Molasses Making Part 1

On Thursday a group of Mountain Alliance students learned how to tip, strip and cut sugar cane for making molasses. We joined Mike, Bill and Jack out on 194 to enjoy a warm September afternoon.
The first job was to remove all of the leaves and to leave only the stalk.

Joesph and Austin

Mike demonstrated to the group how to top the cane, which removed the seed head from the stalk.

India works her way down a row of cane topping each stalk as she goes.

Andrew takes a turn topping cane.

This is a picture of the stripped, topped and cut cane that is now ready to juice and boil into Molasses. Below the group posses for a photo after the field had been cleared. There wasn't much room left on the trailer. The next post will include some pictures from juicing and boiling the cane juice.