Molasis

It was too beautiful yesterday to spend the day in the house.

So The Wood Gang ventured out on a road trip.

We drove to a VERY small town just outside of La Plata, and watched a family harvest/process sorghum.

The owners were delighted to have visitors, and were happy to explain the process.

They were also very patient to answer ALL 500 questions my 11 year old had.

I told them I would remember them if my girls ever needed to do some REAL manuel labor, as the process requires a TON of work.

The first step (of course) is planting the sorghum.

Then in the Fall, with the plant still in the ground they pull all the leaves off and cut the tops off.

Next they harvested the cane (yes by hand).

The machine below is called a press.

You feed the cane through the press, approx. 4-6 poles at a time.

The press, presses all of the juice from the cane.

I couldn't believe how much juice was in one stock of cane.

Here is a pile of the already pressed cane.

They recyle it by feeding it to horses/livestock.

Next they take the juice and cook it. Here is when the sorghum turns to molasis.

They cook about one tub a day (and will be cooking the last tub of the season today).

Once it's cooled they bottle it.

We came home with a much smaller jar. We plan to make cookies with it.

Such a FuN family experience on a beautiful Fall day.