Millet

Millet is a grain that is most commonly grown in Africa as food. I've eaten it many times and really like it, but it's not a common grain here in Europe. We've found millet in specialty stores from time to time and buy it when we can. Most of the millet grown in France is used in bird seed and poultry feed.

The field down the hill from our hamlet, close to the river, is planted in millet this year.

I was surprised to learn that the grain they're growing down in the field below our hamlet is millet. Normally they grow either wheat or rape seed (colza) down there. This year there's a different plant, so I took these photos and used the internet to help me identify it. Turns out it's millet.

A close up of the seed head of the aptly-named broom, or common, millet.

The variety is called proso millet, broom millet, or common millet. It's not the variety normally grown for human consumption, but rather what will likely be sold for chicken feed. Literally.

P.S. Throwback Thursday is on vacation this week. Because, like, I totally forgot it was Thursday.