Sappy story
LORDA continues tradition of making maple syrup
It’s been a bit of a late start to the maple syrup season — however, the folks at LORDA were expecting to boil this week.
LANSDOWNE, N.S. — The buckets have been washed, and the tapping of trees is well underway.
Dave Leese, president of Lansdowne Outdoor Recreational Park (LORDA), was looking over the operation in rural Pictou County.
“Hopefully, by Monday we should have enough sap to get it boiling,” Leese said, adding there are always trees maturing enough for tapping. “You walk through the woods and you’ll see other, younger trees that are getting ready to tap.”
The park depends on proceeds from maple syrup production to pay bills, along with donations. As well, Music LORDA, an annual day of live music held every summer, helps maintain operations.
A non-profit organization that was started by Leese’s father Dave and other community-minded citizens, LORDA has been open for almost 30 years. It gives disabled people and senior citizens an opportunity to enjoy nature, using overnight campgrounds and taking part in various activities, including fishing in the wellstocked ponds.
The park is designed to be accessible for seniors and people of any age with disabilities.
Other community organizations and special interest groups also have access to the park.
Leese estimated the several volunteers who showed up Saturday morning would tap around 500 trees in the park, which sits on about 300 acres. Leese says it takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup.
Sold under the brand name LORDA, maple syrup travels great distances, some through online sales, others through tourists who take a little taste of Nova Scotia home with them.
“Our maple has gone, not just around here, it’s gone to Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, England, France, Japan, different spots of the U.S.,” says Leese.
LORDA does not charge for camping or fishing on its grounds, but encourages donations.