Welcome to Fulton's Sugar Bush Gazette |
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Hours of Operation We are OPEN! The Pancake House, the Maple Gift Shoppe, the Heritage Maple Path and the trails are open seven days per week until Monday, April 22 (Easter Monday). Hours of operation are 9am to 3pm Monday through Friday. On weekends and all four days of Easter Weekend we are open 8am to 3pm; check www.fultons.ca to see activities being offered. |
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Scribbles by Shirley Well Spring has sprung albeit slowly. One morning during March Break I hopped out of my car, fondly known as 'Burgundy Rose', and for the first time in 2019 the air felt and smelled like spring. I had a great chat with a now-retired hobby maple syrup producer, we shared the understanding of the feel of the spring stirring. As my Dad used to say, "You can feel it in your bones and your heart". It was great to finish off some exciting projects this month. You will experience a chance to learn about maple trees, maple syrup and our sugar bush. Check out our new trail signs, 'Guess the Answer' signs and photo booth, which has signs you can hold up to indicate how many years you've been coming to Fulton's and other fun 'I love....' sayings. Below is a photo of Team Awesome Fulton's Managers having fun in the photo booth. The most exciting part of our season is to meet all our wonderful customers from around the world (our world map is quickly accumulating pins from near and far). I love hearing your stories of visiting Fulton's over the years, so many memories. March 21 was our first boil. As Scott and I fired up the evaporator we had two awestruck customers watching, one from England and one from Australia. To have our excitement shared with international guests was heartwarming. March Break was a kaleidoscope of snow suit colours climbing, sliding, running, riding the sleigh, warming toes at the campfire and just being kids. It's wonderful to share our family's background with your family! Now on to APRIL with loads more fun, sap and mud and much less snow (we hope). Sweet maple wishes to you, Shirley Fulton-Deugo 4th Generation Owner |
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Looking Back.... Barney's Grave If you walk 10 minutes or so on the Yellow Trail at Fulton's, you will come across the lonely grave of Bernard Shiels, a white marble monument. It is now more than 150 years since Barney died. This monument was erected about 60 years ago by Rev. T.J. Hunt, the parish priest in Douglas, ON. The story goes that Rev. Hunt, also a historian, discovered a wooden cross marking the small plot that was surrounded by a log fence, and took it upon himself to erect a properly marked gravestone. |
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According to a chapter in the publication Joe Baye, a Genuine Canadian And Other Stories (written by Hal Kirkland in 1971), 'He was not a prominent man; he held no public office, nor did he accumulate any wealth. He was not successful as a farmer; he owned 100 acres but managed to clear only 12 acres in his lifetime'. 'Why was a graduate of Dublin University buried alone in this god-forsaken place and who was he anyway? There will be no one to tell him.' And what of the inscription, "By his own fault"? Barney had a disagreement with the local parish priest. As a result he defected from the church and was not allowed to be buried in the Catholic cemetery. "By his own desire"? Barney asked to be buried in his garden. Interestingly, a fire wiped out his homestead, leaving only the wooden cross with the fence around it. Barney had a reputation for good penmanship and people from all over Pakenham and Ramsay townships came to him for land deeds and transfers, wills and other tasks, as well as clerical work. His wife died in childbirth, leaving Barney with a family of four girls and a boy. While poor, he apparently never turned anyone away from a meal at his table. Bernard Shiels remains a local legend, and you can visit his grave on the Yellow Trail at Fulton's. Step up to the tombstone if you dare! |
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A Day in the Life of the Sugar Maker Mother Nature threw us a curve ball this year! Snow arrived a month earlier than usual, before the bush work was complete. This created a few challenges for Scott and his team. |
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Tapping was tough. It was so cold. And there was so much snow! Even with snowshoes on Scott and crew were sinking to their waists in some areas of the bush. Shortly after the new pipeline was installed last summer, a massive branch of one of our most popular trees, the 'elephant tree', came down on the new pipeline, damaging parts of it. Heavy snow had also broken the lines in places, requiring special attention from Scott. |
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There was so much snow accumulation that all hands were needed on deck to keep up with the snow. Older teens donned safety harnesses and, supervised by Scott, cleared off rooftops. Younger teens shovelled paths. Brenda, the sugar maker's wife, had to learn to use the 80hp tractor with the 8-ft snow blower on the back. Scott sure loves his Kubota. |
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We've had frozen water pipes, requiring work in a small cold crawl space while trying to get heat to the pipes and thaw them out. Plumbing skills come in handy at times. |
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Scott and his team strive for and enjoy the challenge of creating a great maple experience at Fulton's. Sometimes a little pet therapy and nap are required. And then spring arrives, the sap runs, and Scott is back in his element, making Fulton's beautiful maple syrup! |
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Carbonated Maple Sap It's unique, give it a try! Maple Carbonated Sap, made especially for us by Cartwright Springs Brewery, Pakenham, is now available in the Maple Shoppe. Of interest, Cartwright Springs makes a very nice Maple Porter beer and often has it for sale at the Brewery (best to contact them first to ensure it's in stock). Something different for the beer lovers! More information can be found here: www.csbeer.ca |
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'Guess the Date' Winner Has Been Announced The sap has started running and we boiled the first syrup of 2019 on Thursday, March 21. Thank you for your entries and Facebook shares. The lucky winner of the contest is Rebecca Te Grootenhuis and she won a prize of a 1-litre bottle of Fulton's Organic Maple Syrup. |
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THE TEN COLLECTIVE SECOND ANNUAL ART SHOW Saturday, April 6 & Sunday, April 7 10am-6pm. Meet the ten artists; be captivated by their paintings. Featuring artwork in a variety of styles in acrylic, oil, and mixed media, some for sale. thetencollective.com. Location: Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, 3 Rosamond Street, Almonte mvtm.ca Free admission to the show and museum. Free parking. |
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More 'Looking Back' Photos and Stories If you enjoy the 'Looking Back' photos and stories, check out our Facebook Page, as we will be publishing interesting tidbits on Throwback Thursdays. |
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Product of the Month Fulton's Maple Mustard Judging by the quantity of Maple Mustard that we sell, we know that this is a very special product! Made in small batches onsite with Fulton's Organic Maple Syrup, it's the perfect glaze for your Easter ham. Or add a little to a salad dressing or steamed vegetables. Purchase in person in our Maple Gift Shoppe or online. $11 for a 250ml jar. |
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Recipe of the Month Maple Salmon There isn't anything better than salmon with maple glaze/ marinade. This recipe would be fabulous barbequed as well as baked in the oven. With spring in the air, this recipe might just be the right incentive for digging out the bbq. Maple Salmon recipe, made with Fulton's Organic Maple Syrup, is available on our website here. |
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One of our staff Team Awesome recently made the March Recipe of the Month, which was Maple Cheesecake Apples. It got high marks from her family! Here are some photos of 'just out of the oven' as well as the finished product. |
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April 6-7 Annual Pakenham Maple Run Studio Tour, 10am - 5pm. Experience inspiring art, craft, food and heritage locations. Meet the artists who have created their work and find out what feeds their passion. Stop by Fulton's Pancake House & Sugar Bush for breakfast or lunch while you are on your tour! More information on the Maple Run Studio Tour website. April 6-7 Maple Weekend.The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association will be hosting the Fourth Annual Maple Weekend, giving visitors a first-hand opportunity to see how maple products are produced, from tree to table, along with the chance to taste and purchase quality maple products. Visit Fulton's during Maple Weekend (open 8am-3pm)! April 9-10 Celtic Music Days at Fultons, 11am-2pm. Fulton's will host their annual Celtic Music Days in the Pancake House. Live music 11am to 2pm. |
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