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So, we all love bread and some of us really love making our own from scratch. The it occurred to me, why not grow our own wheat? Then something else occurred to me...that would be crazy! You would need a huge field, a tractor and have some sort of experience growing grain...right?? Wrong!
I have just discovered that more and more people across our country are learning that they can grow their own healthy grains right in their backyard garden! All you really need is a sunny plot of land, say 10 x 10 ft., some decent soil, organic seeds and a little work; no more than planting your average vegetable garden. Perhaps I made the whole procedure a little simple but truly it is pretty basic. Planting a plot approximately 10 feet by 10 feet will, when all is said and done, yield between 10 and 25 loaves of bread. How AWESOME would that be?!
In the United States two varieties are grown, white and red. Red wheat is more common. Red wheat also produces bread with a much more intense flavor. Consider the advantages of growing winter wheat as opposed to spring variety.
In many parts of the country you can plant your winter wheat up until early November. Check your area agricultural extension department before planting late in the season to be sure.
While I know we could plant a much larger area, this will be our first attempt at growing our own grains and wanted a small area that would be easily hand seeded and hand harvested.
Once the grain is harvested (if it grows) I plan to purchase a Wonder Mill grain mill to turn our beautiful wheat berries into healthy organic whole wheat flour!! Imagine that first loaf of bread made from our very own grains!!! I am too excited for words!
I will keep you posted as our little experiment developes! A great resourse is a book I found by Gene Logsdon, Small-Scale Grain Raising.
I have just discovered that more and more people across our country are learning that they can grow their own healthy grains right in their backyard garden! All you really need is a sunny plot of land, say 10 x 10 ft., some decent soil, organic seeds and a little work; no more than planting your average vegetable garden. Perhaps I made the whole procedure a little simple but truly it is pretty basic. Planting a plot approximately 10 feet by 10 feet will, when all is said and done, yield between 10 and 25 loaves of bread. How AWESOME would that be?!
In the United States two varieties are grown, white and red. Red wheat is more common. Red wheat also produces bread with a much more intense flavor. Consider the advantages of growing winter wheat as opposed to spring variety.
In many parts of the country you can plant your winter wheat up until early November. Check your area agricultural extension department before planting late in the season to be sure.
While I know we could plant a much larger area, this will be our first attempt at growing our own grains and wanted a small area that would be easily hand seeded and hand harvested.
Once the grain is harvested (if it grows) I plan to purchase a Wonder Mill grain mill to turn our beautiful wheat berries into healthy organic whole wheat flour!! Imagine that first loaf of bread made from our very own grains!!! I am too excited for words!
I will keep you posted as our little experiment developes! A great resourse is a book I found by Gene Logsdon, Small-Scale Grain Raising.
Blessings from the Pantry
Love this article. I will forward it to my sister...who is a very good gardner and also LOVES to make bread. She will love this soo much. Thank you. Please let keep is posted on how it all goes and if you make bread from the fruits of this labor.
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings to you and yours,
Roses for Saint Colette
www.roses4saintcolette.blogspot.com