Want to satisfy your goal of self-sufficiency and your sweet tooth? Consider growing sorghum, crushing the cane, and boiling it down into sorghum syrup. Sorghum is similar to sugarcane but can be grown throughout most of North America.
Long lauded in the South, this crop is experiencing a modern-day revival, with homesteaders across the country tapping into the meaningful tradition of growing it as a self-sustaining sugar substitute. In the past, sorghum was crushed in large iron mills, often powered by horses. Recently, Grainmaker released a hand-powered sorghum press, making sorghum syrup production possible for any community.
In this collection of resources, you’ll find all the info you need to assist sorghum’s resurgence and earn your own sweet reward.
How to Grow and Process
Learn About Growing Sorghum: A Natural Sweetener
Sorghum is natural, delicious, and a sweet addition to any harvest. Growing sorghum can be done on a small or large scale, and is the first step to producing your own sweet sorghum syrup.
Sorghum Production: Milling and Cooking
A great natural sweetener, sorghum is unique and delicious. Sorghum production begins with milling, and many cooking techniques can be used to make sorghum syrup. Sorghum production is practiced by farmers and supported by consumers who are looking for a natural, self-sustaining sweetener.
Sweet Sorghum Revival: How to Grow Your Own Natural Sweetener
Allergic to bees and don’t have sugar maple trees, but still want to produce your own sweeteners? Try sweet sorghum syrup, a natural sugar substitute that can grow in most U.S. gardens.
All About Growing Sorghum
Growing sorghum is as simple as growing corn, and you can choose between growing grain sorghum (milo), sorghum varieties known as broom corn, or sweet sorghum for making into sorghum syrup.
The Art of Cooking Sorghum Syrup
Long cherished in the South, sorghum has recently been rediscovered by progressive chefs across the nation.
Seed Sources
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Press Sources and Information
Edwards Engineering
(713) 849-6825
Offers new mills in old and new designs for both small and large operations.
GrainMaker
(855) 777-7096
Offers a newly developed, hand-crank mill for sorghum processing. Best for small operations.
Sorghum Press Plans
Use this assembly manual to build a DIY sorghum press.
Human-Powered Sorghum Press
A manual developed by the University of California, Santa Barbara, chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Association
Provides useful information and services to sorghum producers, including an events calendar.
Recipes
Oatmeal Bread with Sorghum
There’s nothing like an old cookbook filled with good recipes to warm your kitchen and your home.
Ooey-Gooey, Rich, Sweet Sorghum Caramels
These tasty and chewy caramels are a festive treat that takes on a homespun flavor with the addition of sorghum.
Sorghum-Nut Bread
Sharing and using sorghum, whether made by your hands or someone else’s, molds memories of people and places.
Oh, Gingernsnap: A Sorghum Cookie Recipe
What feels like a beautiful, crisp fall day more than a gingersnap?
Spice and Sorghum Loaf Recipe
Sorghum adds depth and sweetness to classic recipes, such as this traditional spice cake.
Chicken Yassa Recipe
Chicken Yassa is a traditional Senegalese dish and one of many recipes that benefit from the flavor enhancement of sorghum.
Toast Caribe Recipe
A drizzle of sorghum syrup makes an excellent addition to this unique and delicious breakfast.