Introduction
Lately, I have been reflecting on my hobbies and which ones I tend to gravitate towards most. One of my favorite hobbies/lifestyles that I tend to prioritize naturally is gardening (very surprising I know). Honestly, I do not consider gardening to really be a hobby or pastime, but really a lifestyle and a way to be more self-sufficient. As a child I would hear stories of my great grandparent’s generation and some of the stories passed down from their childhoods. They were part of the greatest generation and seemed to have some very interesting, but challenging lives. One of my great grandfathers was the product of Austrian immigrant parents and survived the dust bowl in the Midwest. One of my other great grandfathers was born black and endured segregation and other Jim Crow era laws.
Given the amount of struggle and lack of convenience during their childhoods I often wonder how my ancestors were able to have enough to eat and feed their livestock. The answer is simple. They either bought the feed or grew it themselves. A hundred or so years ago it was not uncommon for small scale homesteads to grow a decent percent of their grains for personal use and livestock. One of the most common and relied upon grains that were favored in the south (behind corn) was sorghum.
Sorghum has a rich history involving the American South and its inhabitants. I decided to grow a new variety this year for some of its uses and just out of plain curiosity. Sorghum is said to have been a culinary staple in various southern homesteads due to the amount of versatility it had as a grain. There are a few new issues with the grain and it is by no means a perfect plant. I hope to showcase some of the rich history that the grain species holds and help further elaborate on what I mean when I discuss the versatility of the plant. Below, I plan to elaborate on where sorghum originates the truth behind its cultural connection to the American South, some alternative/forgotten uses of the species, relation to noxious weeds, and issues with the plant in North America.
1. Originally From Africa
Firstly, I would like to start off by letting you know that sorghum originated in the continent of Africa, specifically in the North Eastern region. There is some evidence that various cultures, including the Egyptians were cultivating/domesticating this grain. It seems to thrive in both tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It was inevitably traded and traveled with humans as they moved through Africa to the Middle-East and into various parts of Asia. Do note that when I talk about sorghum I am talking about Sorghum bicolor and not any other species. Sorghum is also known as a genus for about 25 or so plant species. Many of which have similar characteristics of the sorghum we see in fields, but vary in some type of feature such as leaf structure/thickness, and amount of seed created during the reproductive stage.
It is said that sorghum was brought over from the old world to the “new world” in the 18th century on slave ships; though some argue that Ben Franklin was the cause (this is not proven). The act of slavery and the introduction of sorghum into the Americas and various Caribbean islands would be hand and hand during this time frame. It is somewhat disputed whether or not slaves or various European explorers were to blame/thank for the introduction of sorghum into the new world.
The video that got me interested in growing sorghum
2. A Strong History In the South
With sorghum being introduced from the old world by either slaves or European explorers, you may be wondering how the cultivation of sorghum became so synonymous with, regardless of which group introduced the grain to the new world it is safe to say that it has created a culture and a legacy on the American South. Prior to modern times the use of sorghum was common in the south was strong. The grain was a strong staple for both culinary purposes and for the supplemental feed of livestock.
The species also tends to grow very well in hot and humid regions as it is native to sub-tropical regions of Africa. I am sure that there are a few other features that the grain was able to adapt to in the region.
3. Closely Related to Johnson Grass
Despite the grasses deep, rich history in both the new and old worlds I think it should be mentioned that another type of sorghum was brought over in the mid-late 1800s with the intention of being a supplemental or alternative forage for cattle and other grazing animals. This species is commonly referred to as Johnson grass, but is known to go as a couple other names. This species of sorghum ended up spreading via various water ways and along fields on its own. Johnson grass is considered to be a noxious weed in many different states within the United States.
You may be wondering why I am mentioning Johnson grass in a blog about sorghum, but I can assure you there is some reasoning behind the madness. It should be known that Sorghum bicolor (the typical grain/milo sorghum species) can hybridize with Johnson grass. There are actually a few perennial agriculture based non-profit groups that are working to try and develop a productive, but hardy grain sorghum in hopes that it can help reduce the loss of topsoil in the soil and still be as productive as an annual planting of grain sorghum.
I personally am a bit uneasy when I hear of work in this regards. Sure it would be nice to be able to help reduce the loss of organic matter/soil nutrients via perennial plants, but I would be hesitant to potentially introduce an even more prolific weed that could further disrupt the integrity of our native ecosystem health/integrity.
4. Invasive in Some Areas
Although the benefits of sorghum bicolor do not go unnoticed I find that it is important to note that there are some areas where the introduction of the grain species has been negative to the ecosystem. While researching the benefits of sorghum I noticed that there are a couple of states that sorghum bicolor can become encroaching or noxious, much like their previously mentioned cousin Johnson grass.
Some of the states where sorghum is invasive include North Carolina, Maryland, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. It is interesting to see such a highly utilized grain be considered an invasive and a noxious weed in the same breath. I assume that with their decent amount of seed contained within their head that there is a great amount of offspring and some level of hyper competition between other native plants much like Johnson grass though without the vegetative reproduction that Johnson grass seems to rely on.
5. Can Be Used for Syrup Production
I find it interesting that such a heavily utilized/ relied upon grain is invasive in a couple of states here in the lower 48. I guess there are most likely a few more uses for this plant than that of Johnson grass or honeysuckle here in the United States. One of the most famed uses of sorghum bicolor is that you can use some variety like sugarcane for sugar production. As I mentioned earlier in this blog sorghum syrup was commonly relied upon in the south for its delicious molasses and grain.
The process to produce such a sweet molasses is by no means quick or easy, but rather laborious. Despite the cost of labor I often hear that it is well worth it. The process mimics that of other forms of sugar production especially sugarcane. You first start by harvesting the cane and the seed head when it is mature and dry. From there you cut off the seed head and run the canes through a press. Historically there were horse powered presses, but now you have the option of hand cranking a press or using electricity. There is still a decent market for the traditional presses. From there you collect the juice and begin to heat it up to 212-225 degrees Fahrenheit while skimming off the green film off of the top as the juice begins to thicken and turn into molasses. I haven’t been able to try out this process yet, but will hopefully have the opportunity here in the next few months.
Conclusion
Sorghum bicolor is an extremely versatile grain that has been utilized by humans for thousands of years. The grain has travelled across oceans and continents, indicating the value of this plant. There is a variety of uses that this plant has, proving the value of this grain in comparison to other types of grain. There are some drawbacks to growing this type of grain like any crop species. There is some evidence that it can hybridize with its noxious cousin Johnson grass, while also being a noxious weed itself in a variety of states. Even though it is a noxious weed, the advantage to growing this grain is still noted and is often still grown for its value to humans and livestock as a food resource.