Source for grain in Indiana??

[Bruenor]

Wow, I can't believe that I've got the second post in the new thread.

So, as the post subject says, does anyone know where I can get cheap grain in Indiana? A two hour drive, and I can get Wheat Montana over in Ohio for $0.72/lb, which isn't too bad, but I was hoping for something a little closer/cheaper. Any Hoosier grain grinders out there?

[Shamrock1121]

I'd suggest getting Wheat Montana when it's available because you'll get the best results in bread making. I was paying 20 cents per pound a year ago for Wheat Montana; and that's the most I've ever paid for wheat. Now it's over 60 cents a pound - and worth every cent.

Did you check Wheat Montana's web site for dealers in your area? There may be something closer than 2-hours. Here's the Indiana page.

http://www.wheatmontana.com/dealer.php?state=IN

It's also best to keep at least a years worth of wheat ahead. You'll get better baking results with wheat that's aged.

-Karen

[mom]

I found this site - shipping is a flat 12.95 per order - Frontier Survival - I am going to order wheat as soon as I make up my mind which one - their prices seem reasonable

http://www.frontiersurvival.net/shop/cgi-bin/cp-app.pl?usr=51F4268390&rnd=6201612&rrc=N&affl=&cip= 12.14.174.210&act=&aff=&pg=splash

[Bruenor]

Karen

Thanks for the link. As always, whenever it comes to anything related to food, I find that you are the best resource I've ever found.

I had been to that page before, and that's how I found the place two hours away from where I live, but I went ahead and took a second look. Wow, am I glad I did!

I looked into the company called Something Better Natural Foods. I can get Wheat Montana Bronze Chief Wheat Berries, Prairie Gold Wheat Berries, and Hard Red Winter Wheat Berries for $0.61/lb shipped to me, handling charges included, if I order $450 or more at a time. That would come out to 17 fifty pound bags, or 850 pounds.

Between my family, my parents, and my brothers (three in all, one married, one engaged, and one soon to be engaged) I figure that we could put together a HUGE order of wheat. My wife's aunt is the head baker at a Marsh Supermarket, and can get me an almost unlimited supply of 5 gallon buckets to store wheat in. Now I just need some large mylar bags plus an old iron and I'll be all set.

Karen, do you think that for a manual power mill a Country Living would be good for multi-family use?

Thanks again.

- Jason -

[Shamrock1121]

Karen

Thanks for the link. *As always, whenever it comes to anything related to food, I find that you are the best resource I've ever found.

I had been to that page before, and that's how I found the place two hours away from where I live, but I went ahead and took a second look. *Wow, am I glad I did! *

I looked into the company called Something Better Natural Foods. *I can get Wheat Montana Bronze Chief Wheat Berries, Prairie Gold Wheat Berries, and Hard Red Winter Wheat Berries for $0.61/lb shipped to me, handling charges included, if I order $450 or more at a time. *That would come out to 17 fifty pound bags, or 850 pounds. *

Between my family, my parents, and my brothers (three in all, one married, one engaged, and one soon to be engaged) I figure that we could put together a HUGE order of wheat. *My wife's aunt is the head baker at a Marsh Supermarket, and can get me an almost unlimited supply of 5 gallon buckets to store wheat in. *Now I just need some large mylar bags plus an old iron and I'll be all set.

Karen, do you think that for a manual power mill a Country Living would be good for multi-family use?

Thanks again.

- Jason -

Jason -

I can only go by what I've read about the Country Living Mill - which is NOTHING negative. It's not one I've owned or operated - but they sound like they are good quality and long lasting. I've seen them called "the tank" of mills, so not as easy-to-use/move/store as other mills. They will do fine flour on the first pass, which is a great feature. Fine flour is necessary if you make cakes and pastry with freshly-milled flour. I have to pass it through twice on my Family Grain Mill - but that's my back-up mill.

I WOULD suggest purchasing an extra set of grinding plates. They can chip or crack, and occasionally will glaze over if the grain is moist, and you'll have to stop long enough to clean them - so an extra set would keep you in business. I'd also get the large auger used for milling beans and corn. You've never had "good" cornbread until you've had it with freshly-milled corn meal. ;D

I'd also secure it to a heavy-duty rolling cart of some kind (I'm thinking something from Craftsman ment for the garage/tools), for easy use and moveable storage. I'd also make sure it's stored in a dry area. If you live where there's a lot of humidity, you may want to cover the mill when it's not in use and put moisture absorbing products under the cover (like Damp Rid) to help keep the moving and metal parts from rusting. There is also a heavy-duty wall bracket available for the Country Living Mill.

I did get a chuckle while reading about them.... You'll get a cup of flour in 1-1/4 minutes with the Country Living Mill. In my old Whisper Mill I get 12-cups of flour in 3 minutes. My first mill was a manual and all the romance of milling by hand goes to the wayside after it took 2 of us what seems like forever (30-45 minutes) to get enough flour for baking bread. My new Nutrimill is a little bit slower than the Whisper Mill (now called the Wonder Mill).

My husband made me a "grain cart" on wheels and I use the wooden top of it to clamp my hand mills (meat/food grinder, Corona Corn Mill, Flaker Mill and Seed Mill - unfortunately, one mill can't do everything I need done). I store the mills on the shelf below and some grain in canning jars on the bottom shelf.

I keep thinking wheat prices will go down now that harvest is over (always the optimist ::)), and I'd hate to see you paying those high prices this month, only to find them going down in September.... Unfortunately my crystal ball is in the shop for repairs, or I'd do a better job at predicting the future and wheat prices. Yields and quality were up around here (central Kansas), but I'm not sure about harvest and yields in the northern states where Spring wheat is harvested.

Hands down, Prairie Gold is the best wheat I've ever used. I have around 100-pounds of Bronze Chief, but I mix it 50/50 with Prairie Gold when I use it to temper that whole wheat flour taste. I also use Bronze Chief for making bulgur. I like the acidic taste of it over white wheat.

-Karen