What Is Raw Sugar

Our neighbors to the north in Canada revere the maple so much, they feature it on their national flag! All belong to the genus Acer, which literally translated means "sharp." If you've ever examined the jagged leaves of a maple tree, you'd see why.

(True disclosure time.)Maple syrup, sorghum syrup, corn syrup and hickory syrup are all products associated with specific plants. Molasses to me is a natural partner to anything containg ginger.

The leftover juice is sold as molasses.Along with making sugar, sugar cane roots and stems are used to treat skin and urinary tract infections. The stalk contains the juice used to make sugar and is broken up in segments called joints.

(See vintage poster, from 1917, below.) Molasses was also used in the manufacture of ethanol to make weapons in WWI, and of course, in the production of rum. It still leaked badly, and neighborhood kids would fill pitchers with molasses from the leaks.tests...

This was the almost certainly the first time the words "sugarplum" and "fairy" had been used together in history, hard as it is to imagine! One thing is for certain, since all the other dream characters represent exotic treats to Russians of the late...

The oil derived from the seeds has also been used as a pesticide. What exactly is sugar apple fruit and can you grow sugar apples in the garden? Sugar apples are never used cooked.The seeds of the sugar apple are poisonous, as are the leaves and bark.

, but sugar pine trees are less familiar. Each side of each needle is marked by a white line. The branches dip slightly from the weight of huge, woody cones. As the trees grow taller, birds and squirrels build nests in them, and tree cavities are occupied...

When that curly tendril turns completely brown and dies, that's a sign the melon is ready for harvest. Do not, however, allow any water to sit in a saucer beneath the pot as that can lead to root rot.

Seed must be stratified prior to use. With a relatively short life, less than 150 years, sugarberry is covered with light gray bark that is either smooth or slightly corky. The Houma used a decoction of bark and ground up shells to treat venereal disease,...

In fact, milk issues have been igniting controversy for decades. Raw milk is milk that hasn't been pasteurized or homogenized. The difference between raw and processed milk might seem like a simple po-tAY-to/po-tAH-to preference, but the truth is, this...

The first serious snowfall of the year in New England always brought my mother boiling up a batch of maple syrup, just as in Laura Ingalls Wilder's day. You need more than enough to cover the bottom of the pan; otherwise it might scorch.Best would be...

To many, this may seem like an unsuccessful venture, but her attitude didn't reflect that at all. But just because it's hard or your experience a setback, it doesn't mean you're a failure.

Cure black walnuts about two weeks. English walnuts usually start ripening September to November and black walnuts in August to September.When mature, the membrane between walnut halves should be brown.Crack open a few nuts to check for maturity and fullness.

The juice squeezed out of this mash is thick like honey or molasses and used as a sandwich spread or to sweeten other foods.This syrup can also be de-sugared and is then used as a de-icing agent on many North American roads.

Don't get me wrong, it's been full of wonderful things—like nurturing my first home-grown pumpkins , attending family weddings and having rich conversations with friends over fresh herbal teas—but the days have been nothing less than full, and sometimes...

This year and haven't yet decided what variety to attempt, you might want to think about growing Sugar Baby watermelons. What does “brix” measurement mean? The flesh is as mentioned, sweet, red, firm, and crisp with mottled with very few small, tan-black...

Wood chips can be used in place of logs or branches, but these will result in a more homogenous huegel with a much faster nitrogen “burn rate” and without the same long-term soil fertility advantages of a huegel made from larger pieces of wood.

(As did the giant pot of chili I made Monday night; my mother always said there was no better food in winter than a steaming bowl of soup.) Lo and behold, the polar vortex eventually gave way to “normal” January temperatures across the country—Lexington...

Complementary therapies are things like herbs, Reiki, massage, chiropractic adjustments and homeopathic remedies. Do-it-yourselfers can use homeopathic remedies to treat minor ailments and injuries, for first-aid emergencies until the vet arrives, and...

Blanching is a process in which foods are scalded briefly then cooled down immediately to allow them to be stay fresh longer and prevent discoloration. Place in a freezer and use within three months.

When used in indoor arrangements, keep winterberries out of the reach of curious pets.Proper planning keeps winterberries safely away from humans and pets that could be harmed. Humans who ingest berries can suffer symptoms associated with caffeine poisoning.

Keep your eyes on hatchery catalogs, and before you know it, you'll be raising those Lakenvelders you always dreamed of. I think this sentiment is especially applicable to farmers, homesteaders and rural dreamers alike.

Nutritional Powerhouse Traditionally, ashitaba leaf was used for longevity and rejuvenation in Japan. I took a quick look at my typical herbal seed and plant providers and found ashitaba seed readily available from Horizon Herbs, where owner Richo Cech...

First, the legs of these particular insects were too short and dark in color. When you're unsure if what you're looking at is a good bug or bad bug to be, your local extension agent is your best friend.

The soil should be acidic to slightly alkaline.Once you have finished planting sugar maple trees, they will grow at a slow to medium rate. While grown commercially for its sweet syrup and value as lumber, sugar maple also makes an attractive addition...

Soil that is ready for planting is easy to dig and yields to your shovel. Frozen soil feels very solid and does not give way under foot. Determining if the soil is frozen is paramount to your garden's success.Just walking across your soil or patting it...

Agave nectar Agave nectar is derived from the succulent plants in the Agavaceae family, which includes the blue agave, a plant best-known for its role in tequila production. Honey can also be used to craft dipping sauces, salad dressings and glazes for...