Almost There

The Sorghum Cane is ripening and is almost ready for Molasses Making. Hollis, Deleta, and Granddaughter Whitley have been coming more frequently to check the Cane. We 3 C's watch the Stalks in the Big Field from the Deck and we make frequent trips to check it out.

These days, we can see the Sorghum Cane change almost on a daily basis. The Pollen Stage has passed. Green Seeds are darkening. Those characteristic "Burnt Sienna" brush strokes are beginning to show up on the Stalks. (Burnt Sienna is a color I grew to love when I was oil painting in my Teens.) The Cane is noticeably sweeter. The Seeds are losing their Milky Juice. Even the Chickens are thrilled about the developing Seeds for Snacks. Until yesterday most of the Stalks were high above our heads at 10 feet plus, waving down on their smaller adoring (and I hope adorable) Human Friends.

Last evening, we had Severe Thunderstorms, with 60 mph winds. The Rain came sideways and mostly from the North. Apples were bouncing down from the Tree. Lightning produced an Unequalled Light Show.

Rachel had joined us for Dinner but we 3 Cs were pretty distracted. "What about the Cane?" With reduced visibility due to heavy Rain and Darkened Skies, we strained through Binocs to watch the waving Cane from our protected space of the House.

As the Rain stopped, we 4 Humans made a Bee-line for the Cane Field. Sure enough, our Beautiful Cane had taken a hit. The middle of the shorter Stalks which were thinner were laying down in the direction of the Wind. The larger Stalks also were played about with the Wind. But seemingly very few were broken.

In case you know little of the raising of Sorghum Cane for Molasses, wind damage can at the very least make the tedious Hand Harvest more difficult. I remember playing Pick Up Sticks as a child. Just think about picking up 10 foot plus stalks of Cane which begin to grow and twist together. Not pretty. Worst case: Damage at this time can end the process altogether. We are reminded by these remarkable things that we Humans with our inordinant sense of the power of Self are not really in charge here.

As expected, Hollis, Deleta and Whitley came over this morning. Hollis said his Field seemed to take more damage than ours. Some of the Cane will begin to right itself. Indeed, the harvest will be more difficult. But still possible. The Cane will be changing ever more quickly now.

The date for the start of Molasses Making is set for September 6 but could be September 13. It will go as long as we have Cane to process and end before frost. That brings a quickening of activity. Stay tuned.