Sugartime: The Hidden Pleasures of Making Maple Syrup

by Susan Carol Hauser

Sugaring is the act of collecting maple sap to make maple syrup, an early-spring endeavor that takes place all around the country - in Vermont, most famously, but also throughout New England, as far south as Ohio, and as far west as Minnesota. It is a time-honored tradition that has changed little since the Native Americans sugared centuries ago. Sugartime is a beautifully rendered narrative about the act of sugaring, a soulful activity that, like the best of outdoor hobbies, slows time down. Interspersed with the book's lyrical account of a season in the sugarbush are separate sections that serve as a primer to guide the beginner through every stage of surgaring, from selecting trees and hanging sap buckets to finishing off maple syrup. For anyone with an interest in taking up sugaring, everyone who has a maple tree, and all those with a nostalgia for the rural landscape Sugartime will be a joy to discover. (43/4 X 73/4, 148 pages, b&w photos, illustrations)

Genres: Nonfiction

143 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and filled with the meditations that early spring sugaring brings to those willing to take them time for it. Also contains helpful information about how to tap maple trees and boil the sap.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little book, I liked meditations on traditional maple syrup production and seasonal changes. I thought the 'primer' wasn't very useful, no where near enough detail to really produce a quality product without a lot of trial and error. Overall the book was too short, I wanted more of her brilliant insights and more detail on sugar production.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic in places, particularly when describing nature and the changing of seasons. Practical in other parts, giving history and advice on how to extract and make maple syrup, and how to use it in recipes. And yes, occasionally a little boring as so much of the process is an intense period of repetitive tasks.

[Hannah Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primarily a personal account of the author’s experiences tapping trees on their property, the general routine and method of how they do it. Almost read as a journal of keeping track how they produce maple syrup, so it was a bit boring. A couple recipes, some sections with history and facts. There was something lackluster about it, but I got some of the basics of sugaring. Wish it went into detail about the different grades of syrup.