Harvest

In the early morning, Richard returns to stripping Sorghum Cane for the making of Molasses tomorrow. His brothers Hollis and Gerald, and nephew Hollis Dale will join him soon for stripping, heading, cutting Cane, and transporting loads to the Family Farm outside of Millard for processing on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the women Deleta, probably Connie, Mother, Melanie and I (and others I don't know about in this writing) are getting ready behind the scenes to feed the crew and to get ready for the making and storing of Molasses. The names I write here will be in short order for those who will join us and for those who would join us at other occasions for these deeply meaningful events.

While once common among Families and Communities a Century ago, the making of Molasses has been described by some Folks as a dying craft. The Crawford Family last made Molasses in the late 1970s when the Boys' parents were still around and able, and the labor force of their Boys' was still available.

The Crawford Family brought Molasses Making back in 2004. Hollis calls 2004 the 1st time we made it without supervision. Reclaiming a tradition without the Elders who led it, with a new batch of Elders, is a process worthy of musing as well. That will perhaps be another writing.

We have been making Molasses every year since 2004. As a Family, we just could not let this tradition go. We use the old equipment and processes, as close to those the Boys' family had used when they were growing up and before.

Rather than a dying craft, I see our Molasses Making these days as a Revival, one of many traditions about Self Sufficiency, Simplicity, Family, Community, and What's Important returning in America. It's about time.