North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

Here it is known as Manitoba Maple. It is a great pioneer tree, like 
poplar and I would't be suprised if it performs a similar nutrient pump 
role. However, if you are trying to re-introduce native species to a 
landscape it's an appalling pest as it jumps into every available space, 
seeding into sod. You have to get on the little ones fast or they will 
be a lot of trouble to remove. They sprout freely from every stump and 
must be killed dead, not just cut.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada


Matt Demmon wrote:
> Thank you Anthony for jumping in to rescue the poor Box Elder. Here
> are some of my favorite attributes:
>
> -grows anywhere from Michigan floodplains to New Mexico train stations.
> -delicious sap
> -sometimes beautiful red streaked wood
> -excellent for growing oyster mushrooms
> -fast growth
> -pretty blue stems
> -excellent habitat for insect-eating birds, just the kind you want in
> your fruit orchard.
>
> That's all!
>
> -matt
> se mi z5 60+ degrees today
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 9:39 AM, Anthony Curcio <apc@vassolinc.com> wrote:
> > What kind of product do you get from box elders.  I tap sugar maples
> >
> > with the kids at school.  We have lots of box elders but never tapped them.
> >
> >
> >
> > Jon (Rutland, VT)
> >
> >
> >
> > Jon,
> >
> > We, like many people tried to rid our farm of the “ Weed Tree”. Then one day
> > I saw a beautiful vivid red veined piece of wood in a cabinet maker’s shop.
> > Turned out to be Ash Leaf Maple or “ Box Elder”. Shortly after that
> > encounter my 10 yo son read that Native Indians reduced the sap of the Box
> > Elder to a syrup much like Maple syrup. We built a small wood burning stove,
> > tapped a few Box Elders, had a great time and have never gone back to Sugar
> > Maple syrup. BE syrup has a very nice honey/buttery flavor. I know it is
> > hard to believe but if you can look past the first impression we have found
> > something good in just about everything….
> >
> > Except Mosquitoes…..
> >
> > Anthony
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Anthony P. Curcio
> > CEO
> > VasSol, Inc.
> > 833 W. Jackson 8flr.
> > Chicago, IL 60607
> > Phone- 312-601-4431
> > Fax - 312-601-4451