I hope this is not spamming! If so please delete. When I went on retirement 12 short years ago, I wanted to keep busy in all sorts of ways. I also always wanted to be a manufacter of ''something''. I designed, fabricated and sold a centerstand for a Yamaha 250 Vstar motorcycle. Suprisingly Australia was my biggest market...but this did not last long. Finally, I designed and fabricated an improved tool to harvest balsam fir gum or resin. The traditional name for this tool is ''picoué''. Here in Québec, it has been an activity for woodsmen, farmers and nature lovers for a long time. There are a few wholesalers who buy this resin from harvesters. Current price is around $180 for a 2 liter container. It's used in pharmatucical products, candy, optics. It has antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-infectious properties and more. It has an instant soothing effect on burns. Here is the link for my promotional video.
Yves, you are okay with the video and it is interesting, thank you. I used to live where we had lots of balsam but none where we are now. I also have never tried gathering the sap but might give it a try the next time I head north.
Interesting stuff. I got excited when I read $180 for a 2L...until you said about 2 hours for 200ml. At $9/hr, I'll pass on harvesting. But I learned something, so thanks Yves!
Thanks SMS, Time to fill a picoué varies quite a bit, it seems. One of my brothers who lives in northern Québec says it takes him only a half hour. I have a client who lives in the upper Laurentian area who collected 350 liters in one year! I'm sure that's all he does in the summer. The best thing is to look at the amount and size of blisters to have an idea of the time required to fill a picoué. My fear when I collect is to trip and spill the content of the picoué when it's nearly full, but it has'nt happened yet. I would think your upper peninsula area would be a good place for balsam??
Yep, we have it in maybe a bit more than half the state. Have a bunch on the family property in the Northern LP. Actually had a few at the house here....I think the previous owner transplanted them from up north. Had to take them down a few years ago and I used the top of one for our Christmas tree. That was when I learned how sticky that gum is....I instantly related to your messed up shirt in the video! Tripping and wasting all that hard work would be terrible.
