Earlier this month the Stewardship Program held its' annual Master Steward Training in preparation for property visits this field season. The Master Stewards visit with landowners to tour their property and speak with them about good stewardship practices for their property. Everything from healthy forest management to shoreline re-naturalization to creating habitat for wildlife and trail building.

We had a fastastic weekend of learning! The following is a photo journal of our weekend spent talking, learning and experiencing stewardship in Muskoka.

This is most of the group at the end of the weekend. Thanks for a great weekend and for being super volunteers!

Master Steward Paula led us in a creative icebreaker that involved gathering from the forest to make a food or drink to share!

Matt and Chad explain their concoction.

The group listens to Master Steward Chris Near as he speaks about trail building.

The Master Steward volunteers listen intently.

The Master Stewards gaze up at the canopy as we listen to our guest speaker, Forester Scott Reid.

Scott speaks with the group about common tree diseases in Muskoka.

The Master Stewards identify trees and note their defect in a field exercise with Scott.

Master Stewards cross the stream on a bridge built by a landowner during a property visit at the Master Steward training.

Master Steward Chris Near speaks about trails in the field as a follow-up to his morning presentation.

The Master Stewards hike up a path using a railing along one of the trails at the property visit.

Master Steward Chris Gilmour gives a talk about wild edibles of Muskoka.

Some of the wild edibles Master Steward Chris Gilmour brought with him to share with the group- at our own risk!

Master Steward Chad give a talk on the importance of downed woody material in the forest and the art he creates from it.

Master Steward Ariel Zwicker speaks about her family maple syrup operation in Muskoka.

Thanks to the Master Stewards for their participation and passion for conservation through private stewardship in Muskoka!

Are you a landowner who would like a property visit from a Master Steward? Your property must be at least 5 acres. For more information click on the "About Us" tab or the "Contact Us" tab at the top of the page.

Maple Syrup in Muskoka

Word from hard maple stands in Muskoka is that the sap is starting to run!

Buckets on trees

Maple syrup production has a long history in Canada, beginning with aboriginal people. Check out some neat photos of some of the first sap collection techniques used here.

Tools of the trade

Remember, it's the International Year of Forests, to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Maple syrup and forest health are strongly linked.

Sugar bush management involves thinning the trees to improve the health of the woodlot and the sap producing potential of individual maple trees. The development of wide and deep crowns is encouraged to support the production of large volumes of sweet sap.

The types of trees removed in improvement operations include the following:

• Non-maple species including hemlock, beech and ash which interfere with the growth of maple crop trees.
• Over-mature trees
• Diseased, dying and defective trees
• Trees producing sap with a sugar content of less than 1%

But remember, it is good practice to maintain species diversity to accommodate other values including aesthetics, wildlife and bio-diversity.

Tapping the tree

Feeding the fire to boil the syrup

Did you know?...It takes about 40 litres of Sugar Maple sap to make 1 litre of maple syrup!

Filtering the syrup

Upcoming workshop: Savour Muskoka is running a workshop at Brooklands Farm this Sunday, March 20th about maple syrup production fundamentals. For more details and a full description visit the "Stewardship Workshops and Events" page.

Want to know more?

• This Extension Note about "Backyard Maple Syrup Production" tells you more about how to produce maple syrup in your own backyard.
• This Extension Note about "Sugar Maple" trees is also helpful in learning more about this species and how to identify it.
• Atkinson Maple Syrup Supplies has some helpful info sheets on various topics.
• The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association has some educational resources too-- especially for children!
• Managing Maple Trees for Sap Production: resources from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.
• FAQs about maple syrup production from OMAFRA

Thanks to Ariel Zwicker for the great photos from her family maple syrup operation!

Stewardship Series: Upcoming Workshops

As a landowner, you play a special role in maintaining the health of our province’s ecosystems. Land Stewardship is taking responsibility for our actions on our lands and waters; actions which directly influence land values for ourselves, our children and future generations. Our continued enjoyment of these values will require a better understanding of the natural systems on the land which supports them.

The Stewardship Series are workshops designed for anyone planning and conducting work projects on private lands. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills required to practice good land conservation through on the land investigations, resource sharing and networking with land stewardship experts.

Topics & Dates:

Management Options for your Woodlot: Friday, September 10, 2010

Wildlife in your Woodlot- Challenges of Co-existing: Friday, October 15, 2010
Maple Syrup- Operations & Opportunities: Friday, February 25, 2011

• Workshops run from 9am-3pm
• Cost: $25/person/day: includes lunch
• rain or shine

See the brochure for more information.