How is wheat processed to get it to a kitchen-the manual way?

[sofasurfer]

I can buy a bag of flour or I can go into a wheat field and get a bushel of wheat. But how would I process that wheat to make it become flour. I know about a grain mill but what happens to prepare to wheat for the mill?

[Rick]

You have to perform 3 basic steps to prepare it for grinding.

1. You have to harvest the wheat by cutting the plant and removing it from the field.
2. You have to thresh the wheat to remove the seed head from the plant.
3. You have to winnow the seed to remove the seed grain from the non-edible part or the chaff.

Here are a couple of resources for you:

http://www.islandgrains.com/how-do-i-thresh-grain-on-a-small-scale/

http://groworganic.com/organic-gardening/articles/grow-your-own-grain-harvesting-threshing-and-storing

[Solar Geek]

Once again Rick, thanks for the valuable info.

[Rick]

We have an interactive history museum not far from our house that provides demonstrations of gathering and processing grains as well as a LOT of other homesteading and modern day practices. Check you local DNR, university, or museums to see if they have similar activities in your area. It's just one way you can learn how to do things.

http://www.connerprairie.org/

[Old GI]

And then you build a grist mill.

[finallyME]

Yep, Rick nailed it. Basically cut it, pile it up in a big pile. Then you take branches or something and pound the pile. This knocks the seed out of the pods onto the ground. Then you take all the stocks off the top of the pile and you are left with the grain and a bunch of fine plant material. You separate this by tossing the seed in a stiff breeze.

I won't get too religious here, but if you know the process of harvesting grain, along with the terminology, it will help with understanding many Bible verses. Just sayin.... :innocent: