Shirley Fulton-Deugo and six generations of her family carry on a tradition of making maple syrup. “When the sap starts running from maple trees in late February or March, our family does too,” Shirley remarks.
“Cold nights and warm days are essential to start the sap flowing,” she reports. “Typically, ̒sugaring off ̓ season runs from 4 to 6 weeks (33)__________.”
“My husband and our children work together with our crew to string more than 40 miles of plastic pipelines. When the lines are in place they connect 4,000 generous maples to the sugar camp (34)__________. Here sap is collected and boiled down to maple syrup and stirred into sugar candies.”
“It takes 40 gallons of sap (35)__________. In general, the lighter the syrup is, the more delicate the taste. It grows darker and stronger as the season progresses.”
The farm also features a 120-seat restaurant and gift shop, walking trails and maple-flavoured tours (36)__________. Some 30,000 visitors from over 100 countries have taken their sweet
time observing and sampling the appetizing operation.
“During weekends, we offer horse-drawn wagon rides, fiddle music and children’s activities like making maple sweets. Of course, our family members, (37)__________, answer questions and explain the history of syrup making.”
Lately, the Fultons have been passing the syrup to tables as far as Japan. “It’s exciting to ship our home-made goods to people (38)__________,” Shirley notes.
Awho are always available in the sugar camp
Bbefore their products are up to standards
Cwhich carry sap to the sugar camp
Dwho may have never tasted pure maple syrup
Eto let others participate in this spring ritual
Funtil tree buds form in April
Gto boil out just one gallon of syrup
Hwhich sits in the middle of this giant spider web