Making Sorghum Molasses (An Overview) - The FHC Show, ep 28

In this latest episode #28 of The Farm Hand's Companion Show, Pa Mac gives a brief overview of the southern tradition and history of raising, pressing, and cooking sorghum molasses on the small farm or homestead.
Be sure and subscribe to the Farm Hand's Companion channel to keep up with the progress as Pa Mac takes an undeveloped piece of property and turns it into a small subsistence farm. Watch for new episodes as often as Pa Mac can crank 'em out and still run a small farm. (As long as he's alive and kicking, he's most assuredly farming and filming!)
Also visit www.farmhandscompanion.com to find articles, posts, photographs, and encouragement for today's self-sufficient farm, homestead, or permaculture lifestyle. (And be sure to check out the General Store for Pa Mac's books or DVDs at www.farmhandscompanion.com/gen...)

[@BackToReality]

Thanks for another sweet (ha!) video! I look forward to seeing the rest of the process.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

This was one thing we didn't grow. I'm interested in this process and can't wait to watch! Thanks for bringing all these old things back.😊

[@jerryholland7817]

So glad that you have started to make videos again!

[@ericp1711]

They used to do this whole process in Maryland at "the childrens farm" near DC where I grew up. Back in late 70's early 80's. I can still smell it while watching this video. Thanks!

[@happilyretiredmark2964]

I remember fondly as a little boy way back watching my Grandfather and Uncles skimmin what looked like foam back then off cane syrup as it boiled in a great big cast iron kettle. Wish I had been a little older, or they'd been a little younger, so I could have learned more before they got too old to continue doing it! Come to think of it, wish I'd been able to hang around those old-timers on that farm a lot more...period! Probably why I enjoy watching your videos from times gone by. Take care PaMac and thanks!

[@lanevotapka4012]

This was very interesting, thanks Pa Mac. Looking forward to seeing how you make some sorghum molasses

[@breathofhome6315]

I started growing Sorghum plants 10 years ago. Didn't(& still don't) have a press but I continue to grow a few stalks each year so I have fresh seed for the year when I finally get to press some juice. Until then the goats love the stalks and the birds fight me for the seeds(until I started covering the seed heads with mesh; but I still let them have most of the seed). Grew up puttin' molasses on cornbread/biscuits...YUM!! Thanks for the video treat!!!

[@willmegehee]

Love it! My Dad grows sugar cane in south Mississippi to make cane syrup every year. Nothing sweeter than enjoying the fruit of your own labor.

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

This will be a great process to watch and I'm looking forward to the future vid's. This is a subject I know nothing about, but I bet my grandparents did. Cannot wait to learn about it !!

[@glockholliday7490]

Happy there’s another video from you

[@Betterhose]

I can't wait to see the machine in action. You combine some of my favorite interests: history and farming

[@senorjp21]

Never heard of this! Interesting

[@kenthorsen4558]

Sweet!

[@tmarcus988]

Your videos make me so glad I still have my own grandfather who continues on the southern farming way of life

[@mrstratau6513]

Great stuff.

[@dancordray8686]

As a child I was "allowed" to circle Betty. A cantankerous older mule that belonged to one of the neighbors in the community. There was a family that had a nice fire box and pot, sweet run, and mill. They cooked everybody's sugar cane for miles around. Being in Florida cane was grown more often than sorghum. This video brought back memories from over half a century ago. Can't wait to see your next one. Dan

[@1STGeneral]

My jar has molasses written on it made and kept in the Appalachian mountains of WV

[@steveseiler8782]

love the video i enjoy history and in this case it was sweet cheers

[@jesuswon2011]

Thank you so much for this, I grew up where this was a yearly event that all the family came to my grandpas. Almost made me cry. I also remember the molasses cookies and popcorn balls we would make with the molasses. You brought back a wonderful childhood memory.

[@kevinwilliams8662]

Enjoying the show

[@troydunn6228]

Thank you

[@davidmartin303]

Always look forward to your videos, can't wait for the next music LP, CD, Disc, Playlist... don't know what to call it anymore..I just really enjoy your first one.

[@TheKinnardHomestead]

Love it, Pa Mac!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thanks for watchin'. Hope y'all are doin well!

[@NotOnYourLife]

My wife and I watched the entire process at Homestead Heritage, it is really fascinating and educational. I look forward to more of your videos on the process.

[@charlesmaddock2492]

I have followed you for three years now, and I found it as fascinating as in the very beginning! Keep it up, you're doing history a great service! Greetings from Sweden

[@bonniebonkers4779]

Here in the north we also had lots of maple syrup and corn syrup as a substitute for sugar. Love your channel. 👍❤😊

[@aserta]

Every time you post, the day brightens up. :D

[@maxdecphoenix]

ha. i had no idea. This stuff is everywhere in mississippi. Particularly dense along the highways. I think they call the specific strain that's down here 'johnson grass'. I honestly thought it was just like wild corn. Like a mutated strain that had escaped cultivation and just lost most of it's preferential traits.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great video, thanks for sharing with us.👍👍👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@craftingontheporchwithbill]

Thanks for preserving the knowledge. Merry Christmas.

[@oakenbeard8884]

This guy is the best kept homesteading secret on the internet.

[@helenjohnson4593]

Glad your back!!

[@jeffford4090]

Still to this day in Muddy pond TN..

[@JamesJohnson-yh1oh]

Elizabeth in far northern California says, I really enjoyed this! I'm always hopeful for more videos!

[@darionconversi9528]

Always exciting to see that youve posted. Thanks FHC!

[@miraclefarm1927]

So excited to see this one about sorghum molasses! We borrowed our uncles press, repaired it and was able to cook two vats this year and loved it! Hoping you will show how you fixed your mill. Did you but a vat too? Oh, go watch our process on our channel, I was able to keep the aphids off without chemicals. Blessings

[@farmhandscompanion]

Great video you have on molasses, Miracle Farm. Enjoyed it immensely. And yes, the next show will highlight the restoration of my Goldens #3. Thanks for watchin', and keep up your great videos

[@AstrophotographyUnderMSSkies]

Love me some sorghum molasses. Keep the great videos coming!

[@1STGeneral]

I'm too lazy to research it but in Delaware the last couple years I've seen fields with what looks like short sorghum about 3 feet tall and thick tops

[@farmhandscompanion]

Probably the shorter cousin grown for livestock feed

[@TheRedneckprepper]

Did ya know they have a Sorghum press in Mt. Ida ?

[@aloberdorf4579]

My Mother and Grand Mother often spoke about Sorghum and how muh they liked it after pressin an cookin.....I've heard those tails from Iowy and Kansus many years ago....(along w/okra an turnip greens)....this is the first actual Bio I've seen...hope you documented the press revival.....(Pleze)......Thanks Pa.

[@scottlittle7712]

Keep making these awesome videos. I learn something from each and every one. You're inspiring.

[@blakerogge2213]

Strains grow almost all the way to the Canadian boarder I've seen, and I'm willing to bet beyond, but having only been once for fishing along time ago, I dont recall anything about the crops I saw.

[@FlutyLickHomestead]

Ain’t nothin like molasses on cornbread or biscuits!! I traded for an old sorghum press and evaporating pan but the press is locked up and the pan is full of holes so may end up being junk

[@oldironsfury]

Them three thumbs down must be pretty miserable folk Great stuff, always this channel

[@BraneDamidge]

I've been raisin' cane my whole life! Now I'm fixin' to grow it instead.❤

[@TheBereangirl]

So...as of Dec. 9, 2020 @ 8:55am p.s.t 13 people gave this wonderful video a thumbs down; must be sorghum "syrup" people.😏 Thank Pa Mac! Love your videos.💗

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thanks for that, Bereangirl

[@TheBereangirl]

@@farmhandscompanion you're welcome! I find myself often embroiled in the culinary controversy over cornbread..."f it's got sweeten'g in the batter, then it's corn "cake" not bread"...🙄 But my recipe says "Cornbread" since it is a quick bread, kinda like banana "bread." 😂💗

[@Castor364]

yippee

[@KingJamesBibleBeliever-de9fy]

After doing a marathon watching all his videos to catch up, having 1 a few weeks or month is disappointing. :( Love your videos.

[@shanek6582]

I helped some old timers in clay county WV press and boil molasses when I was a teenager, they were pretty nasty with their hygiene around the entire operation. I only buy molasses from big grocery stores from then on. Boiling tanks were the worst, they just covered it up with old tin all year and when it came time to use, they weren’t cleaned out very well to say the least. Then the actual press just sat out in the weather and rusted all year ( probably been there for generations) and no effort to clean it of dirt, grime or rust, just start turning. I think that’s what always puts the metal taste in homemade molasses that you don’t get from factory stuff. I’m sure there’s proper ways to do it but not there’s lol.

[@andrewnichols1240]

I would guess like corn there are verieties high in starch and sweet verieties? I haven't found a vedio yet giving veriety names?

[@debluetailfly]

Not many people make it anymore. some you buy s not as good as it should be. Ammon Hollow in TN is one of the best I ever had! Think name changed to Russel Creek Sorghum Mill. I am never over in that area any more to buy any. Oberholtzer's in KY was good also. There were some folks down around Pine Bluff that made some that was reputed to be very good, but never got my biscuits in any. I remember a newspaper article about them years ago. They told their favorite varieties to grow.

[@georgewhitehouse8630]

Sunchokes are good for making syrup

[@LolitasGarden]

Let's get to squeezin!

[@johnespe9916]

Would you put your content on Rumble so I don’t miss you when I leave KZbin? Thanks and miss not seeing née stuff every week or two. Good channel

[@christiansotterley3805]

I grow broom corn every year. I save my seed. It can take a lot of chicken poo.

[@bobbynash282]

I believe that l can quit watching the game for this. Thanks from alabama

[@barrylongermaname398]

That's why we tap maples.. two steps taken away... Collect and evaporate...

[@farmhandscompanion]

If we tapped our maples down here, it'd take even longer than pressin' and cookin' sorghum.

[@delprice3007]

My dad told us stories about making molasses on the farm in MO

[@fortitudethedogwalker6273]

When is that Apple pie going to be served ? Did deer eat the trees?

[@someguydino6770]

Nicely done presentation; great content and editing and there's NOT a guy's face with 3rd grade level show and tell adlib skills pretending to be an actor dominating the content throughout the entire video .