PHOTOS: Meet Al Caughey, Stittsville’s maple syrup “sapelier”

Barry Gray
Stittsville resident Al Caughey tastes his boiling tree sap as he boils it down in his back yard. Photo by Barry Gray.

(Above: Stittsville resident Al Caughey tastes his tree sap as he boils it down in his back yard.)

Al Caughey calls him self a “sapelier”, not a sommelier.

The Conductor Street resident taps maple trees on his property as well as his neighbours’ trees as soon as the sap begins to run each spring. He marks the location of each tree and the date the sap was collected to see if the sap from one tree gives a different syrup from another.

This year he collected almost 300 liters of sap. Once boiled down,  the yield was about 5 litres of maple syrup. The results of his work are shared at street party for his neighbours.  Here are some photos from the Second Annual Conductor Street Maple Syrup Street Party.

(Photos by Barry Gray.)

Maple trees tapped to gather the sap.
Maple trees tapped to gather the sap.

 

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Caughey moves boiling pots across his yard.
Caughey moves boiling pots across his yard.
Caughey's process is Canadian all the way.
Caughey’s process is Canadian all the way.

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Two turkey deep fryers and a bbq are used in the process.
Two turkey deep fryers and a bbq are used in the process.
Caughey monitors the temperatures on both pots of maple sap
Caughey monitors the temperatures on both pots of maple sap.

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Three hundres liters of sap were boiled down over two days to yeild about 5 liters.
Three hundres liters of sap were boiled down over two days to yeild about 5 liters.

 

Al Caughey with one of his jars of maple syrup.
Al Caughey with one of his jars of maple syrup.

 

Caughey flips pancakes on his driveway.
Caughey flips pancakes on his driveway.
A neighbour smothers his waffles with fresh syrup.
A neighbour smothers his waffles with fresh syrup.
Pat Bourke, who also makes maple syrup, checks out the finished product.
Pat Bourke, who also makes maple syrup, checks out the finished product.
Al and Heather Caughey (center) host their second annual street party for their neighbours, many of whom had their trees tapped by Al to gather tree sap.
Al and Heather Caughey (center) host their second annual street party for their neighbours, many of whom had their trees tapped by Al to gather tree sap.

Tell us about what’s happening on your street or in your neighbourhood.  You can email us at feedback@stittsvillecentral.ca

 

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1 thought on “PHOTOS: Meet Al Caughey, Stittsville’s maple syrup “sapelier””

  1. Al Caughey says:

    Thanks Barry! And also to the residents of Conductor Ave for making the breakfast a success…

    Shannen – When is the Summer BBQ?

    Reply

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