee Roasters, Almonte, ON

Irving Rivers, Byward Market, Ottawa, ON

Dandelion Foods, Almonte, ON

Classic Country Charm, Almonte, ON

Almonte General Hospital Gift Shop, Almonte, ON (spa products only)

Acadian Maple (spa products only) Upper Tantallon, NS (close to Peggy's Cove)

 

Enjoy fine dining (or award winning chocolate) and indulge in Fulton's maple and/or gourmet products at any of these great locations!

Krave Bistro, Arnprior, ON

The Cupboard, Arnprior, ON

Hummingbird Chocolate, Almonte, ON

The Daily Scoop, Almonte, ON

Mill Street Crepe Company, Almonte, ON

The Nook Creperie, Pembroke, ON

Bridges Bar & Grill, Pakenham, ON

Tea & Cake Catering, Almonte, ON

Featured Product for July

Fulton's Maple Granulated Sugar

It's pure and it's organic! Available in two sizes, 100g and 400g, and made on site, Fulton's Maple Granulated Sugar is one of those products that we think should be stocked in every pantry. Maple Granulated Sugar is made by heating maple syrup and then stirring until it turns to sugar.  It's used in many of the recipes you will find on the Fulton's website. Try it in your coffee or tea as a wonderful sweetener, in granola or substitute half the regular sugar in a recipe with maple granulated sugar for a yummy maple taste. 

 
Purchase online here or in the Maple Shoppe (open by chance or appointment).

Recipe of the Month

Maple Blueberry Coffee Cake

We continue to enjoy a supply of fresh local fruit, including blueberries from Hugli's Blueberry Ranch in Pembroke. Here's an easy recipe for Maple Blueberry Coffee Cake that is a crowd pleaser, ideal for taking to a summer potluck. You could substitute strawberries, raspberries or rhubarb for the blueberries depending on taste or availability. 

Upcoming Local Events

August 18 - Pakenham Fair, 9am-4pm, Pakenham Fairgrounds. This beloved country fair has been running for over 100 years. Set in beautiful, downtown Pakenham you are invited for a day of good old fashioned country fun. The tradition continues with horse, beef, dairy, horticultural and craft shows, a local market as well as some terrific children’s activities. At only $5 for adults and free admission for kids it’s a fun-filled and affordable day for the entire family. Free activities include bouncy castles, a puppet show, games, a dog contest, chili contest and more!

 

Save the date!

Sunday, February 17 (Family Day weekend) - Staff Alumnae Reunion at Fulton's as part of the celebration of Fifty Flipping Years in the Pancake House. More information to come. Please plan to attend with your family. We will be launching a Facebook page. If you are a former staff and would like to be on the distribution list, please send a message to marketing@fultons.ca. 

 

 

399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham, ON, Canada
613-256-3867

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